Going Inside the Fendi Factory For Men's Spring/Summer 2024
The utilitarian collection pays homage to the fashion house's atelier and the craftspeople who work behind the scenes.
Fendi Men's Spring/Summer 2024 collection can only be described as quintessential workwear — in a literal and figurative sense. On Thursday, the Italian fashion house presented the collection in its new Fendi Factory in Capannuccia, where workers were busy toiling away like a typical workday as guests took their seats and waited for the show to begin.
The peculiar location was not chosen out of whim or a chased spectacle but was a rather clever concept that set the tone for the collection in store. As the first look, consisting of a tailored camel-colored coat and matching high-rise trousers, walked down the runway, the inspiration was immediately clear: workwear.
As a label that is well-known for its craftsmanship and leather goods, the collection paid homage to the artisans and businessfolk who work as hidden figures behind the scenes. Workwear-inspired details took center stage, from utility belts to measuring tape fasteners to toolbox-inspired bags. As expected, silhouettes were effectively translated with sharp lines and impeccable tailoring. Leather aprons laid atop button-down shirts, tool belts styled into skirts, and A-line coats lined with visibly intricate stitching.
But what was presented down the runway was far more than a fitted utilitarian collection. Providing a fresh and contemporary take was the harmonious blend between workwear and formal attire. The exchange between the two juxtaposed styles was reflected in the slouchy cargo pants styled with reinterpreted painter shirts, the polo shirt bodysuits that teasingly reveal a hint of skin as low-rise trousers sit slightly below the waist, and shoulder-baring vest shirts that give a stripped-down tuxedo effect.
The accessories shined in their own respective light, including tool-printed trunks, baguettes with debossed leather "scales," monogrammed weekenders, and supple woven baskets. As the show closed, bringing it full circle was creative director Silvia Venturini Fendi being joined by a group of craftspeople and factory workers for the final bow.
