The Latest Entry in the “Friends of Fendi” Project Channels Nostalgia, Play, and Pop Iconography
Fendi has launched a special collaboration with Fragment, the streetwear project from influential underground musician and designer Hiroshi Fujiwara, and Pokémon. The special partnership forms the latest chapter in “Friends of Fendi,” a diverse series of projects and collections conceived by Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi. Crossing the party lines of the fashion industry and distinguished by a belief in sincerity over strategy, the project has a commitment to a true notion of friendship at their heart.
I first met Hiroshi Fujiwara in London in 1999 – and what can I say? He’s one of my idols and I love him. He’s an instigator of the Japanese club scene, its youth fashion scene and its streetwear scene. I have been in love with Japan for a long time; its influence on me and what I do is huge – Hiroshi is a major part of that
– Kim Jones, Fendi Artistic Director of Couture and Womenswear
A special accessories capsule sees Fujiwara creatively apply the iconic dragon-type Pokémon Dragonite (as well as Dratini and Dragonair, Dragonite’s pre-evolutionary stages) to a range of iconic monogrammed Fendi bags using intricate leather working, beading, and printing techniques. Also included are gold jewelry and a beautifully crafted and adorable leather Dragonite plush.
Our bag shapes are a logo themselves; they are so representative of the House. While our workmanship is another important part of our iconography. At the same time, we never want to be too precious with either – we enjoy celebrating both in new ways! It’s a living history that Hiroshi Fujiwara adds to with both FRGMT and Pokémon; he’s taken our handbags and made them into mini pop monuments.”
– Silvia Venturini Fendi, Fendi Artistic Director of Accessories and Menswear
Finally, reflecting the collaborators’ multidisciplinary vision and Fragment’s penchant for digital cultural intersections, the project also extends into a virtually wearable capsule within the game world of Pokémon GO.
