All the details on the collaboration between Fendi SS24 and Kengo Kuma

Following Fendi’s SS24 runway show in Florence earlier this month, we take a look at the pieces made in collaboration with Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.

Designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, Artistic Director of Accessories and Men’s Fashion, Fendi’s new Spring-Summer 2024 collection takes as its inspiration the archetype of the “craftsman”. Therefore, it is worth mentioning that the collection’s accessories are made in collaboration with Japanese architect Kengo Kuma thus establishing a new artistic dialogue between Italy and Japan that sees Kuma’s architectural principles applied to the House’s various footwear models.

Kuma approached each piece as he would one of his architectural projects, making creative use of materials and finishes. As with many of his designs, he purposefully integrates natural elements. For the collection, new footwear silhouettes use Waranshi paper, cork and technical fabrics with 3D printed soles inspired by traditional Yatara bamboo weaving. Some bags, on the other hand, come equipped with olive handles, birch details and Selleria hand stitching.

“I have always thought of Kuma as a master of naturalistic architecture. He was one of the first to understand the importance of building nature into architecture both inside and out,” said Silvia Venturini Fendi. “Nature and craftsmanship have always been at the center of my work. When Fendi asked me to reflect on his bags and shoes, I thought of them as small architectural projects on a human scale,” said Kuma.