“It’s that tension that excites me,” says Kardashian West of the ‘unexpected’ partnership.
Under the direction of Kim Jones and Kim Kardashian West, Fendi and Skims debut a collection which unites the aesthetic codes of the respective brands to create a capsule wardrobe for today’s woman.
“The idea for the collaboration came about when my team and I were sitting around a table at the studio in Rome,” explains Jones. “Suddenly, all the women went silent and started looking at their phones. I didn’t know what was going on, but they were waiting for the launch of the new Skims collection. It was then that I thought: let’s do something together.”
Kardashian West says that the two brands have cultural powers that might be different from each other, but equally as strong. “We share a desire to push boundaries, think differently and challenge convention which is why we found so much common ground collaborating on this collection together,” she says.
This collaboration draws upon sketches from an archival Fendi collection first presented by Karl Lagerfeld in 1979. Focusing on twisted tube tops, pop colors, and tight sashes, the line espouses the Skims’ emphasis on fit and form.
Form-fitting silhouettes materialize in velvet engineered for support, while a gradient series of neutral shades are crafted into bonded leather dresses that draw upon Roman aesthetics.
Similarities and differences
Bold colors saturate contemporary beach and shapewear in the collection. A hybrid Fendi x Skims logo is embossed on a reversible skin-tight, knit jersey, underwear, and hosiery as well as across recycled nylon sportswear.
“The innovation in fabrics and fit typical to Skims paired with the luxury and quality of Fendi may feel unexpected to some people, but the similarities between our creative vision and goals are so closely aligned,” notes Kim Kardashian West. “It’s that tension that excites me.”
Accessories appear in a complimentary palette: a standout array of brightly colored FENDI icons appear alongside neutral tones, from Peekaboo and Fendi First to the new Baguette Chain and signature Sunshine Shopper in 3D FF logo, available also in their Mini and Nano versions. For footwear, Fendi debuted a shearling hiking sandal imbued with a distinctly LA energy, alongside an array of new iterations of the Fendi First heel.
The Skims mission of creating solutions for all women is directly mirrored within that of Fendi.
“My Fendi is about creating something for every woman, every different shape—and that’s something at the heart of Skims, too,” explains Jones.
“Kim Kardashian West is doing a lot to celebrate inclusivity-including her admirable work with social justice in America—and as a hard-working woman with a family, she is constantly striving to do her best,” he says, adding that these values are something to celebrate.
“Kim Jones and I have been close friends for years,” continues Kardashian West, “I love his creative spirit and how he understands luxury in a way that makes total sense for how people want to dress. He works extremely hard, and as a workaholic myself, I recognize and admire the passion he puts into everything he does.”
The FENDI x SKIMS collection will launch on November 9, 2021 at 6 A.M. US-PST time, 9 A.M. US-EST time, 3 P.M. Italy time, 9 P.M. Asia-HK time at selected Fendi stores and retailers globally.
Photo by DONNA TROPE, courtesy of FENDI
