The Milan Fashion Week brought about one of the most innovative fashion shows. Fendi and Versace joined forces to create a collection titled “Fendace”.

Versace and Fendi carry a legacy that is deep and integral to Italian history and culture. Both houses have a distinct style and logo that can be recognized by people who have no interest in fashion.

During the Milan Fashion Week, the two Italian brands joined and sought to explore this concept by having the creative director of each house design for the other brand. “This is not a collaboration. The coming together of two iconic fashion brands in this way presents a unique moment in fashion and a first for the industry.” Posted Versace. “Both a celebration of Italian fashion and a disruption of the established order of things, the swapping of roles stands for freedom, fun and friendship.” Versace added.

The brands said the joint capsule, co-designed by Donatella Versace and Fendi’s creative directors Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi, was a first for both houses and born out of friendship and mutual professional respect. “It’s a first in the history of fashion: two designers having a true creative dialogue that stems from respect and friendship,” said Donatella Versace. “It led to us swapping roles to create these two collections.”

The history-making catwalk event saw Donatella Versace switch places with Fendi’s creative leads, Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini-Fendi. The idea was that each designer was able to design and innovate on behalf of the others’ brand. The result was a glorious celebration of fashion and the power of collaboration, which saw both Fendi and Versace signatures blended together.

The Versace by Fendi collection explored the idea of mixing the Fendi monogram with Versace’s signature Greek Key motif, while the Fendi by Versace collection featured a punk-rock aesthetic, with safety pins embellishing Fendi pieces. Moreover, Donatella focused on “contamination and disruption”.

“With the archives fully opened to both, a unique cross-fertilization occurs, with elements transposed from each house; at heart remains a deep admiration for the codes and cultures of both, together with a mutual encouragement for the designers to be themselves. Needless to say, the results could only be achieved with fundamental respect and reciprocal trust. Ultimately, Fendace is about the need for sincerity in fashion today rather than strategy.” The show notes on behalf of the two brands explained.

This fashion runway show had one of the most important moments ever. The collection included the ‘90s supermodels to catwalk during the show. Kristen McMenamy opened the show, while Naomi Campbell closed it; Kate Moss and Amber Valletta made a striking appearance as a pair midway through; while Karen Elson, Mariacarla Boscono and Shalom Harlow also featured. Besides, some of the industry’s current biggest names and up-and-coming faces were also present, including Gigi Hadid, Emily Ratjkowski and Adut Akech, alongside Paloma Elsesser, Precious Lee and Mona Tougaard. It also marked the first time that Kate Moss and her daughter, Lila Grace Moss, appeared on the same catwalk together.