Fendi was founded in Rome in 1918 by Adele Casagrande as an exclusive destination for fine fur and leather goods. After her marriage to Edoardo Fendi, the couple decided to rename the company. The business remained in family hands even after the founders passed away. The five daughters each received an equal 20% share and from then on were responsible for different areas of the company.

Fendi’s well-known Zucca and Zucchino patterns both trace back to the legendary Karl Lagerfeld. The motif of two interlocking Fs turns the company’s initial into a repeating pattern. Zucca Canvas is the broader, more expansive version of the design, while Zucchino Canvas presents a finer, more delicate variation. The most common versions are brown and subtly glossy, although there are also Fendi bags whose canvas is green or blue, for example.

Yes, no name outside the founding family is as closely associated with the label as Karl Lagerfeld. From 1965 until his death in 2019, he designed Fendi’s fur and womenswear collections. Although Karl Lagerfeld created designs for many different houses over the years, the length of the collaboration between the two parties was unique. The first design of Fendi’s Paquin pattern also traces back to Karl Lagerfeld. The gold and dark brown striped pattern was introduced in 1983 and remains one of the house’s defining signatures to this day.

First, check the pattern of the Bag and make sure it matches the original Zucca or Zucchino repeat. The distinctive Fendi monogram consists of two interlocking “F”s, one of which is mirrored or upside down. In obvious fakes, an “L” or an imprecise imitation is often used instead of the “F”.

Then pay attention to the hardware. All metal parts should be neatly finished and feature engraved brand markings. Replicas often show poorly executed details on rings, clasps or zippers. If the engravings are missing entirely, that is a strong indication of a counterfeit.

Fendi bags in original Zucca canvas contain a silk component and are characterised by a particularly durable, shape-retaining feel. Imitations usually feel softer or unusually flexible and are often made from lower-quality materials.

Also inspect the lining. Authentic models typically have a brown lining, while counterfeits often feature different colours — such as green. In replicas, the lining is also often merely glued in, or the stitching is uneven. Original Fendi bags, by contrast, are distinguished by precise, even seam lines.

Finally, you should find the origin marking “Made in Italy” inside. If the wording differs or is missing entirely, it is highly likely to be a counterfeit.