Yesterday, I got to see the inside of a very successful fashion house. The fashion majors at Auburn got a personal tour of Fendi’s flagship store and headquarters. Alana Pucci was our tour guide for the day. She planted a curiosity in us because of her knowledgeable for the brand. She has been working for Fendi for 31 years. Alana started in February just as Valentine’s help and has been there ever since. I loved to hear that Fendi credits their employees for their huge success. This large company acknowledges that every person is apart of the team and has contributed to their success. Learning about each handbag that Fendi produces was incredible. I knew that fashion is very detailed, but I did not know that each bag has a story behind the name of the bag. Karl Lagerfeld is one of the most famous fashion gurus, but I was surprised to hear that he was responsible for creating the double ‘F’ logo for Fendi. The double stands for “Fun Fur”. Most people think it stands for Fendi, but Lagerfeld never wants to be predictable in his work.  He still to this day helps design the extraordinary furs and dresses for Fendi. The fur is from different places in the world but is hand-dyed and created in Florence and later distributed to the stores. Fendi uses fox, mink, beaver, and rabbit to create their staple piece. Alana informed us that mink is the top seller for fur selection. I have developed a love and respect for Fendi after this tour. I look forward to seeing their new collections and the success that they receive.

The original staircases leading to the offices