Fendi has spent millions restoring the Palazzo della Civilta Italiana in Rome to become the global headquarters of Fendi, the luxury fashion company.The 75-year-old building that Italians call “the Square Colosseum” was built as the centrepiece of Mussolini’s new Roman empire, a symbol of deluded grandeur that was abandoned during the Second World War and it has never been occupied. There are 216 arches lining the palazzo, a structure that’s been rarely utilized since it was built in the 1940s. In 2013, the renowned maker of sleek handbags and lavish furs signed a deal to lease the space for 15 years. It took 18 months of renovation to get the building prepped for Fendi’s use.
Inside Renovated Palazzo Fendi Headquarters In Rome
Architect Marco Costanzi headed the makeover of the interior. He also designed the Fendi headquarters in Milan.
Founded in 1925 in Rome, Fendi is renowned for its use of fur, and produces ready-to-wear clothing, leather goods, shoes, fragrances, eyewear, timepieces and accessories. Fendi’s long been unshy about flaunting opulence, from $30,000 fur coats to $1,000 mink keychains. The use of fur has sparked much controversy over the years. Animal rights groups protested outside a Fendi show in Paris last summer.
