Fashion career profile
Adele Fendi
Adele Casagrande Fendi was an Italian fashion entrepreneur who co-founded the Roman house that became FENDI with Edoardo Fendi in 1925. The couple opened a shop specializing in handbags and fur, establishing a family business that would grow into an internationally recognized fashion house. Adele’s role is part of FENDI’s founding history, distinct from the later creative leadership of her five daughters—Paola, Franca, Carla, Alda and Anna—whose work carried the company into its next generation. FENDI’s own and parent-group histories identify Adele and Edoardo as co-founders; Italy’s state archives preserve Adele Casagrande’s 1897 birth record. She died in 1978, after which her daughters inherited and developed the business. This profile focuses on documented entrepreneurial and family-house contributions rather than assigning her a modern creative-director title.
- Role
- Co-Founder, FENDI
- Nationality
- Italian
- Age at death
- 81
- Career appointments
- 1
- Fashion houses
- 1
- House founded: Co-founded FENDI with Edoardo Fendi in Rome (1925)LVMH identifies Adele and Edoardo Fendi as the founders of the maison. · LVMH
- Family succession: Five daughters carried the house forwardThe FENDI history describes the five sisters' subsequent creative leadership. · FENDI
- Born: 1897, RomeThe Italian State Archives provide access to Adele Casagrande's Rome civil birth record for 1897. · Italian State Archives
- Died: 1978Contemporary retrospective reporting records her death in 1978. · EL PAÍS
- 1897 — Born in RomeAdele Casagrande's Rome birth record is held in the Italian State Archives.
- 1925 — Co-founds FENDI in RomeAdele and Edoardo establish the family house, beginning with handbags and fur.
- 1978 — Dies; the next generation carries on the houseAdele's daughters continue the family business after her death.
- 1925–1978 — Co-Founder — FendiHistorical appointment · LVMH