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INTERVIEW
Delfina
Delettrez
Fendi
A beautiful
mind
She is obsessed with art, furs, and the human
body. Her distinctive, handmade jewellery
is a fusion of luxury and surrealism, sold in
places like Colette and Saks Fifth Avenue,
and her pieces are worn by the likes of
Madonna, Catherine Deneuve, and Beyoncé.
INTERVIEW
AfourthgenerationFendi,DelfinaDelettrezisconsideredone
ofthemoststylishwomeninItaly,butwithfashioninherDNA,
thathardlycomesasasurprise.
RaisedbetweenItaly,Brazil,andFrance,thedaughterofSilvia
Venturini Fendi studied costume design, only to realise that
jewellery was her true passion. She created her eponymous
labelin2007,andsincethenshehasmanagedtobuildaunique
brandthatspeakstotheheartofboldwomenseekingoriginal,
statement pieces. We had the pleasure of talking to her about
her childhood years, her fascination of insects, and her love of
preciousstones.
You recently did a capsule collection for Yoox, called Frozen
Garden. Can you tell us about the project?What kind of woman
lives in such a garden?
“FrozenGarden”isasmalluniversewhereinsectsandflowers
seemtobe“frozen”inspaceandtime.Floralformsandinsects
encased in ice-like crystalline resin allow us to approach the
pieces from an entomologist’s point of view: It captures them
but at the same time it works as a magnifying glass, as if we
werelookingatfossilsfromthefuture.“FrozenGarden”women
areintelligent,loveirony,andtheyarenotafraidofreinventing
themselves and playing with the parameters of beauty and
elegance. They know how to become girls again, wearing
flowersasjewels.
The concept of the Frozen Garden feels a bit like a fairy tale... do
youdrawinspirationfromthem?Aretheysomethingthatexcites
your imagination?
I love fairy tales, especially those of the Grimm brothers that
I often read to my daughter. They make your imagination fly
throughthemetaphorstheyusetoexplainlife.
It seems that bugs fascinate you, calling them ‘nature’s little
robots’ at some point. What is it that you find attractive about
them?
Theyactuallyrepelme,butweallknowthatinoursubconscious
what scares us is what attracts us the most. I am attracted by
theirmovements,theiracidandiridescentcolours...alsobythe
behaviours some of the insects have; some of them are cruel,
someplayaseductiongamewithflowers,othershaveasortof
roboticbehaviourlikelittlesoldiers.
Could you tell us about your design process in general? Do you
start with a single piece or do you try to envision a complete
collection?
Istartwithaninspirationthatcancomefromadream,ametal,or
astonewithastrangenewcut.Somethingthat’sconstantisthat
Ialwaysstartwithaquestion:WhatdoIneedtocommunicate?
Sometimestheanswerisawholecollection;sometimesit’sjust
onepiecearoundwhichIcreatethestoryIwanttotell.During
thecreativeprocess,Ialwaysfollowmyinstinct.
Whatareyourfavouritematerials?Doyoufindyourselfobsessing
over something, let’s say a precious stone, for certain periods?

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Iamattractedbystrangematerials,materialsthatIcannotdefine
at first sight what they are made of or where they come from.
They can be unique, artificial or natural. I am now obsessed
with coloured marbles. They have an almost futuristic vibe;
theymakeyoufeellikeyouarewatchingtheviewfromthetop
ofanotherplanet.It’sthesamefuturisticvibethatIseeinresin,
amaterialthatIlove!
You are also a firm believer of the energy that precious stones
carry. Are there any examples in the way you use them?
Ilovediamonds;theyhavethepowertobreakspellsorreveal
the truth. For the ancient Greeks and Romans they were the
tearsofthegodsandthefragmentsoffallingstars.Personally,
I use them often because of these meanings. Malachite
symbolizes strength and intelligence. I used it for a special
piece for a person whom I appreciate a lot mainly because of
these two talents. Opals seem to gift prophetic powers to the
one who wears it. Rubies give strength, energy, and vitality. I
love wearing different stones depending on the energy I feel
around me.
As you initially wanted to design costumes for films, what made
you switch to jewellery?
Myobsessivequestfordetail.
It has been said that your designs“appeal to a woman who likes
her jewellery to make a statement.”Do you agree with this?
Myjewelleryisforwomenwholovetosurprisewithdetails,who
lovetowearpiecesthatcanbecomethesubjectofaconversation
at a dinner party. They also know how to reinvent their style
fromtimetotimeusingagreatsenseofhumour.
You’ve always loved Salvador Dali, Man Ray, and Jean Cocteau.
What is your relationship with art and how does it inspire you?
Art inspires me in every form. It can create a little inner
revolution; it makes you stop and think. I usually don’t like
to know the exact thought process behind a work of art. I’m
more visual, fast and instinctive - I like to be left with my own
interpretation. Of course, I am fascinated by surreal art, there
arenoboundariesthereandthereissomuchmovement...Ilike
itsfreedom,thesamefreedomIhaveinmywork.Theonlyrule
inartistonothaveone!
How has growing up in Brazil and Italy affected your perception
about fashion and design?
Brazil, with its wild nature, has inspired me to use acid and
pop colours that come directly from its tropical environment.
Rome, on the other hand, is a city much more formal but full
of charm and history. It offers a constant surprise; you can
walkbythesamestreetorsquarecountlesstimesandyouwill
always manage to discover something, a small detail, that has
probablyalreadybeenthereforhundredsofyears.It’sacityof
infinitebeauty.
What’s your strongest childhood memory?
Playing in my mother’s closet when I stayed home because I
was feeling ‘sick.’ I could not resist not touching and trying on
allofherclothes.
Did you ever feel that the name Fendi came with great
expectations or even restrictions in what you were going to do
in your professional life?
Ifeltthatmybackgroundgavemetheopportunitytohaveavery
saneandclearapproachtowhatIwasgoingtofacebystarting
my own brand. I knew it was about hard work, sacrifices, and
passion.
Howhasyourdaughterchangedyoureverydaylifeandtheway
you see fashion?
Iseeitmoreasamissionnow,forheraswell.Ilikethefactthat
both my daughter and my brand were born on the same year
and I love seeing them grow together. It gives a lot of security
to her to see her mother freely moving and expressing herself,
and I’m sure this will help her find her own creative path with
lesspressure.Itisfairthatsheunderstandsworkasapassion,
itisadutybutalsosomethingfun.Fromapersonalside,being
a mother at a young age makes you forget about selfishness.
She is more than a daughter; she is a sister, a best friend. And
I want to be one of those mothers who with just one look can
makeyoubehaveright.
When it comes to personal style, you are considered one of the
best-dressed Italian women. Do you have any rules in the way
you dress?
Idon’tfollowtrends,Ifollowmyinstinctandmymood.Theonly
thingIdiscoveredaboutmeisthatwhenIhavea‘grey’moodI
balanceitbywearinglotsofcolour.Theoppositehappenswhen
Ifeelgood,asIusuallygofordarkertones.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
Well, all of my Fendi furs, contemporary and old. I have an
obsession with fur. From classic designs to the more modern,
pop-coloured ones, furs make me feel strong. There is a close
link between precious stones and fur: they are both primitive
and powerful. Sometimes I like to wear crazy, flamboyant furs
thatmakemefeellikeanexoticbird,andIenhancethisaspect
byaddingabitofcolourful,popmakeupinmyeyes.
How important is jewellery in your everyday wardrobe? What
kind of pieces do you go for?
Theyarethefinaltouchthatbalancesmyoutfit.Sometimeseven
asmallearringcanmakeyoulookoverdressed.Iusuallygofor
piercing rings all stacked together, or sometimes I select a “star
piece”andbuildmyoutfitaroundit.Idon’tpreferalotofbangles
ortonsofchains;Iammoresharpandminimalwithjewellery.
How do you see Italy’s fashion industry evolving since the
financial crisis started?
Thosewhocontinuedontheroadofexcellence,craftsmanship,
attention to detail, and those who innovated while respecting
the dictates of the “Made in Italy” principle, are managing to
overcome the difficulties. “Made in Italy” is our history, our
presentandourfuture,definitely.
If you were to expand your brand, what would you choose to do
next? Are you interested in interior design for example?
Whoknows...;)
INTERVIEW INTERVIEW
Sometimes I like to wear crazy,
flamboyant furs that make me feel
like an exotic bird
Art inspires me in every form.
It can create a little inner revolution;
it makes you stop and think.