It's another monumental day in fashion: Fendi has announced that Silvia Venturini Fendi will become Honorary President of the House from October 1, after decades as a creative force behind the brand. A member of the third generation of the Fendi family, Silvia has been instrumental in shaping the Maison's DNA – across accessories, menswear and, more recently, womenswear.

She began working alongside Karl Lagerfeld in 1992, helming accessories, and later expanding into menswear in 1994, before taking on the women's collection during Fendi's centennial year. Now, as she shifts into a role poised on preserving Fendi's rich heritage and craftsmanship, we're reflecting on the collections that helped define her legacy. From the iconic Baguette to more recent triumphs, Silvia's creative fingerprint is everywhere. Below, a look back at some of the most significant collections she brought to life.

Autumn Winter 1997

This was the year that Silvia gifted us the Baguette bag, and redefined what an accessory could be. At a time when bags were largely functional and oversized, the Baguette was small, and unapologetically decorative. Paired with Karl's ready-to-wear, it became an instant icon, and remains and It bag still today.

Spring Summer 2009

Another Silvia-designed icon, the Peekaboo bag made its debut on the runway in 2009. Named for its open-and-close structure that reveals the lining underneath (originally, it was going to be called the 'Hide and Seek' bag), it was a clear evolution of Silvia's accessories philosophy. That ame collection, designed by Karl, also included fluid silhouettes, a muted palette, and thoughtful layers that echoed the bag's duality.

Autumn Winter Couture 2016

Shown at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, this show marked Fendi's 90th anniversary. Titled Legends and Fairytales, it saw models glide across a transparent runway built over the water, wearing intricately embroidered pieces that looked lifted from a mythical past. Silvia was instrumental in bringing the shw to life, and every piece showcase the extraordinary craft Fendi is known for.

Spring Summer 2020

Her first solo womenswear collection after Karl Lagerfeld's passing, SS20 marked both an end and a beginning. Set against a sunlit runway in Milan, the collection was rooted in memory, easy and optimism – taking inspiration from Ponza, a small island off the coast of Italy where Silvia's family has a holiday home. That sense of sunny nostalgia infused everything, from pastel babydoll dresses, to retro florals and oversized sunlgasses that nodded to '60s and '70s resort glamour.

Baguette 25th Anniversary Show 2022

To mark 25 years of the Fendi Baguette, Silvia returned to the stage for a blockbuster tribute to the bage that reshaped the accessories landscape. Staged in New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, the show brought together creative forces Kim Jones, Marc Jacobs and Tiffany & Co to honour the Baguette's evolution from a 90s It bag, to a cross-generational symbol of enduring style.