BAGS OF CREATIVITY
Fendi enlisted Hong Kong designers Carina Lau and Michelle Ong to reimagine the Peekaboo bag for its 10th anniversary. Rosana Lai explores the collaboration
Fendi enlisted Hong Kong designers Carina Lau and Michelle Ong to reimagine the iconic Peekaboo bag
Though Fendi will long be mourning the death of beloved designer Karl Lagerfeld, there will always be reasons for levity at the luxury Roman fashion house. For example, this year the brand, known for its lush furs and timeless leather goods, marks the 10th anniversary of the Peekaboo tote. To celebrate the occasion, Fendi commissioned designers around the world to customise the bag and gave them carte blanche, with two local designers lending their unique vision to the project. The new versions were launched in December at Design Miami, with the Hong Kong debut following on March 26.
Actress Carina Lau, who is the designer at her own label, Anirac, chose a floral theme—both to represent the different stages of life, and to recognise the significance of flowers in marking special occasions in our lives. Through her design,
which uses an array of colourful hand-painted leather petals blossoming right out of the bag, she hopes to convey the idea of preservation and perseverance.
Hong Kong-based jewellery designer Michelle Ong, the founder of Carnet, drew on her expertise with gemstones in developing her design. Michelle, whose jewellery has adorned the likes of Kate Winslet and Glenn Close on the red carpet, drew on her East-meets-west aesthetic, using jade green as a background and adding a lattice pattern reminiscent of Chinese art and furniture, and a ruby dragon brooch with matching flames peeking out of the bag and handle. The bejewelled piece is meant to be a talisman of strength and good fortune.
These exclusive bags were unveiled at Fendi’s Landmark boutique on March 26, amid the festivities of Art Basel in Hong Kong, along with five limited edition Peekaboo bags designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi for sale at the store.