Five Fendi sisters took over the company: Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla, and Alda. They entered the family business in 1946, forming the second generation of Fendi leadership.
The sisters inherited a Roman fur and leather enterprise founded by their parents, Adele Casagrande and Edoardo Fendi. Each sister held a 20 percent share, and together they helped turn the family shop into an internationally recognized luxury brand.
Their roles were varied rather than identical. The sisters contributed to management, public relations, merchandising, design, and international expansion. Carla Fendi, for example, became especially associated with communications and later served as company president, while the family’s creative direction developed through close collaboration with designers such as Karl Lagerfeld.
The number is often confused because later generations of the Fendi family also became involved. Silvia Venturini Fendi, Anna’s daughter, joined the company in 1994 and became a major designer behind accessories including the Baguette and Peekaboo bags. She was part of the third generation, not one of the original five sisters.