There are not many places in Tricities to purchase – much less see – a top of the line pre-loved luxury handbag like the fashionable big city women get to indulge in regularly. Until now that is. Albert’s Pawn has launched a new service to sell, buy and pawn pre-loved designer handbags so that Tennessee customers in Johnson City, Bristol and Kingsport can afford to purchase their very own designer handbag.
Sure, there are lots of places you can buy purses online, but at Albert’s you get to inspect the bag thoroughly before you buy – no surprises! And even better each purse is guaranteed authentic by a nationally recognized authenticity service.
The Designers
Since Albert’s Pawn began selling and pawning pre-loved luxury handbags in August 2019 in our North Johnson City Albert’s, we have been featuring each designer we offer with our services. The designers we can authenticate using Entrupy are Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Coach, Chloe, Dior, Fendi, Goyard, Hermès, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Celine, and Prada. This time we will talk about the House of Fendi.
Fendi
Fendi was started in 1925 by Italian couple Adele and Edoardo Fendi. They began their small shop in Rome to cater to the elite and specialized in furs and fur accessories. Eventually they branched out into leather goods and handbags and more.
As their business grew, so did their family. They had five daughters who grew up in the business, even sleeping as babes in handbag drawers while their parents worked. When the girls grew up and collectively took the helm in 1946, the Fendi brand took off as an international luxury goods house.
Changing Times
During the radical 1960s, women were rebelling against many things including fashion deemed “old fashioned.” As the sale and interest in furs declined, Fendi needed help navigating these new directions. In 1965 the daughters hired German designer Karl Lagerfeld to breathe new life into this traditional Italian brand.
Lagerfeld had already shaped other designers like Chloe and was famous for his cutting edge design ideas. It was he who developed Fendi’s first logo, the well known double F graphic that is today an instantly recognizable logo.
“I drew the Double F in three seconds and it became the acronym of the Fendi house,” Lagerfeld said.
The Purses
Fendi’s handbags didn’t garner much of a following until the daughter of one of the five sisters (Anna), Sivia Venturini Fendi came on board in 1994. She is the creative designer behind the Baguette, which is still today the most famous Fendi bag. This small purse was said to be carried under one’s arm like the classic loaf of French bread. To keep interest up, Fendi came out with a new fun Baguette bag every six months prompting collectors like Sophia Loren to snatch them up as soon as they were available. It was Fendi’s first “It” bag. Although small and fun, they will set you back over $2,000 new.
In 2005 the soft larger Spy was introduced that gave the Baguette some competition. It’s casual almost duffel bag look appealed to the younger, less formal set. Even though it originally sold for over $2000, it quickly created such a stir there was a wait list. It features a fold-over flap, braided handles and a hidden coin purse. No longer in production and not in high demand, a Spy bag today can run as low as $200.
The 2006 B Bag has oversized buckles, a chain shoulder strap and while still casual it had more form. Next was the Peekaboo introduced in 2009 which is sleek and has a distinctive pull down side so you can “peek” into your bag. These can set you back $4,000 and up for a new one.
In 2012 Fendi introduced the 2jours Bag which is more boxy and formal looking. This bag is a timeless piece with compartments which can be carried by hand or over the shoulder. No longer offered by the brand, expect to pay between $600 to nearly $2,000 in the open market today.
Fun Facts
- Fendi opened its first store in the US in 1989 in New York City.
- In 2014 Fendi began planning to use drones for the catwalk during fashion shows.
- Always proud of their beloved Rome, Fendi donated over $2 million for the restoration of the renowned Trevi Fountain. After its completion Fendi held a fashion show atop the iconic fountain by using a glass walkway.
- Each Fendi sister specialized in their own area of expertise. Anna oversees leather goods; Paola handles furs; Franca operates customer relations; Carla works the business side; Alda handles sales.
- Even after Fendi was purchased by conglomerate LVMH with controlling interest in 2001, the Fendi sisters have continued in their roles and leaving their mark on their family brand.
Stop by one of Albert’s four locations to get a pawn loan on your pre-loved designer handbag! Here are nine things to know about Albert’s Pawn in Tennessee.
Albert’s has been family owned and operated since 1927. No matter what part of the Tri-Cities you’re in we have a location to serve you. With four Albert’s Pawn locations (Downtown Johnson City, North Johnson City, Bristol, and Kingsport), getting top dollar for your items for pawn loans and finding that item you’ve been looking for at an unbeatable price has never been easier. Stop by and see why Albert’s Pawn is the premier pawnshop in the area.