Fendi’s Baguette Return

Fendi used Milan Design Week 2026 to relaunch its Baguette as the “Baguette 26424 Re-Edition,” turning one of its best-known bags into an archive-led product drop. (fendi.com) The house said the project includes 20 re-editions from its Fall/Winter 2026-27 collection, and outside coverage of the launch said six of those styles were available in Milan during Design Week. (fendi.com, homestyleandbeyond.com) Fendi tied the name to the bag’s original model code, 26424, and trade coverage said the re-edition revisits the 1997 Baguette with a softer build and easier under-the-arm fit. (fendi.com, theimpression.com) The Milan activation was staged at Palazzo Fendi Milano during Design Week, where the brand used crate-like packaging and video displays to present archival versions as collectible objects. (initaly.it, flaunt.com) That format matched the way luxury labels used Milan this year: not just to show products, but to build installations around craft, heritage and display. One roundup described Design Week 2026 as a stage for “craftsmanship-driven storytelling and experiential presentations.” (elle.com.sg) AOL’s Milan Design Week roundup placed Fendi alongside other fashion houses using the city’s design calendar for branded cultural events beyond the main Salone del Mobile fair. (aol.com) The relaunch also sits inside a leadership reset at Fendi. Trade and fashion coverage said Maria Grazia Chiuri reintroduced the 26424 in her Fall/Winter 2026-27 debut for the house after taking the top creative role in 2026. (retailboss.co, pursebop.com) The Baguette has been central to Fendi’s identity since the late 1990s, so the brand did not need a new silhouette for Milan. It used a familiar one, attached it to an archive code, and sold the return as both product and exhibition. (theimpression.com, fendi.com) After Milan, the re-edition was slated to continue with store pop-ins at New York 57 and Shanghai IFC, extending a Design Week launch into a wider retail rollout. (flaunt.com)