Fendi Peekaboo Soft – Sculptural Aesthetics and Raw Materials

The Peekaboo reimagined through the lens of Boe Marion and Ian Bradley for Lampoon 30, where sculptural aesthetics and raw materials converge to highlight the interplay of craftsmanship and contemporary design

The Peekaboo: A Story of Hands and Identity

Blending past and present is a challenge that great maisons must often embrace—a testament to leave for the future. For Fendi, this synthesis of tradition and modernity manifests in the Peekaboo, described as a versatile, timeless tote bag.

Designed in 2008, the Peekaboo entered the market quietly, only to become a disruptive force. It quickly gained status as a collectible piece, evoking the charm of vintage lock bags but with a softer, lighter silhouette. Its distinctive features include a supple front panel and a precious twist-lock closure, reinvented each season with new colors and craftsmanship that reflect evolving creativity.

Playfully named after the children’s game peek-a-boo, the Peekaboo embodies minimalism while exploring contrasts in texture and color. It challenges the intimacy of a woman’s handbag with a constant interplay of inside and outside, seen and unseen. “The Peekaboo wearer is multifaceted,” explains Silvia Venturini Fendi. “They have hidden talents and choose what to reveal about themselves. A handbag is full of secrets, and the Peekaboo allows you to decide what to keep private and what to share.”

The Peekaboo’s Runway Debut with Spring/Summer 2009

Debuting in the Spring/Summer 2009 collection, the Peekaboo complemented Karl Lagerfeld’s ready-to-wear designs. Each season, it evolves with new interpretations, from the accordion-like Peekaboo ISeeU with sharp diagonal sides to the single-compartment Peekaboo X-Lite, and mini versions like the Peekaboo ISeeU Petite and Micro.

Regarded as a design object due to its sculptural quality, the Peekaboo speaks to both artisanal leatherworking traditions and the artistic modernity of Italian design. Silvia Venturini Fendi describes its structure as creating a “draped smile” when open, embodying the playful essence of its name.

Fendi Baguette and Peekaboo: Symbols of Continuity and Transformation

Fendi’s narrative is rooted in creativity, tradition, and craftsmanship—defining elements of its identity over the past century. The Baguette and Peekaboo are results of a developmental journey that connects seemingly disparate elements like tradition and modernity. Together, they reveal the continuity of Fendi’s vision and its commitment to conveying its values.

In 2014, during the opening of Fendi’s New Bond Street store, ten influential women—including Gwyneth Paltrow, Adele, and Zaha Hadid—reinterpreted the Peekaboo for charity. Their bespoke designs were auctioned to support Kids Company, a foundation by Camila Batmanghelidjh.