FERRAGAMO FEVER

An example that fashion is truly in the air, as Gabrielle Chanel famously said: one Monday morning, we (The Ceiling editors Charon and Stephanie) both showed up at the office wearing the same vintage Ferragamo bag. It was a serendipitous fashion moment that solidified the allure of this iconic brand, which has experienced a remarkable revival under the creative direction of Maximilian Davis.

What makes Ferragamo so appealing to both of us all of a sudden, nearly 100 years after the brand was founded? A big part of its appeal lies in the use of silver hardware. Silver is having a moment. As most trends, it started in food (chefs like Laila Gohar and Laszlo Badet serving food in silver coupes and on silver platters) and interior design (stainless steel kitchens and chrome furniture, like the ‘Commande Speciale’ bed by Louis Sogot and Charlotte Alix that recently went viral when Christie’s Paris showed it). Jewelry brands such as Sophie Buhai (we have been wearing these silver hoops on repeat) and Gala Colivet Dennison further ignited this silver obsession for us.

There’s something about silver hardware on accessories that feels more modern and relevant than gold right now. In Ferragamo’s case, the silver hardware clashes with the brand’s old lady bag silhouettes, creating unexpected contrast that intrigues, much like the tabi ballerina - a blend of both femininity and masculinity. These handbags possess an old-fashioned charm, yet the silver details infuse a distinctly modern feel. They're chic, they’re different, and that's precisely what we admire about them.

Ever since we started wearing our 'old new' bags, we've been bombarded with questions about them, both online and offline. And we get it; they are hard to ignore. Besides the silver hardware, the craftsmanship shines through. Ferragamo is a heritage brand founded in 1927 in Florence, known for its leatherwork, similar to Bottega Veneta and Loewe. The strong craftsmanship is evident in the bag’s robust construction, along with the remarkable quality and supple texture of the leather. These. Bags. Last. 

And so does the design. The first thing Davis did when he took over the reins was to explore the archive (oh, how we wish we were a fly on the wall). In just one year, this British designer with Trinidadian-Jamaican roots revitalized the brand, awakening the once-sleepy fashion house. He bears sole responsibility for everyone’s current obsession with red, Renaissance (it was hard to miss the latest campaign shot by Tyrel Mitchell) and we believe the comeback of the Gancini is next. Davis is bringing back the bag that we both stumbled upon, called the Hobo bag, with its distinctive flip-clasp buckle. To go full on Wikipedia on you: the signature hardware design dates back to the late ‘70s, when Salvatore Ferragamo’s daughter designed a handbag as a gift for her mother, embellished with a horseshoe-like clasp - the now-iconic Gancini hardware. We haven't felt this level of excitement about a new designer at a fashion house in a long time, and we're foreseeing an impact reminiscent of Daniel Lee's influence at Bottega Veneta, or dare we say, even of Phoebe Philo at Céline? (Fun fact: Ferragamo's CEO, Marco Gobbetti, was also the one who hired Phoebe Philo at Céline.) 

Back to the day when we both showed up with the same bag, happily spiraling in our vintage Ferragamo bubble. It was at that moment we knew we wanted to dedicate The Ceiling's 2.0 inaugural vintage edit to pay homage to Ferragamo and Maximilian Davis. We hope you love our selection as much as we do.