One of five sisters inheriting a small Roman leather goods workshop and later transforming it into a luxury powerhouse was Carla Fendi. She died on Monday at the age of 79. The house of Fendi announced her death but did not specify the cause.

Fourth in the line of Fendi sisters, after having completed her classical studies in the late ‘50s, while she was still young, Carla Fendi entered the family business to work alongside her sisters: Paola, Anna, Franca and subsequently Alda. The start of her career included training in various fields, from administration and production all the way through to sales and design alongside her sisters and Karl Lagerfeld. At the same time, as early as the ‘60s, she dedicated herself to public relations, focusing primarily and strategically on the most difficult market: the USA. The success achieved in this market immediately pushed the brand to important new levels across the world. With the growth and development of the brand, whilst still collaborating on the design aspect, Carla Fendi took charge of the Communications of the brand, which included the Press Office, Advertising, Brand Image and Events.