MILAN — Looking for a love declaration for fashionistas? Try with “Hundred years ain’t enough when I’m here with you / You appeared out of nowhere like Peekaboo.”
Fendi’s signature bag made its way into the opening lines of Bang Chan’s new track “Roman Empire,” which is to be officially released on Nov. 3 and will take the K-pop star’s relationship with the Italian brand to another level.
To be sure, while waiting for new chief creative officer Maria Grazia Chiuri to unveil her first collection for the brand in February, Fendi is turning up the volume of its collaboration with the Stray Kids’ leader, who it named a brand ambassador earlier this year.
References to the label will feature in Chan’s new track, which will come with a music video filmed at Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, Fendi’s headquarters in Rome.
Bang Chan wearing Fendi in “Roman Empire.”
Courtesy of Fendi
Written, composed and produced by Chan, the single is “a song about Fendi,” said the artist in a statement. “It compares love to the eternity and grandeur of the Roman Empire, weaving symbols of the maison — such as the iconic Peekaboo bag and the signature ‘FF’ logo — into the lyrics to reinterpret Rome’s heritage in a modern way.”
Chan teased that “the track blends smooth, emotional vocals with dreamy synths, layered over a powerful kick-driven rhythm, creating an R&B/Miami Bass sound.”
While the lyrics will include verses such as “Ciao bella, you shine brighter than the stars, so stellar / That leather, I swear it looks better when we are together,” along with invites to “a ride in Roma,” the video is expected to open with a simple and understated portrayal of the artist, reminiscent of his pre-debut days.
As it progresses, the clip traces Chan’s artistic evolution, alternating interior and exterior shots of Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana and culminating in his emergence as a leading global artist — all dressed in Fendi, of course.
The project will be teased on Friday, while the full version will be unveiled on Nov. 3 on Fendi’s website and social media channels. The big reveal will be celebrated with a special premiere at K-pop Square’s mega screen at COEX in Seoul.
To further mark the release of the single, the following day the fashion brand will host an exclusive private event at the Palazzo Fendi store in the city, featuring a live performance by Chan.
Bang Chan at the Fendi fall 2025 runway show in Milan.
Stephane Feugere/WWD
Chan’s affiliation with Fendi already started last year, when the artist attended its spring 2025 menswear show in Milan and then wore the brand at several public appearances, including at the Stray Kids World Tour <dominATE> and at music festivals, such as I-Days Milano 2024 and BST Hyde Park 2024.
When Chan was named a brand ambassador in January he said he felt “an immediate connection to Fendi with its creative and fun spirit” and that he was honored “to join the Fendi family in its 100th anniversary year, which makes it even more special.”
The artist, whose full name is Christopher Chahn Bahng, joined Fendi’s centenary celebration in Milan a month later, sitting front row at the brand’s fall 2025 runway show. He returned to the Fendi front row last month for the brand’s spring 2026 show, and visited the new Palazzo Fendi flagship store in Milan’s Golden Triangle, creating a frenzy outside the location.
Bang Chan at the Fendi spring 2026 runway show in Milan.
Stephane Feugere/WWD
Fendi’s partnership with Chan has proven to be fruitful so far. For one, the tie-up enabled the company to secure the second spot in the first Cultural Currency Index, or CCI, a newly launched ranking aimed at quantifying how cultural engagement translates into measurable market momentum.
Presented in Milan earlier this month, CCI assessed 20 fashion companies showing at Milan Fashion Week last month, drawing data from 11 platforms in 50 countries and assigning a score between 0 and 100 according to the three pillars of brand popularity, brand involvement and purchase intent. Fendi got a 92.9 score and secured a top engagement performance through its partnership with Chan, which drove conversation on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The brand ranked first in purchase intent, specifically, recording a 17.8 percent increase in site traffic, 10.6 percent rise in Google shopping-related searches and 8 percent on Baidu.
The study highlighted the pivotal role of Asian creators and platforms and the importance of having a curated front row to maximize visibility and engage target audiences, among other key assets for brands.
