Cabana magazine founder Martina Mondadori Sartogo’s name is synonymous with global style. The Italian publishing heiress, who grew up in a Renzo Mongiardino-designed home in Milan, and spent years traveling and collecting, has arguably created the most luxurious magazine in the world. Each biannual issue boasts a tightly curated selection of homes captured by photographers such as Miguel Flores-Vianna, plus stories written by a host of tastemakers and aesthetes. Printed on solid paper with covers swathed in actual fabric or wallpaper, Cabana’s pages embrace a sophisticated, bohemian aesthetic that is richly layered and deeply inspiring.
The publication is a combination of themes, objects, visual essays, and even an exchange of emails between Mondadori and her friends. The associates range from Martino Gamper, Patrick Kinmont, and Christian Lututen to Barnabas Fornassetti and Andrea Brantsi.
For her creation, Mondadori is influenced by the work of Renzo Monzardino, her childhood and her travels, mostly in the Middle East. About four years ago, she began to change her taste in the direction of returning to the rich textures, prints, and layering, which was caused by her desire to surround herself with atmosphere and coziness rather than a conceptual, firm, minimalistic design. "Cabana" is also a manifestation of a rich visual design movement that we have recently observed as a trend, such as Alessandro Michele's ideas for Gucci, those of Frieze Masters and Tefaf and others.
The concept of the publication is to be more than a magazine. The quality of the photographs and its content make it a book whose value remains unchanged over time. The covers of Cabana are one of the most anticipated images in social media and Instagram. The fabric is specially selected for each piece, which is virtually unique, embraced by a different piece of cloth, depending on the cut of the fabric. This gives it a collectible value.
Mondadori inherits her father's passion for collecting and eye for art. They have searched many museums, antique shops and markets around the world together and there she grew her love for paper and ceramics. An inspiration for her might be any unique item or detail that she sees while traveling around the world. She likes the colours of the Middle East, but for her, the most inspiring place on Earth is Italy, especially Sicily, Bologna and Naples.
Martina Mondadori works with true passion and dedication on all her projects and respects her team with whom she shares all her ideas. She supports female entrepreneurs and believes in their ability to add special value to things.
For 2018, she plans to open her own concept shop, where she will present her personal, curated selection of exquisite products.
Until then, you can find them on: