Enter the Collaborative World of the Medea Sisters
The siblings behind Milan’s favorite accessory label speak on finding inspiration in Italian youth and collaborating with Kiko Kostadinov, Peter Do and Nan Goldin.
With their natural sensitivity for all things cool, irrespective of trends or hype, it was almost inevitable that twin sisters Camilla and Giulia Venturini would end up at the helm of their own design label. After following separate paths within the art worlds of New York and Milan, respectively, the Italian-born sisters reunited to launch their brand Medea at the end of 2018. The two started with just one model: a leathered take on the classic shopping bag. Now an undeniable icon, the bag so neatly embodies the sisters’ talent for drawing beauty from the everyday and refining utility into elegance.
The label is named after Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1969 film Medea—a nod to the multitude of creative references that bring the Medea world to life. From collaborations with the likes of photographer Nan Goldin and designer Kiko Kostadinov, Medea has become more than just a brand; it’s an organic platform for diverse creative expression. In addition to broadening their horizons to include sunglasses and shoes, in 2023 the sisters are continuing to evolve their offering in expansive new ways. Most recently, the pair launched a limited-edition “Support Saving Humans” bag as part of Medea for Mediterranea, a campaign in which they lend their creativity to activism: 100% of the revenue is donated to Mediterranea Rescue and the bag will also be used by rescue crews.
In celebration of the collaborative ethos of their label, close friend Leonardo Scotti lenses the twins at Medea HQ with members of their community—artist Sagg Napoli and creative Erin Murray—and below, the sisters retrace the journey of how they grew Medea from just one bag into its own inspired universe.