Cabana Magazine has named its first U.S. editor, Kate Berry. She starts her new role Friday and will contribute to the upcoming October print issue.
In her new role, Cabana said that Berry will help elevate Cabana’s brand presence in the U.S. and other international markets as a luxury lifestyle brand rooted in craftsmanship, storytelling and design.
Berry will work closely alongside Martina Mondadori, editor in chief and founder of Cabana Magazine, on brand development, editorial strategy and partnerships for Cabana’s distinct voice in the travel, interiors and decorative arts space.
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“I am thrilled to welcome Kate to our team,” said Mondadori. “Her taste level and design acumen is well recognized in the industry. There is no one better I could imagine to represent the layered and nuanced world of Cabana in the United States, which remains our biggest and fastest-growing market across our media platforms and lifestyle collection. The big Cabana family continues to grow!”
In an interview with WWD, Berry said, “I have always admired Cabana as a brand and as a magazine and being in the design industry over the years. I have a lot of products in my home, I’m a Cabana loyalist — I have the tabletop, table linens and the dinnerware. It’s already part of how I live and expanding it into my work feels natural. Celebrating artisan stories is something I’ve done my entire career, so it’s a natural progression; it’s already aligned with my sensibilities and style.”
Berry said that while her primary responsibility is focused on editorial and partnerships, given her passion for tabletops and the Cabana decor products, “the doors are open for [her] to work on all the other categories.”
This move is part of Cabana’s broader expansion plans in the U.S. for this year, with the brand popping up in the new Printemps FiDi store designed by Will Cooper and hosting local trunk-show events in Charleston and Dallas. Berry said Cabana already has a notable presence in the U.S. market with its tabletop and commerce products, and said that there’s a bigger appetite for it.
Berry shared that she will be the magazine’s on-the-ground presence at upcoming events in the U.S. and leading expansion plans to build partnerships and expand more across the luxury, fashion, jewelry and other markets. Berry will also be on a panel at Dallas Design Week in September alongside Mondadori and deputy editor Miguel Flores-Vianna.
And given the shift in the media landscape today, Berry said that while she “loves the [biannual] book,” there’s a lot of potential growth for Cabana’s online platform — the brand already engages in newsletters and Substack to help broaden its reach.
“Cabana showcases and shoots the most beautiful locations. I’m excited to bring the American makers to Cabana’s audience,” continued Berry. “I want to spotlight makers that haven’t been showcased or that Cabana readers aren’t as familiar with. Many makers around the world work with their hands and Cabana has historically celebrated them. And many people are working this way in America that I want to celebrate. America’s diversity is so vast. Even Asians and Asian Americans, I would love to see more representation of them within Cabana’s pages. There’s a lot of diversity across the country to celebrate.”
Cabana also shared first with WWD that in September, the home and lifestyle arm of the brand will continue to grow its collection — 30 percent of the brand’s global revenue currently comes from its interiors and home line. The artisanal homeware e-commerce portion of the brand offers a variety of tableware, home accessories and exclusive ready-to-wear collaborations that take inspiration from the globetrotting magazine. The brand has worked with the likes of Destree, Antik Batik, Tiffany & Co., The Colony Hotel Palm Beach, Chanel, Zara Home, Gucci, Aerin, Carolina Herrera and more.
The expansion will mark the brand’s foray into home fragrance, which will include four distinct scents for the launch, which have all taken inspiration from the interiors in Cabana Magazine.
Prior to joining Cabana Magazine, Berry was the chief creative officer at Domino where she led visuals, designs and experiential offerings across the platform’s digital, print, brand partnership and product collaborations. She also held the titles of executive creative director at Domino and chief content officer at Saveur, an online gourmet, food, wine and travel publication.
Berry started as a floral and interior design stylist in San Francisco before shifting to editorial, where she started her career at Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Weddings. She later rose from tabletop editor to vice president of creative director for weddings. Beyond her more than 16 years of editorial experience, Berry has consulted on trends, art and style direction for the likes of Pinterest and various retail and hospitality brands.
