| By Elena Sendona on June 10, 2026 |
Zanclea’s official debut at Milan’s iconic 10 Corso Como was quite unique for a very good double reason. The launch of the new accessories brand became a platform for a broader conversation about how contemporary women are building businesses, embracing innovation, and redefining the relationship between design and everyday life.
Founded by Maud Laverdant and Mafalda Aiello, Zanclea entered the market with a clear vision: to create accessories that respond to the realities of modern mobility while maintaining an elevated design sensibility. Unveiled during an intimate event attended by entrepreneurs, creatives, and industry leaders, the collection introduced a fresh perspective on functional luxury for women whose lives move seamlessly between meetings, travel, technology, and global opportunity.
The brand’s debut collection features seven bag and accessory designs organized into three distinct families: ELLE, SHE, and LEI. Each collection reflects a different dimension of contemporary femininity. ELLE embraces a softer, more romantic spirit, SHE embodies dynamism and momentum, while LEI expresses clarity, structure, and rationality. Together, they form a design language that acknowledges the complexity of modern women and the many identities they navigate throughout the day.
Created for professionals whose schedules stretch across cities such as Milan, Amsterdam, and Paris, the bags are designed to accommodate the tools of contemporary work life. Laptops, notebooks, passports, chargers, and other daily essentials fit seamlessly into silhouettes engineered to balance elegance and practicality. Thoughtful details, including removable straps that transform the bags into backpacks, allow the pieces to adapt effortlessly to changing environments and demands.
Innovation extends beyond functionality. Developed in collaboration with ACBC, a recognized leader in sustainable product research and development, the collection incorporates next-generation materials from the FreeBio™ family. Recycled technical polyamide and high-performance recycled polyester contribute to a design philosophy that places responsible innovation alongside aesthetics, reinforcing the growing importance of sustainability within the luxury sector.
Yet it was the conversation surrounding the collection that gave the launch its distinctive character. Following the presentation, guests gathered for “Entrepreneur Conversation,” a Leadership Talk moderated by international creative industry advisor Orietta Pelizzari. The discussion brought together a group of women whose careers span business, technology, design, beauty, and innovation, creating a dialogue that reflected the entrepreneurial energy shaping Milan today.
Laverdant spoke about identifying a genuine market need and approaching the brand through the lens of product engineering, while Aiello shared the design-driven vision behind the project and the collaborative development process that informed the collection’s materials and functionality. Their complementary perspectives illustrated how contemporary brands increasingly emerge from the intersection of creativity, technical expertise, and strategic thinking.
Joining the discussion were Caroline Baranes, Chief Business Officer of Baralan; entrepreneur and innovation leader Aram Chantal Mbow; and Laura Morino, founder of Morino Studio. Together, they explored themes ranging from generational leadership and innovation to the importance of networks, collaboration, and ecosystem-building within today’s business environment.
What emerged from the conversation was a portrait of entrepreneurship that feels increasingly relevant to the present moment. Innovation was framed not as disruption for its own sake, but as a thoughtful response to real-world challenges. Creativity, intelligence, and sustainability surfaced as essential tools for building meaningful businesses capable of evolving with the needs of contemporary society.
That philosophy resonates strongly with Zanclea’s identity. The brand arrives at a time when women are demanding more from the products they carry, expecting design to work harder while remaining sophisticated and emotionally resonant. By combining functionality, material innovation, and a nuanced understanding of mobility, Zanclea positions itself within a growing movement that views luxury through the lens of usefulness as much as beauty.
