Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Independent Fashion Magazines Experience a Resurgence in Print
Just before Valentine’s Day, Cultured magazine celebrated its February-March 2025 edition with a lively gathering. The event, held at Quarters, a dual-purpose space in TriBeCa serving as both a furniture boutique and a wine bar, was filled to capacity. Cristin Milioti, the cover star and celebrated actress, was present, with attendees eagerly capturing moments for their social media, posing in doorways and on plush sofas. The resurgence of independent print magazines focused on fashion, art, and culture is clearly being felt.
“The support has been unexpectedly overwhelming,” remarked Sarah Harrelson, Cultured’s founder, a publishing veteran with experience at InStyle and Women’s Wear Daily.
Cultured, a publication merging the realms of fashion and art, debuted in 2012. At that time, Ms. Harrelson resided in Miami, where she had previously contributed to Ocean Drive magazine and initiated a magazine supplement for The Miami Herald.
“Reflecting now, I felt creatively constrained at 38,” she explained. “I desired to pursue a personal project, free from established industry norms. The publishing world had become too predictable.”
This resurgence of independently produced fashion magazines highlights a renewed appreciation for striking aesthetics and superior production quality. Publications such as Cultured, L’Etiquette, Konfekt, and Polyester are gaining prominence, gracing the shelves of discerning retailers like Casa Magazines in the West Village and magCulture in London.
These magazines, shedding their image as ephemeral items destined for disposal or relics of a fading industry, are now esteemed as premium, collectible items. “It offers a luxurious opportunity to unwind and absorb a singular perspective, perhaps one you hadn’t realized you were seeking,” noted Penny Martin, editor in chief of The Gentlewoman. The Gentlewoman is often credited with spearheading this independent print revival with its inception in 2010.
Búzio Saraiva, associate publisher for nine independent magazines, including Holiday and Luncheon, and founder of Paris-based Nutshell & Co., which collaborates with similar publications, shared his insights.
“Individuals behind independent magazines create content designed for longevity,” he stated. “They become collector’s items, eventually finding new audiences at markets and inspiring creative projects like moodboards.”
Mr. Saraiva views these magazines as platforms for stylists, photographers, prominent figures, and writers to showcase their creative talents in ways that mainstream publications might not readily accommodate. “It’s a laboratory,” he described. “It serves as research and development for the creative sector. I observe current trends echoing styles we explored a decade ago. There’s less rigid adherence to universally inoffensive content.”
Despite their independent ethos, these magazines often feature familiar faces. “Frequently, the cover stars and talent are the same as those in Hearst or Condé Nast publications, yet the interviewers and photographers can offer entirely different perspectives,” explained Joshua Glass, founder of the food and fashion magazine Family Style in 2023. The spring 2025 issue of Family Style features Gwyneth Paltrow, interviewed by curator Klaus Biesenbach and photographed by Brianna Capozzi.
Creative autonomy marks a significant distinction, according to Mr. Glass. Like many independent magazines, Family Style is primarily self-funded. “My accountability is to my own ethical standards, my peers, and my employees,” he emphasized.
“We are operating profitably,” Mr. Glass added. “We maintain a modest approach, avoiding extravagant expenditures and prioritizing resourcefulness.”
Magazines such as Cultured and Family Style typically employ revenue models similar to mainstream print publications, attracting advertisers who value reaching a niche, younger demographic at more accessible rates.
“The climate has evolved,” noted Nick Vogelson, who established the culture, arts, and fashion magazine Document in 2012. “Brands recognize the intrinsic value of print media. For 13 seasons consecutively, advertising revenue has increased.” Mr. Vogelson is expanding his portfolio with a new magazine, Notes on Beauty, slated for spring.
“Within my profession, we prefer to call advertisers ‘supporters’,” Ms. Martin shared with a laugh. “It extends beyond conventional display advertising to encompass specialized collaborations. We explore alternative partnerships with entities seeking to engage culturally attuned or affluent readers.” The Gentlewoman has previously curated an architectural excursion in Los Angeles in partnership with Cos and a guided tour of the Chelsea Physic Garden in London alongside Vince, as examples.
Here is a curated guide to ten noteworthy new fashion-focused print magazines:
Notes on Beauty
The inaugural spring 2025 issue features Julianne Moore on the cover, photographed by Inez and Vinoodh, adorned with red rose petals. Content includes features on ancient wellness practices and a personal essay exploring a writer’s choice to abstain from cosmetic procedures.
AFM
The acronym playfully stands for “A Magazine For,” with the “F” representing a less conventional word. Issue 001, themed “pursuits of happiness,” debuted last fall, produced by the dating application Feeld. Feeld openly declared that over half of its contributors are active users of the app. Feeld is part of a trend of companies like Mubi, the film streaming platform, and Metrograph, the cinema, creating print spin-offs.
Heroine
What if a fashion magazine prioritized visual storytelling through photography? Heroine’s fall 2024 issue includes brief interviews with actors Finn Bennett and Noah Jupe, yet the centerpiece is model Alice McGrath, captured by Fabien Kruszelnicki in Celine attire.
Cultured
The most recent edition presents multiple covers, including Cristin Milioti photographed by Chris Colls holding a lit cigarette. Thematically centered on art and film, it features conversations with director Luca Guadagnino, Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres, and painter Torkwase Dyson.
Konfekt
Konfekt defines itself as “the magazine for sharp dressing, drinking, dining, travel and design.” Based in Zurich, it often reflects a Central European perspective. Issue 17 presents profiles of a chef in Georgia (the country) and a calligrapher in Paris, alongside an interview with Serbian fashion designer Dusan Paunovic.
L’Etiquette
Paris-based L’Etiquette emphasizes personal style and the craft of dressing well. Available in distinct editions for men and women, it consistently sells out on newsstands. Online, panels of fashion insiders curate their favorite “It” bags, revealing delightfully unconventional and understated choices, such as an L.L. Bean suede tote or a miniature Balenciaga croissant-shaped bag.
Polyester
Polyester embodies a playful spirit and a vibrant visual style reminiscent of 1990s magazines. It champions icons for a particular segment of fashionable feminists, including winter 2024/2025 cover star Sofia Coppola and Chelsea Fairless and Lauren Garroni, hosts of the “Every Outfit” podcast.
Patta
Patta, the namesake magazine of an Amsterdam-based store, has cultivated a devoted following for its coverage of music and streetwear. The magazine adopts a global viewpoint on culture, with a spotlight on African-European connections. Its spring-summer issue features an interview with Congolese director Baloji and an article exploring the burgeoning EDM scene in Lagos.
Holiday
Each issue of the midcentury magazine Holiday was dedicated to a different city, boasting contributors such as Truman Capote and Joan Didion. Revived in spring 2014 by design studio Atelier Franck Durand, with authorization from French publisher Lagardère, Holiday technically isn’t independent. It maintains its city-centric approach, with the fall-winter edition focusing on New York. While incorporating vintage elements such as a reprint of Joan Didion’s “Goodbye to All That” essay, it also features contemporary figures like Tommy Dorfman and Marc Jacobs in conversation.
Unconditional
“Made by Women, for Women,” declares Unconditional, and a distinctly female perspective permeates its pages. Content includes features on lymphatic drainage specialists in Paris and a profile of designer Rachel Scott of the fashion line Diotima.