Introducing the first cover story from our 10th anniversary issue. “Every job I do is yet a new episode that I put into my backpack of life," says accomplished actress Rebecca Ferguson. Photography by Magnus Magnusson, fashion by Claudia Englmann and interview by Antonia Nessen.
Fashion photographs, both everywhere and far detached. I first encountered them as a child in the shape of my mother’s German women’s magazines. Shyly devouring every image, wondering about what grown-up life in grown-up bodies might be like. Later glossy luxurious fashion magazines, hardly ever purchased, mainly found, seen, touched, glanced at in public spaces, at hair dressers, places where wo/men are indulging into becoming more perfected, idealized versions of themselves. Inspired by model images. Essay by Andrea Kollnitz
Imagination, nostalgia and emotion, traditionally the preserve of the fine arts, have an enduring presence in architecture and fashion. Essay by Bradley Quinn
If there is one thing that is clear in fashion, it’s that designers can never make it alone. After all, fashion is a field involving many different professions that bring their respective knowledge, network and expertise together in order to realize a designer’s vision. This is something Nathalie Dufour knew when she set up the prestigious ANDAM award in 1989. Paris was famous for launching international names, but the French were lacking the necessary entrepreneurial spirit and managerial skills. Interview by Philippe Pourhashemi
At times when insects need a protective shell, some of them spin silky fibres around themselves to form soft, armour-like habitats. When humans feel a need for protection, something similar sometimes occurs. We instinctively retreat into our living spaces, where we can feel shielded from the perceived dangers outside. By Bradley Quinn
With a career in PR built on the success of young and independent brands, Robin Meason understands the complex nature of today’s industry. The Texas native, who moved to Paris in the early 1990s, largely contributed to the global rise and fame of Glenn Martens and Demna Gvasalia, two designers who have – in their own respective ways – defined the Zeitgeist. Meason is a great communicator and a woman who loves storytelling, but she’s more instinctive than calculating. She also values craft and authenticity, two key notions that may influence her choice when it comes to collaborating with new brands. By Philippe Pourhashemi
Every once in a while, an interdisciplinary talent shakes the industry with visionary flair and a unique insight into the future of luxury and how it’s consumed. Enter Ben Gorham, who despite being Swedish and Stockholm-based, fully qualifies as “citizen of the world”. Ever since launching Byredo in 2006 – an innovative and now iconic perfume line – Gorham has managed to make us rethink what a luxury product is, challenging the corporations and their monopolies as well as preconceived ideas around the use of perfume. He also loves collaborating and involving other creative types in his projects, such as his friend Virgil Abloh who recently created a fragrance and line of accessories with the brand. Interview by Philippe Pourhashemi. Photography by Magnus Magnusson
The spectacle of fashion masses in and around our clothing, constituting a unique space in itself. Fashion space can be found in urban cityscapes and built environments, but also on digital platforms and in virtual worlds. As the spaces of fashion extend beyond their physical confines, they take shape at precisely the point where traditional definitions of public space – as urban sites, democratic arenas and open-access areas – break down. By Bradley Quinn
Katherine Waterston has become a reliable source for a variety of directors looking to infuse their characters with a visceral complexity, a nuanced humanity, that’s difficult to find elsewhere. It’s the reason why an astounding list of filmmakers have chosen her for their projects — cinematic powerhouses like Ridley Scott, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Soderbergh, and Danny Boyle. Interview by Max Berlinger, photography by Magnus Magnusson and styling by Martina Nilsson.
Visionaries know that the cutting-edge in architecture is not sharp, but sensuous and soft. At a time when architects are pioneering tactile surfaces, fluid façades and mobile structures, fashion is revealing new potentials for building design. By Bradley Quinn
