Vogue Italia won’t feature any photoshoot in its next issue, January 2020. Instead, the entire magazine will be illustrated by several young and talented artists. Despite this will probably the most creative issue ever since, the reasons behind this move are shocking.
Cover photo: © Unsplash
Vogue Italia
Vogue Italia is well-known for its extravagant photoshoots. Now that the world is (literally) on fire and the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries worldwide, change is necessary. Due to this, Vogue Italia decided to skip photoshoots for their January 2020 issue.
In his Editor’s Letter, Editor in Chief Emanuele Farneti listed the necessary resources for their January issue, usually the biggest issue of the year: “One hundred and fifty people involved. About 20 flights and a dozen or so train journeys. Forty cars on standby. Sixty international deliveries. Lights switched on for at least ten hours nonstop, partly powered by gasoline-fuelled generators. Food waste from the catering services. Plastic to wrap the garments. Electricity to recharge phones, cameras … ” Shocking.
With this move, Farneti follows Vogue’s global mission statement, as articulated by all international Vogue editors. Furthermore, he admits the problem and makes it understandable for the wider public. To New York Times, he declared: “I think that the most honest way to face a problem is starting by admitting it. That was our way to say that we know we are part of a business that is far from being sustainable.”
The illustrated covers will be available from January 7th on. Each cover will feature a model wearing Gucci from head to toe. Captions will read: “No photoshoot production was required for the making of this issue.” On top of this, Vogue is the very first magazine of Condé Nast worldwide to use 100% compostable plastic wrapping from 2020 on.
The covers
Cassi Namoda has painted the cover above, featuring model Ambar Cristal Zarzuela while crying and a mosquito flying around her head. Likewise, every cover has its own story. Fashion model Felice Nova Noordhoff features a cover illustrated by the Italian Paolo Ventura, wearing a pink and metallic top, while Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano has illustarted model Lindsey Wixson. Vanessa Beecroft depicted a model wearing an organza outfit, where comic book illustrator Milo Manara has drawn Olivia Vinten wearing a daring lingerie set.
The latter is based on Michelangelo’s David. At first, there was some disagreement about whether or not putting an erotic-looking lady on the cover of a women’s fashion magazine was a good shot. However, “we decided that the girl is so in control“, according to Farneti.
Check out the illustrated Vogue Italia covers below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B60aAAPKGcl/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B60vKxcqI81/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B60oTM0K42I/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B60hf8LqEQV/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B602AOPK0LH/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B608lXWqYol/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B61ASr2q8c5/
We sincerely hope that many others will follow.
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