“The past is what bonds us – The future leads us.” - MAISON MARTIN MAGIELA
A couple of years ago when I was still in the design school honing my pattern making skills and exploring my creative mind, I have stumbled upon a quite unique and extraordinary magazine. I have somewhat a hesitation to call it a "fashion" magazine not only because I always think "fashion" is such a limited word to describe a fascinating field that walks and balances both the art/creative and the business worlds, but also because the core of this magazine transcends "fashion" itself. Every individual issue opens up the door to a visual adventure.
A MAGAZINE is the new name of the Belgian fashion magazine whose title previously played with the letters of the alphabet. Previous issues were curated by fashion designers Dirk Van Saene (N°A), Bernhard Willhelm (N°B), Hussein Chalayan (N°C) and Olivier Theyskens (N°D). It publishes twice a year and invites a fashion designer, a group or a house to be the curator of the content of the magazine which explores the universe of their own aesthetics, cultural values, emotions, and inspirations. Very often the designer/curator collaborates with artists, photographers, models, editors, of their choosing to unfold a creative journey in each issue. As I flip through the pages, I become more in touch with their creative universe as a whole as I allow myself to be shocked and challenged to reflect upon my inner self.
A MAGAZINE has published 14 issues so far and the guest curators include MAISON MARTIN MAGIELA (issue #1), Yohji Yamamoto (issue #2), Riccardo Tisci (issue #8), and Stephen Jones (issue #13), to name a few. Each designer has their own story to tell via visuals and words. For example, the premier issue curated by MAISON MARTIN MAGIELA "brought us into contact with everybody that has ever had ties with the fashion house, long or short. Permanent staff members, casual collaborators, trainees, assistants, models, artists, photographers, musicians, choreographers, filmmakers. Some of them are still closely connected to the house, others have since gone their own way. Maison Martin Margiela and the “extended creative life and expression of the house” became the leitmotiv. Therefore this magazine is like a reunion, where all of these people were invited to be present within its pages, to show what they are working on at the moment or a piece of work which still remains very dear to them." In issue #10 curated by Giambattista Valli explores what beauty is through collaborations with artists, photographers, and style icons including Louise Bourgeois, Nan Goldin, Chiara Clemente, Lucio Fontana, David Hicks, Richard Avedon, Slim Aarons, Iman and the late Corinne Day. Issue #13 represents the first A Magazine curated by an Italian woman and the first to explore the decorative realm of a jewelry designer, after the magazine’s longstanding relationship with prét-à-porter designers was first diverted in 2013 by the curation of British milliner Stephen Jones.
Aside from the main content of the magazine, it also runs a news section following the international art scene, artists, and fashion designs (mostly western). If you are interested in purchasing the magazine, some issues can be found on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/A-Magazine-Iris-Van-Herpen/dp/9077745122). All issues can be viewed via their website www.amagazinecuratedby.com. Enjoy the visual feast!
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