EDITOR’S LETTER
There’s nothing like an anniversary to make you reflect about where you’ve been and where you’re going. Vogue Australia’s recent 60th birthday celebrations did just that. Many of my team had the opportunity to sift through the archives at the New South Wales State Library (which houses a full collection of issues from 1959), and each time they returned to the office wonderstruck by the work of decades past and brimming with ideas about how to push the magazine forward.
Which is good timing, because not only are we at the dawn of a new year, but also a new decade. While it has been incredible to reflect upon the amazing and enduring legacy of this brand with our 60th, Vogue Australia has always been about celebrating innovation and driving social conversations forward. And right now, this philosophy is more relevant than ever.
At fashion week in Paris last September, I met with the other Vogue editors from across the world to discuss setting the tone for 2020 in the most meaningful and effective way. As a result, we decided to release all our January editions with the joint cover line Vogue Values, and together make a strong declaration about the issues that mean the most to our readers: sustainability, inclusivity, diversity, innovation and creativity.
Collectively, we have made a pledge (which you can read below) about our values and vision for the future. The pages in this issue naturally reflect these themes, and it was only fitting that SudaneseAustralian model Adut Akech – who continues to champion diversity – should be on the cover.
This issue also features an interview with the CEO of luxury group Kering, François-Henri Pinault, who spearheaded the Fashion Pact, an agreement between 32 global companies in the fashion and textile industries. The pact focuses on environmental objectives in the areas of climate, biodiversity and oceans, and includes the goal of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. During his conversation, Pinault perfectly summed up the reason why collaboration and cooperation on issues such as sustainability are so crucial. “If we all set up the same goals, which we work on together and at the same time, with the same ambition, we will be more effective than if we remain isolated in our own corners,” he said.
It’s a sentiment we can all take with us as we head into 2020. Happy New Year.
For over a century, Vogue has empowered and embraced creativity and craftsmanship; celebrated fashion; and shined a light on the critical issues of the time. Vogue stands for thought- provoking imagery and intelligent storytelling. We devote ourselves to supporting creators in all shapes and forms. Vogue looks to the future with optimism, remains global in its vision, and stands committed to practices that celebrate cultures and preserve our planet for future generations. We speak with a unified voice across 26 editions standing for the values of diversity, responsibility and respect for individuals, communities and for our natural environment.
ALL THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF OF VOGUE