The Record: Fashion Zines to Keep Your Ear On

Experience is the best teacher. Fashion journalism students at the Academy of Art University can sit in the driver’s chair.

Graduate and undergraduate students at Academy learn how to create, publish, distribute and market niche magazines under the direction of Stephan Rabimov.

Academy of Art University offers a program and a platform to students who want to become creative professionals in fashion journalism. Every student publication must feature collaborative editorial projects with other Academy programs. These include fashion styling, fashion design, photography, and fashion styling. Every concept magazine is digitally produced by Issuu and distributed through program partners.

KSHA

Nivetha Sundar, like many student-produced magazines, incorporates her roots. This magazine combines bright Indian culture and grit.

Sundar said that KSHA was an idea to inspire. “This project was where I had to challenge myself to get into a dark and sad version of Indian culture rather than being bright and colourful.

KSHA’s stories, such as “Cultural Appreciation” and “What To Believe,” give a new perspective on the world and how we can engage with it. KSHA tries to break away from the ordinary and captures a few specks of other experiences.

TAXES

Tazeh Magazine is a new way to look at Iranian fashion. It fills the gap of curiosity for the west. This magazine showcases the underground work of Iranian new-wave artists, who use a mix of geometric and psychedelic cutouts.

Farnaz Dadashi, editor-in-chief of independent publishing, created Tazeh to attract the attention of an alternative-thinking generation eager to express themselves and learn. Social media was a tool Dadashi used to connect with other Iranian artists and collaborators. This gave her a glimpse into her life as an Iranian creative.

WHITE HORSE

White Horse is an examination of acceptance and self-esteem from the outside. It is a translation of the text using minimal graphics and light imagery. The goal is to eliminate the ideals of perfection perpetuated by magazines and social media.

The digital publication jumps right into a conversation in the editor’s letters. Syahirah Khairuddin, the creator, stares at her reflection and sees herself and her image within.

Beauty to me means accepting my imperfections and flaws before I try products. White Horse should inspire others who are going through the same thing as me. Khairuddin stated that it is important to embrace natural beauty before applying things to our bodies and faces.

BRAVA

A student-produced publication often aims to communicate a message through a voice. This is particularly true for Latin American publication BRAVA Magazine. It provides a fresh lens on the English-speaking Latin community stylishly and smartly.

Paula Gomez, editor-in-chief, explained that she speaks to North American audiences in their native language about an industry that has been forgotten. It’s a magazine that is needed. It gives voice to Latin American fashion in a simple, carefree and optimistic way. It is accessible to a wide range of readers. I see BRAVA as a leader in this field, not as a ‘type’ publication.