Vogue Italia has released its January issue, but it doesn’t look like what one would typically expect. Taking inspiration from the pre-photographic era, the entire January 2020 issue and its covers are illustrated. This is the first time Vogue has done this since the introduction of photography in its pages in the early 20th century. The change comes as Vogue Italia looks to become more sustainable. The illustrations are part of an effort to reduce the environmental cost that comes with staging photo shoots around the world.
‘’One hundred and fifty people involved. About twenty flights and a dozen or so train journeys. Forty cars on standby. Sixty international deliveries. Lights switched on for at least ten hours non-stop, partly powered by gasoline-fueled generators. Food waste from the catering services. Plastic to wrap the garments. Electricity to recharge phones, cameras…’’ Emanuele Farneti, editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia lists what it took to put together the eight fashion editorials seen in the magazine’s September 2019 issue.
The seven unique covers are all illustrated by different artists. The artists include David Salle, Vanessa Beecroft, Cassi Namoda, Milo Manara, Delphine Desane, Paolo Ventura, and Yoshitaka Amano. The models featured in head to toe Gucci (Lindsey Wixson, Olivia Vinten, Lili Sumner, Assa Baradji, Ambar Cristal and Felice Nova Noordhoff) were all styled by Tonne Goodman, Francesca Ragazzi and Roberta Pinna. The Italian Vogue wanted to show that art and stunning fashion imagery can be created without causing any costs – travel, shipping or waste – to the environment.
