magCulture Live LDN25
This year, magCulture Live London declares the death of mainstream publishing.
We’ll back at the same venue as last year, with a similar format, but one key difference: we’ll be presenting an indie-only line-up of speakers for the first time, as we declare the mainstream dead. The day will demonstrate how the small, independent magazines that we’ve been championing over the past 20 years are now the beating heart of the international magazine publishing industry.
Speakers from some of the most successful and long-standing indies—Apartamento (launched 2008), 032c (2000), Fantastic Man (2005), and Butt (2001)—will join us to share their stories, alongside one of the most exciting young magazine designers working today, and a selection of speakers from newer indies.
The event coincides with the 20th anniversary of magCulture online and the 10th anniversary of our London shop. Over this period we have seen a seismic shift in the magazine industry, as the mainstream press withers and the independents grow in scope and influence.
Legacy publishers are responding by mimicking the indie playbook. Chloe Malle, the new editor of US Vogue, recently spoke of her plans to reduce the number of issues they publish and make each one more special and collectible; in France, Le Monde newspaper publishes M Le Monde International, an English language, high-quality biannual magazine built from the best of its weekly magazine. There are many more examples out there.
What is that but the indie play—higher quality magazines, published less frequently?
That attention to quality is a core value of the new generation of indies, and is built on an appreciation of the analogue nature of print. No longer can this be read as merely a fetishisation of print and production effects; today it is an active rebellion, countering the algorithmic control of digital channels and the increasing volume of AI slop online.
Join us at magCulture Live LDN25 and discover the independent, analogue, future!
Book your place for £130 inclusive of VAT and fees.
(information on student rates will be published here soon.)
Group rates are available for bookings of over five people, please email us: events@magCulture.com
The space is fully accessible.
If you can’t join us IRL, book a livestream ticket and follow the day online.
magCulture Live LDN25
Thursday 13 November, 12—5pm
Vitsoe, 21 Marylebone Lane
London W1U 2NG
Map
Meet our our full line-up of speakers:
Nacho Alegre
Co-founder, Apartamento (Spain)
Widely regarded as the most influential interiors magazine of its generation, Apartamento is international, thoughtfully designed, and accessibly written—its 35 issues (to date) form an essential resource for those passionate about how they live. The magazine has developed into a publishing company that now spans design, art, architecture, and food. Nacho is a photographer, who co-founded Apartamento with Omar Sosa and Marco Velardi in 2008, and continues to serve as publisher and company director.
Charles Emmerson
Founder and editor, Translator
Translator is a new magazine of translated reportage and long-form journalism from beyond the Anglosphere, launched earlier this year. Charles speaks French and German well, and Russian and Turkish badly, and is the author three books about history and geopolitics, with a particular focus on the early twentieth century. He’s also been published in a range of magazines and newspapers from the Los Angeles Review of Books to Foreign Policy and New Lines.
Gert Jonkers
Editor-in-chief, Fantastic Man & Butt (The Netherlands)
As editor-in-chief of Fantastic Man and co-founder, with Jop van Bennekom, of Butt, Fantastic Man, The Gentlewoman and The Happy Reader, Gert is a key figure in indie publishing, setting the terms for how the new generation of independent magazines can combine a creative ethos with commercial success. Originally a country and western singer, Gert turned to writing in 1992 as fashion critic for for Dutch daily newspaper De Volkskrant. He has also contributed to The New York Times, Dutch, View on Colour, Self Service and NRC, and lives and works in Amsterdam.
Jonathan Nunn
Founder and editor, Vittles
Jonathan established the Vittles Substack newsletter five years ago, quickly building a reputation and readership for its bold views on both food culture and the way it is covered in the media. Earlier this year he published the first issues of the Vittles magazine, mixing stroies from the Substack with new ones. The second print edtion has just been printed, with completely new stories throughout. He’ll be talking about his move to print and what it has achieved for Vittles.
Joerg Koch
Editor-in-chief and creative director, 032c (Germany)
Joerg launched his magazine 032c in 2001, as a 48-page newsprint that he described at the time as ‘a punk fanzine designed by Dieter Rams.’ 25 years later, the now glossy biannual has established itself as a journal of record at the intersection of culture, fashion and ideas. Constantly looking ahead at what’s next, the small editorial team regularly work with key thinkers on special reports adressing themes such as Technofeudalism, as well as identifying key new cultural institutions such as A24 Films and Fitzcarraldo Editions.
Natalia Rachlin
Co-founder, Mother Tongue (USA)
Mother Tongue is a micro media brand devoted to amplifying women’s stories—in print, on social and through live events. Its biannual magazine (launched in 2021) interrogates modern motherhood through a cultural lens with stories that span art, sex, food and pop culture, fueling conversations that challenge and evolve predominant narratives. Natalia also contributes to The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Ark Journal and Wallpaper*, among others.
Chloe Scheffe
Freelance designer, Elastic, Backstage Talks, Here and others (USA)
Chloe is an independent designer and art director based in Seattle. She began her career in editorial design at the New York Times Magazine, then went on to work on publications of all kinds, including Here, Interview, GQ, Wired, Lux, and WePresent. In 2022, she partnered with Natalie Shields to launch Scheffe Shields, an award-winning design and illustration collaborative focused on printed matter. Together they produce work for a variety of clients, and are creative directors at psychedelic lit mag Elastic.
Dagny Tepper
Founder, Pilot magazine (UK)
Dagny is a multidisciplinary creative director, editor, and the founder of Pilot magazine. Her magazine champions risk-takers across art and culture, and is known for its daring formats—from tri-fold issues to game-board layouts. Pilot is a playground where boundaries across disciplines dissolve. The result is a series of unique publications built from a culture of constant experimentation.
Ruby Thiagarajan
Editor, Mynah
Mynah is an independent magazine from and about Singapore, focused on stories that don’t fit the news cycle, mainstream media, or the status quo. Its essays, reportage, and narrative journalism span architecture, labour, subcultures, ecology, and the overlooked corners of Singapore life, and as a result the magazine has developed a cult following in Singapore and abroad.
With thanks to all our partners for their support of magCulture Live:
