Different Leaf, collection one
228 x 304 mm, 150 pages (plus multiple inserts)
Massachusetts, US
Founder and editor-in-chief: Michael Kusek
Guest editors: Nick Cave and Bob Faust
Design: Lily Pereira and Zoe Pappenheimer
Originally a cannabis magazine launched off the back of the liberalisation of US drug laws, Different Leaf has now been completely reimagined to cover the intersection of cannabis with art, music, fashion, and design. Cannabis remains in the mix as the thread that holds the whole together.
Each issue now addresses a single creative endeavour; this first one looks at art, and is guest edited by artists Nick Cave and Bob Faust. They bring together nearly 50 artists, writers, and photographers to create a companion to the contemporary cannabis lifestyle, including Broadway legend André De Shields, author Jonathan Lethem, photographers Hunter Abrams and Sam Lee, food writer Chala June, and more.
Positioned very much in the magazine-as-experience camp, stories about saunas, clubs, music and food are held together by Jonathan Lethem’s ode to the imaginary Mr Karen, running through the issue on narrower pages. It’s a fantastic ride, and a huge step away from the its previous iteration as a guide to the newly relaxed US drug laws.