Magazine B #102, Margaret Howell
170 x 240 mm, 180 pages
Seoul, Korea (English-language)
First published in 2011
Editor-in-chief: Eunsung Park
Art director: Yuwon Choi
Each issue of Seoul-based Magazine B is dedicated to exploring the universe of a single brand. The magazine has featured over 100 brands to date, covering everything from clothing and beauty, to toys and tech. Recent issues have looked at TikTok, Arc’Teryx, Aesop, Spotify, Disney, Uniqlo, and Asics, alongside a special 100th anniversary edition which turned its focus inward.
Issue 102 provides a peek behind the shop floor, and into the archives of contemporary British label Margaret Howell, founded in 1970. Initially specialising in menswear, the brand has since expanded to encompass womenswear, accessories, furniture and homeware, and the utilitarian diffusion line MHL., whose Coal Drops Yard site hosted a magCulture pop up earlier this year. Commencing with a visit to the Suffolk coastline—an enduring source of inspiration for the brand’s namesake, and home to her weekend refuge—inside, readers will also find a conversation with Margaret Howell in her functional London home, alongside her pick of three design objects that furnish the MH universe. Elsewhere, fashion historian Ben Evans shares his thoughts on the brand’s relationship with its punk-era origins, and the team take a trip to the London Workroom to learn about the construction process of the brand’s signature shirts and take a closer look at ten staple garments.
Plus, discover further conversations with the brand’s key collaborators, including A Common Purpose founder David Hitner, Isokon Furniture custodian Ed Carpenter, architect William Russell, filmmaker Emily Richardson, and Margaret Howell’s managing director Caroline Attwood.
On the Journal:
‘How do you choose what brands you’re going to showcase for the entirety of an issue?
B has a four pillar policy when selecting brands, it must meet our criteria of beauty, price, practicality and philosophy. Our staff has in-depth discussions throughout the decision making process. We research, we communicate with a range of people who are knowledgeable about the candidate brand, there’s numerous stages.’
Read more of our At work with interview with editor Taehyuk Choi.