Polyester, Summer 2026

‘Have faith in your own bad taste!’

Launched in 2014 from the bedroom of founder and editor-in-chief Ione Gamble, Polyester has since blossomed into a cult favourite. The annual print publication, which seeks ‘to bridge the gap of url cyberferminism with the irl world’, explores themes around intersectional feminism, arts, culture, and fashion. It’s just one part of the Polyester universe, which also includes a popular website and weekly podcast featuring guests such as Tavi Gevinson and Turner Prize nominee Rene Matić. 

The latest print edition for Summer 2026, titled ‘The Besties Issue’, is a love letter to friendship in a capitalist climate that increasingly promotes individualism and commodifies third spaces.  Inside, discover interviews with real life besties, including this issue’s cover stars: comedian Hannah Einbinder, DJ and singer-songwriter Nia Archives, and the leading ladies of Meredith Alloway’s new femme comedy-horror film ‘Forbidden Fruits’—Lili Reinhardt and Lola Tung. Elsewhere, self-proclaimed ‘e-girl’ Mackenzie Thomas and long-time friend and collaborator Taryn Segall revisit their origin story; 2009 RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon contemplates the importance of chosen family; and Elijah Fischer traces the evolution of the gay best friend trope on mainstream TV.

Plus, discover the first issue of ‘Non-Threatening Boys’, Polyester’s new mini zine featuring interviews and essays exploring non-toxic masculinity.

On the Journal:
Looking back at issue six (2017), founding editor Ione Gamble reflects on how Polyester has evolved: ‘The zine a lot as has changed since issue one—I was still studying when I started Polyester and creating the zine has probably been a steeper learning curve than any aspect of my degree. Hopefully I know what I’m doing a bit more than I did a couple of years ago. Our ethos has stayed pretty consistent throughout the duration of the zine. It’s become more politicised maybe—less about fashion in a traditional sense, and more about the subversive nuances of femme identity.’ Read here.

polyesterzine.com