12 cool indie magazines for women who know better
While the term “print is dead” might still apply to mainstream glossies that are struggling, smaller niche magazines are actually thriving. Last year, according to The Telegraph, Stack, an independent magazine subscription service, reported a 78% increase in revenue and a 76% growth in subscribers. Between Kickstarter and social media, creators with a vision are finding funding, contributors and readers. In an interview with The Independent, Ruth Jameison, author of “Print Is Dead. Long Live Print: The World’s Best Independent Magazines,” said that in order for an indie magazine to be successful, “It needs to have a really pure, original idea. And it needs to know who its audience is and speak to them.”
These standards of success allow independent magazines the opportunity to speak to audiences mainstream magazines rarely address—which means, by default, the content is more diverse and inclusive, making up for the lack of new points of view, women of color and a spectrum of sexuality. Some popular indie magazines you may heard of include Gentlewoman, Girls Get Busy, Bust, Bitch, CherryBombe, and Candy. But new indie mags are continuing to pop up year after year. We’ve rounded up 12 cool new independent niche magazines (founded within the last two years) that have a fresh approach to women, culture, and fashion.
Hannah Magazine
What: A bi-annual magazine celebrating black women and their complexities, in their own voices and narratives, covering everything from fashion and beauty to politics and tech.
Why read it: Last month, Hannah reached their Kickstarter funding goal of $30,000 (raising over $37,000) to start producing their first issue. In the interim, the magazine produced awesome digital content, featuring interviews with Rosario Dawson, former Essence fashion editor Celia Smith, and beauty entrepreneur Jodie Patterson. At a time when inclusivity is still not the norm with many magazines—in both the subjects and the masthead—the launch of this indie zine will be refreshing. For more, visit hannahmag.com.
Banana Magazine
What: A bi-annual magazine birthed this year in Chinatown, New York, exploring contemporary Asian culture through food, fashion, beauty and personal narratives.
Why read it: “Banana” is a slightly offensive term, meaning “white on the inside and yellow on the outside,” used to describe first generation Asians. Banana Magazine reclaims the term in a celebratory way, embracing and exploring the identity and cultural fusions that come with being Asian with roots in both the Eastern and Western worlds. The founders (Kathleen Tso and Vicki Ho) are currently working on their second issue. For more, visit banana-mag.com.
Top Rank Magazine
What: A Brooklyn-based publication profiling women who are leading movements and conversations in various fields from art and fashion to education and social justice.
Why read it: Top Rank Magazine—which featured Janet Mock on the cover of its first issue this year—aims to not only bring racial and topical diversity but attempts to breakdown the complexities of feminism and be inclusive. In an interview earlier this year, creative director Christelle De Castro told Opening Ceremony: “Do you want equal rights? Do you want ultimate authority over your own body? Bottom line shit. Feminism is not anti-man, men can be feminists too. It’s about empowerment, sisterhood, and respect.” For more, visit toprankmag.com.
Riposte
What: A UK-based bi-annual “smart magazine for women” covering outspoken subjects on topics ranging from innovation, politics and travel to art, design and music.
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