During a turbulent 2020 Vogue UK and Italia have put on their creative hats in response to spread messages of hope and equality!
In the first project of its kind for British Vogue, editor-in-chief Edward Enninful commissioned 14 special covers for the upcoming August 2020 issue , by asking the UK’s greatest artists and photographers, from Tim Walker to Nadine Ijewere, Nick Knight to Lubaina Himid to present stunning images. The theme? UK landscapes that each creative taking part holds dear to them in a series that explores the theme of reset. “Their work on the covers, and in the 20-page story “All Across the Land”, is not only beautiful and poignant, but also highlights that at the core of everything is our planet” commented editor-in-chief Edward Enninful. The original prints of each depiction of nature will be auctioned off in aid of Covid-19 relief charities later this year.
First up, David Hockney shares a personal view of East Yorkshire. “This oil painting is of late spring in the village of Kilham,” he says, of the 2006 painting. “Now, I am in Normandy, a paradise of a place for me. I have made 120 iPad paintings of our large garden – it is like having drawing and painting equipment always at the ready, and there is no cleaning up needed.” The British artist told Vogue.
The 14 commissioned covers follow the previous July 2020 cover story that celebrated the hero key workers, who worked at the height of the pandemic, and in the face of danger in the UK. Included in the line-up of cover stars was train driver Narguis Horsford; NHS midwife Rachel Millar; and supermarket assistant Anisa Omar – captured by photographer Jamie Hawkesworth in the middle of their shifts.
Coinciding with the July issue was the #VogueChallenge. The stunt, which has gone viral on social media channels including Instagram and TikTok, sees readers transform themselves into cover stars – complete with the iconic Vogue logo. The content offered a peek at photographers on the rise and aspiring models, who would otherwise rarely grace the pages of Vogue. The refreshing challenge began with a tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement. Oslo-based student Salma Noor first posted a black and white shot of herself by photographer, Angèlique Culvin, with the Vogue logo and a headline reading, “being Black is not a crime” as a kind of protest. “I am a Black, young Muslim woman who wanted to create something new while speaking on something that is very important,” shared Noor to Vogue. “I chose Vogue because it’s the standard one strives to reach, and it is one of my favorite magazines.”
Other Vogue covers that should be mentioned that have come out this year come from the branch in Italy. January’s Vogue Italia sustainability issue chose illustrations over their usual offering to avoid the significant travel footprint, electricity, and food waste involved with regular cover shoots. In response to the disaster and instability COVID-19 has brought to the world, April’s issue featured a blank white cover to symbolize the “title page of a new story that is about to begin.”
For its June issue, Vogue Italia has collaborated with the future generation of stars! For their “Our New World” cover story, Vogue Italia asked 100 children between the ages of 2 and 10 to create the looks of the season. Eight artists were then handpicked to have their work on the cover of the magazine.
“Kids have been the most overlooked and least obvious victims of the pandemic,” said Emanuele Farneti, chief editor of Vogue Italia in a statement. “We’re starting from them to imagine a new world.”
