No Models, No Problem
Imagine picking up a monthly edition of Vogue just to find that the cover is free of models. As a matter of fact, every page is missing models. The human forms and high-end garments that can be found in any typical fashion magazine are missing.
Vogue Italia made this a reality with the release of its January issue. As part of a sustainability effort, the publication chose to create an issue that featured hand-drawn illustrations of models and outfits. Though this choice was made in support of environmental wellness, it brings up a question of whether models are a necessity for magazines and, more so, whether the traditional magazine layout should be retired.
This unconventional issue boasts seven different covers, and one of them features an abstract illustration of a woman. She seems to be dark-skinned, holding a stoic expression that could be compared to the Mona Lisa. Though this is not a real model, it still manages to translate the emotions that traditional models aim to portray. This cover addresses the need for model diversity while promoting an eco-friendly approach to fashion.
The painted model is wearing a striped green, red, and yellow top with a heart necklace, and the reader is left to get a sense of what the clothing looks like based on this illustration. The same idea applies to the other six covers that are compiled in the sustainability issue.
What really stands out is the shared caption that reads: “No photoshoot production was required in the making of this issue.” The aim was to prove that a magazine can be completed without the traditional photoshoot or hired models. And that was achieved, but should it become the new norm?
When thinking of standard fashion magazine covers, a standout that comes to mind is Zendaya’s Vogue cover.
A previous Disney actress turned mature artist with shows such as Euphoria, Zendaya reached a pivotal moment in her career with this cover. Though she is not considered a working model herself, the removal of human models would eliminate covers like this one. It begs the question of whether sustainability should come before celebrity features. Would a painted illustration of Zendaya generate the same sleekness and maturity as a photograph of her?
The erasure of all human models would mark the end of iconic magazine covers, such as those that have been graced by previous first ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. Not only would it remove the possibility of seeing our favorite leading ladies plastered across the magazine section, but it may just bring the modeling industry to its knees. If print models are erased from society, a significant part of the modern modeling industry becomes irrelevant.
A fair argument can be made for either side, but the question still stands: Should magazines start to do photo-free shoots, or does it still matter to have the real thing?