It might seem surprising that in an age of digital dominance, the DIY zine scene is flourishing – and a slew of women publishers are leading the way.
From raising the voices of Mancunian gals to providing women of colour a safe space, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite female-run independent publications (from the more established, to those whose journeys have just began), all born from a collective desire to fill the gaps in the fashion industry.
Boldly rejecting the mainstream and rewriting the rules of publishing, together they prove that print is far from dead, all the while ensuring a brighter coffee table or less gloomy tube journey.
AZEEMA
AZEEMA is the annual print magazine, platform and community exploring, challenging and confronting issues surrounding representation and diversity.
The London-based publication, founded by Jameela Elfaki, aspires to provide women of colour, specifically Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian women, a safe space and platform to be heard, that is celebratory of Culture and different faiths.
AZEEMA boldly discusses topics such as identity, mental health and sexuality.
And the name? 'Azeema' is an Arabic word meaning determination, resoluteness and strength.
Quite fitting for such a sublime publication filling a rift that has been gapping for too long.
Polyester
Since launching in 2014, Polyester has grown to become one of the most prominent on the zine scene.
Founded by Ione Gamble, the intersectional feminist fashion and culture publication aims to connect URL cyberfeminism with our IRL world, and its kitschy DIY-spirited pages encourage the reader to 'have faith in your own bad taste.'
This year, Polyester branched out into the world of audio communication with the launch of its own podcast, exploring everything between creative freedom to sexual health.
In other words, the perfect listen for a Monday tube journey.
Ladybeard
Ladybeard is the biannual feminist publication on a mission to make its readers feel nothing but good about themselves.
Behind the brains is a six-women power squad determined to open up conversations around topics that they find misrepresented or ignored by the media – namely sex.
As well as promoting unestablished artists, Ladybeard acts as a playground for exploring sexuality and identity with zero boundaries (the front cover of their 'Beauty' issue was a photograph of a literal bum hole).
Yellowzine
Frustrated on the lack of representation within the art world, Yellowzine grew from a desire to bring the work of BAME artists and creatives in the UK into the limelight.
Founded in 2017 by siblings Oreoluwa and Aisha Ayoade, each issue focuses on different artistic disciplines while celebrating and promoting underrepresented artists from the Afro/Caribbean and Asian diaspora.
Drawing inspiration from the good old yellow book (those were the days!), the London-based title acts as a directory for ethnic minority artists in the UK.
Galchester
After seeing how her hometown turned more and more into a Macho-chester, Becky Burgum founded the annual print publication Galchester to challenge and counter the city’s male identity, and celebrate, what she likes to call, 'the true worker bees of Manchester'.
By putting the city’s creative women centre stage, Becky hopes to inspire and encourage a new generation of Mancunian gals to get into the arts and be as confident as their male counterparts.
Galchester will be relaunching its social media and website soon, and has brought on Hattie James-Weed as art director for issue 2, so keep your eyes peeled.
Sister
Founded in 2012 by Beccy Hill, Sister is a bi-annual independent feminist magazine built on the foundation that all issues are women’s issues.
Through providing a platform for these to be discussed and heard, the magazine hopes to fuel the fire needed to bring about actual change.
The 10th issue, The Survivor Issue, has just been launched and it’s brimming with some seriously fab feminist reading.
BRICKS
BRICKS is the self-published intersectional feminist magazine exploring fashion and art from a socio-political lens, while providing emerging creatives a platform to showcase their work.
Founded and independently run by Welsh-born Tori West, Bricks’ candy coloured pastel pages raises the voices of marginalised communities and praises the unconventional.
This April, the publication celebrates its 5th birthday with an unmissable special edition issue jam-packed with surprises (ever heard of cake-sitting?) – pre-order here now.
Fresh
The pages of Fresh magazine offer visual deliciousness, a diverse representation of creatives and a fresh perspective on the creative industry.
Born out of a frustration with the lack of diversity within the arts, the founding Manchester-based quartet of graphic designers aspires to create an inclusive and diverse creative community while promoting and celebrating BAME artists.
