On Thursday, Italian newspaper La Repubblica published the first issue of its new mens fashion and lifestyle supplement, U.
Nikolai Von Bismarck photographed Italian fashion entrepreneur Giorgio Armani for one of two covers; a Paolo Roversi shoot styled by Robbie Spencer was the other.
La Repubblica has ramped up its fashion coverage since Emanuele Farneti, former editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia, joined in 2021 to revamp fashion content at the publication.
As editor-in-chief of womenswear supplement D, Farneti has increased the frequency of publication and honed a more upscale image, as well as adding a home and design supplement, Door.
The new imprint will publish 8 to 10 issues per year. Paris-based stylist Giovanni Dario Laudicina will serve as fashion director and Ben Kelway as creative director.
“There is a gap in the market for a men’s fashion magazine,” Farneti said. “Most publications seem a bit ashamed to really engage with men’s fashion, they prefer to only show it using celebrities … We want to have a strong focus on the clothes — at least 50 percent about fashion — taking the best international photographers and stylists and bringing them into the menswear narrative.”
The other pillar of the magazine’s content will be “talking to the most interesting people,” Farneti said.
A key challenge for the menswear supplement will be balancing current, interesting men’s fashion with more classic style that appeals to La Repubblica’s broad readership.
“As a supplement, you can’t be edgy. At the same time you don’t want to be too conservative or you won’t be relevant,” Farneti said.
Convincing luxury brands to advertise and be shot alongside less expensive brands — ones more readers can actually buy — is another challenge, Farneti said.
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