Print Matters

At SSEAMS we have a long standing love of print publications and it’s one of the reasons we have a magazine of our own. We also have an affinity for Japan, Japanese design and Japanese print (we know, we aren’t alone in this). And while we appreciate there’s a twisted logic in buying magazines that we can’t read, the visual story telling alone from the late 90’s, 00’s and 10’s remains hugely influential. With the explosion in popularity of tumblr and Instagram during the same period and the sharing of elusive page scans and tear sheets, the much copied feel and tone of these magazines and their visuals (not to mention the brands, places and faces featured) today seem somewhat comfortingly familiar yet consistently compelling.  We still find ourselves reaching for past issues as a great source of inspiration. Here we pick out a selection of archive favourites from 20 years of collecting.

The magazine that started the obsession, Relax’s approach is difficult to describe and hard to pin down. Now no longer in print despite an attempted relaunch, it would appear the editorial team would select a theme for each edition at random (dance, adidas, Snoopy, Nokia…) and sprinkle liberally with fashion editorials. Inspiring and confusing in equal measure.

Is it a catalogue? Is it a Magazine (probably not)? Does it matter? For those that know Visvim as a heavily Americana inspired Japanese brand, many may be surprised by their technical apparel roots and origins in footwear. The Visvim seasonal dissertation is a beautifully presented example of brand story telling in hardback form, with this copy picked up (for free!) in their equally beautiful Tokyo FIL store circa 2008. They’ve even done an edition on these very Scottish shores.

While we (at Sseams at least) agree that consumption for consumptions sake is largely problematic we also share the belief that items, objects and products, whatever shape and form they take should be beautifully designed and enrich our lives (as subjective as that is). Premium magazine is a part interiors, part fashion part life style publication that is built on these principles, showcasing crafted products from around the globe that we can’t help falling in love with. 

In our humble opinion the “King of menswear magazines”. Hugely (excuse the pun) influential yet not particularly well known, Huge represented a golden age in mens fashion publications. Losing its way somewhat in later years, at its peak it effortlessly melded a breadth of genres (from Paul Harden, through Adam Kimmel, Prada and Kolor…) with sporadicly themed editions, beautifully styled and shot and offering an insight into what designers and brands could and should be influenced by. Sorely missed.

Widely influential and increasingly available on home soil, Popeye is the Japanese menswear bible that mixes quintessential American trad, Luxury fashion and streetwear through a Japanese lens. You’re likely to find a copy in most menswear (and womenswear?) design studios with many an image inescapable on seasonal mood boards.

Sister magazine to Popeye, Brutus’ special Casa (Home) and biannual Stylebook editions offer in depth articles and features on the best of Japanese and International design and fashion. 

Named after the breed of “intelligent horses” depicted in Gulliver’s travels, Houyhnhnm is another free women’s and men's style publication in 'zine form. A lovely pocket sized pick up. 

A 300+ page tome dedicated to Nike product from 1971 -1980? How about a Champion sportswear edition featuring product from the 100 year old brands history?  All shot in simple documentary flat lay style. It takes a particular level of obsession to purchase a magazine topping out at £50+ dedicated to product by a single brand let alone compile and edit one yet Lightning do archive magazines brilliantly.