Vogue has long been a bastion of the most refined taste and a global authority on not just capturing trends, but also setting them. This September, Vogue Singapore, one of the youngest entrants into the global Vogue family, breathes new life into this 130-year-old institution with not one, but two digital-only covers that are also available as NFTs. It is an unprecedented move that emphatically declares Vogue’s enduring commitment to showcasing the most daring creations and innovative artists of our world today.
First of its kind
For Vogue Singapore’s first-ever September issue—the marquee for any magazine—we have chosen to mark this momentous milestone by interpreting the global September issue theme of ‘New Beginnings’ with our signature daring. “Fashion and innovation have always been at the heart of what we do at Vogue Singapore, [so] we took the bold step to venture into the metaverse—the destination for a new class of digital artists and designers”, says Norman Tan, editor-in-chief of Vogue Singapore.
The end result is nothing short of metaverse magic—a seamless, wonderous combination of technology and art that is far greater than the sum of its parts. Emblazoned across our print issue cover is a QR code whose striking minimalism belies the incredible promise it holds. With just one scan on your choice device, you would be unlocking the key to two digital-only covers, created in collaboration with local and international digital designers.
An astute capturing of the digital zeitgeist, these unique covers represent an unpreceded move in global Vogue history—one that we are proud to spearhead. After all, what better way to celebrate new beginnings than to be in the vanguard of this cultural renaissance that melds fashion and innovation, art and design?
A new hope
This September, you’ll find across the covers of all 28 editions of Vogue is a sunrise leitmotif that reflects our collective hopefulness as we emerge from our pandemic-stricken state in search of new beginnings. As Michael Bublé croons in his 2005 cover of the classic hit, ‘Feeling Good’: It’s a new dawn/It’s a new day—and for our pair of covers, Vogue Singapore has engaged top artists from both Singapore and beyond to capture our optimistic belief in the dawning of a new and better era. The two final products are stunningly different in style, but still complement each other perfectly.
The first digital cover, titled ‘Triumphant Awakening’, is designed by virtual world artist and 3D designer for Nike, Chad Knight, in collaboration with Jamela Law and Lionel Wong of Singapore-based design firm, Baëlf Design. In front of a rotating blue planet, a gold statuette stands tall and proud, her sleek body lit up by the glow of the sun as it makes its perennial arc through the sky. Her head, held unapologetically high, boasts a regal headdress whose intricate patterns were painstakingly crafted by Baëlf Design using an AI algorithm.
Contrasting against the warm tones of ‘Triumphant Awakening’ are the cooler hues in ‘RenaiXance Rising’, our second September cover crafted jointly by digital fashion house The Fabricant and 3D creator Shavonne Wong. Front and centre in this programmable artwork is an androgynonus avatar, whose eyes glint enigmatically at the viewer like a metaverse-Mona Lisa. Sun rays swirl hypnotisingly in tandem with the avatar’s billowing kebaya inspired by the majestic costumes from the Majapahit Empire that dates back to the 13th century, while the ambient lighting changes depending on the time of day the cover is viewed—creating an immersive experience that blurs the lines between the metaverse and reality.
Own a piece of fashion and art history
Never judge a book by its cover, so the adage goes. But in the case of Vogue Singapore, our covers have always given a clear sense of our bold, futuristic visions, and it is a bar we have raised even higher for our release of the world’s inaugural digital-only Vogue covers. “With this issue, we aim to elevate storytelling and continue that dialogue between print and digital that we have championed since launch. We welcome readers to embark on this digitally-led journey to explore the creative possibilities,” says Tan.
In another world’s first, Vogue Singapore has made our September issue covers along with the rest of the Vogue Singapore September NFT collection, available for purchase on Binance Premium NFT Marketplace. The auction that is in partnership with Brytehall—a Singapore-based marketplace that curates all the most premium NFTs from the fashion, art, and design worlds—will be live on 20 September, 8PM SGT. Other Vogue Singapore digital gems in this auction include a series of beauty NFTs from makeup maestro Dain Yoon and a fiery dress NFT crafted by none other than Balmain’s creative director, Olivier Rousteing.
Jump in all the action
To take part in the auction, here’s what to do:
- Register a Binance account
- Deposit cryptocurrency in your Binance wallet
- At 8pm SGT on September 20, login to Binance for Vogue Singapore’s Premium Event auction
- Select Vogue Singapore’s banner to enter Vogue Singapore’s Premium Event page
- Click on the ‘Triumphant Awakening’ and ‘RenaiXance Rising’ covers to bid or purchase
- Revel in the pleasure of owning the world’s first-ever NFT Vogue covers
- Then add on to your collection by checking out the other Vogue Singapore NFTs on offer
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