Photo: Press Office
Visions
Back to storiesof
Anna Frabotta
Anna Frabotta, the founder of FRAB’S Magazine & More - a space devoted to indie publications - a journalist and a professor of fashion publishing at IED in Milan, is also the inventor and art director of Mag to Mag, the only Italian festival dedicated to independent magazines. The perfect place to observe future trends.
Within an industry that is facing great challenges like the newspaper sector, the only positive sign (in Italy and worldwide) comes from indie publishing: how do you interpret this phenomenon?
«Indie publishing is better off than mainstream publishing and, according to the figures, it is expected to continue to grow, replacing traditional newspapers that have shut down and offering quality content and information that is not influenced by advisers. It comprises fine bilingual cultural products that are worth keeping and that are also appreciated by younger readers. An interesting figure is that people under 30, who belong to a generation that is used to dematerialized culture accessible on their smartphones, have shown the greatest interest in the return to paper. Moreover, cultural magazines can rely on a multitude of different languages and can be integrated with digital content thanks to QR codes or playlists that you can listen to while reading. Many luxury brands have understood this, deciding to invest in these magazines».
As a curator for Pitti Immagine, what’s your relationship with fashion and with a unique accessory like eyewear?
«My relationship with fashion also stems from magazines: for Pitti I curate Pitti Mags, the project dedicated to fashion indie mags, while at IED I deal with fashion publishing. I love fashion because it’s an ever-evolving language: I like staying updated on the latest fashion trends and anticipating future ones. Also in terms of eyewear, which is a key accessory to complement any look that becomes part of the wearer’s identity. Personally I have many glasses, especially vintage frames from the Seventies and Eighties».
Frab’s Magazine is the inventor and organizer of Mag to Mag, the event dedicated to indie publishing that also this year, now at its second run, has attracted thousands of visitors and authors. What are your plans for the future?
«The festival was a great success, with 5000 visitors in two days, including many young people and professionals under 50 who work in creative sectors. Next year we will certainly be back in Milan with the third edition, but we are also thinking about turning it into a traveling event because it is the only festival -in Europe- exclusively devoted to magazines, meaning that books or small publishers are not included. And we like the idea of expanding outside of Milan».
