British GQ Style has cemented itself as one of the most highly anticipated magazines here at Condé Nast Worldwide News. The bi-annual edition celebrates the brightest emerging talents from the art, design, music and fashion worlds. GQ Style’s cover stars represent the new, the now, the moment we should all be following.
And so, with 2020 celebrating their 15th Anniversary issue - who would they choose to grace its A/W cover? Well, the answer lies in not so much a ‘who,’ but a ‘what’: the black square.
Earlier this year we saw the Black Lives Matter movement seize the attention of the world. The #BLM movement amplified marginalised voices, and joined the world in pushing for an end to the racial injustices faced by communities and individuals globally. GQ Style note that 2020 celebrated not only their 15th anniversary, but also "a time for huge cultural change."
Social media became the tool through which the world was able to communicate and connect, in-spite of the isolating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversations, protests and ideas were shared globally with a simple tap of a button. A black square became a symbol of support, of ally-ship, of commitment to change.
For the team at British GQ Style, the conversations sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement were vital, necessary for the progress and future of the society we live in. And thus, the anniversary issue ‘Liberation’ was born - ‘a celebratory issue championing optimism and change … reflecting a truly remarkable time in our history.’
And so, the black square became their cover star. Curated by Elgar Johnson, GQ Style A/W 2020 features nine covers created by nine artists, creatives, and activists. Each cover is the black square, reimagined with a message chosen by the creative at hand:
“Our focus is on liberation, solidarity and celebrating positive black role models. This cultural revolution represents a global reboot, which we have reflected in the visual reinvention of the magazine for our anniversary issue and the future.”
See the nine covers below:
Elgar Johnson, Curator, Deputy Editor & Fashion Director, GQ Style
Amoako Boafo, Artist, for Dior
Virgil Abloh, Men’s Artistic Director, Louis Vuitton
Terry & Tricia Jones, Founders, i-D
Munroe Bergdorf, Model and Activist
IDK, Rapper, Singer, Songwriter and Producer
Little Simz, Artist, for Gucci
Riccardo Tisci, Chief Creative Officer, for Burberry
Tommy Hilfiger, founder and designer
British GQ Style’s Autumn/Winter issue is available for world-wide delivery here.
You can read more about this issue of GQ Style here.