Vogue's 26 Global Editors-in-Chiefs Adopt Vogue Values for 2020 and Beyond

Vogues Worldwide have announced the launch of ‘Vogue Values’, a global mission statement adopted by all 26 editions of ‘Vogue’. The announcement articulates the magazines’ shared commitments for 2020 and beyond.

We can debate the superlatives used in the announcement — when the fashion industry has been relentless for decades in encouraging consumption without end, and magazines are a key voice in that advocacy. However, there’s no doubt that in its reach of more than 268 million consumers across the globe, Vogue magazines are among the most influential voices of authority in the fashion industry and among its primarily female readership.

Each Vogue Editor-in-Chief worldwide has signed their name in agreement to this set of principles.

“For over a century, Vogue has empowered and embraced creativity and craftsmanship; celebrated fashion, and shined a light on the critical issues of the time. Vogue stands for thought-provoking imagery and intelligent storytelling. We devote ourselves to supporting creators in all shapes and forms. Vogue looks to the future with optimism, remains global in its vision, and stands committed to practices that celebrate cultures and preserve our planet for future generations. We speak with a unified voice across 26 editions standing for the values of diversity, responsibility and respect for individuals, communities and for our natural environment.” – All the Editors-in-Chief, Vogue

“As the world’s leading fashion title, Vogue has the ability to move, influence and inspire — and with that, a responsibility to lead on the issues that matter most,” said Roger Lynch, CEO of Condé Nast. “For over a century, Condé Nast’s titles have driven the cultural conversation and propelled meaningful change around the world. This new commitment underscores what we can accomplish when we work together to leverage our global reach.”

Signing Up Is the Easy Part

Those of us deeply involved in the fashion industry know that not all Vogues are created equal. Rather than focus on a long list of Vogue mistakes — praising one country at the expense of another — AOC is thrilled to read this statement of a commitment to issues that matter deeply not only to us, but to our young people worldwide.

A focus on sustainability and climate change is an enormously complex topic in a consumption-driven industry. Inclusion and diversity around content and content creators that touches race, gender, sexual identification and other identity topics is much easier to address. It’s critical that voices like ours just hold Vogue’s feet to the fire (and other major magazines, too) on both topics — with an acknowledgement that protecting our earth is absolutely critical and also more complex.

What Are the Benchmarks for Vogue Values Success?

There is no doubt that Vogues worldwide do carry an important stick, with regards to their editorial coverage. At AOC, we will no longer write a feature on denim, that isn’t supporting a manufacturer or brand making major headway around sustainable denim. We will not write about a ‘girls just wanna have fun must-have pair of jeans’ — or share their advertising campaign — that carries no sustainability effort or measurable improvement on behalf of Mother Earth.

Imagine if Vogue magazines employed such rules for fashion coverage. Simply because of the scale of Vogue, their editorial power would influence manufacturing if Vogues adopted AOC’s policy on sustainable denim.

Imagine if Vogue utilized a 5-point checklist and only brands with measurable progress in 2 of the 5 criteria were considered for editorial coverage. By 2022, 3 of the 5 criteria had to reach measurable sustainability improvements. By 2025, 4 of the 5 criteria, etc.

AOC’s challenge back to Conde Nast’s Vogues is to clarify their measures of success in walking the talk of their Vogue Values mission statement. Surely other magazines would follow suit; websites, as well.

We have only good words and compliments to Vogues worldwide and look forward to supporting their new Vogue Values vision. We will also hold them accountable for walking their talk — because the futures of our children and the health of our entire global ecosystem demand it.

AOC is working to assemble all of our extensive writing on racial diversity into a consolidated archives location, We’ve made major progress on our Sustainability Archives and will open the Black Experience (or similar name) before the New Year. Like Vogue, we’re all inspired to do better in the coming decade, making it easy for concerned readers to find quality content that matters. ~ Anne