• by Fern Siegel , January 5, 2020

Consider it Vogue Italia’s push for sustainability.

All seven of its January 2020 covers were illustrated by either well-known or emerging artists. Emanuele Farneti, editor-in-chief of the magazine,  stated the challenge was “to demonstrate that it is possible to tell the clothes without photographing them.”

That’s a first for Vogue Italia. In fact, it’s the first time since 1932 that any Vogue cover is absent chic color photography.

Participating artists include David Salle, Vanessa Beecroft, Cassi Namoda, Milo Manara, Delphine Desane, Paolo Ventura and Yoshitaka Amano.

A key upside to using illustrations is lessening the magazine's environmental impact. Vogue Italia also plans to revamp its packaging to a more sustainable, 100% compostable plastic wrapping.

The savings on travel, shipping wardrobes, photographers and models are considerable. The magazine is donating what it would have spent on production to the restoration of the Querini Stampalia Onlus Foundation in Venice, which was damaged by a flood in November 2019.

The January issue underscores “Vogue Values,” a recent rebrand that guides its global team. It states Vogue is “committed to practices that celebrate cultures and preserve our planet for future generations." All 26 global editor-in-chiefs have signed on.

Fashion illustrations once dominated Vogue's pages — until high-end photo shoots, often with provocative imagery, pushed it to the background. By returning to its aesthetic roots, if only on occasion, Vogue Italia salutes the beauty of a singular art form.