Girls Like Us
Capricious Inc.
Lesbian Quarterly
For women who are seeking a contemporary representation of lesbian identity.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Po Box 10717, 1001 ES
Email: info@glumagazine.com
- Category: Fashion, Lesbian/Gay
- Periodicity: Tri-Annual
- Language: English
- Format: 165 x 228 mm
- Circulation: 3,000
- Price: £ 6
- Web: http://www.glumagazine.com
Founded in 2005
Girls Like Us (GLU) is a new magazine by Jessica Gysel and Kathrin Hero for women who are seeking a contemporary representation of lesbian identity. We focus on successful, creative, outspoken women who are not afraid to take risks and have a sense of humor and a playful take on lesbian identity. No attention is given to coming out stories and related matters – as there are plenty of magazines dealing with these issues. Interested in labeling – it’s all about with stories to tell and who transcend medium or scene. GLU features a european design sensibility – modern, fresh and cutting. Graphic text and full color photo will update the traditionally text heavy and white lesbian publications. GLU interviews are personal and engage the style and interests of the subject.
Exclusive Interview
Closeted celebrity lesbians: Come out!
What is your magazine about?
Girls Like Us (GLU) is a new lesbian magazine by Jessica Gysel and Kathrin Hero for women who are seeking a contemporary representation of lesbian identity. We focus on successful, creative, outspoken women who are not afraid to take risks and have a sense of humor and a playful take on lesbian identity. No attention is given to coming out stories and related matters – as there are plenty of magazines dealing with these issues. GLU showcases different types of lesbians – old and young, professional and underground, prim and precocious. We’re not interested in labeling – it’s all about women with stories to tell and who transcend one medium or scene. GLU features a european design sensibility – modern, fresh and cutting edge. Graphic text and full color photo spreads update the traditionally text heavy black and white lesbian publications. GLU interviews are personal and engage the opinion, style and interests of the subject.
Who’s behind the project? Tell us about the founders, their backgrounds and their motivations!
Jessica Gysel works as partner in a marketing agency called Best Company, specializing in popcultural contexts such as music, art and fashion. She’s originally from Belgium and loves to travel and explore. Pushing boundaries is her favourite thing.
Kathrin Hero works as a graphic designer, she’s selfemployed. Next to magazines she is mainly interested in books and bookmaking. Kathrin is Swiss and German.
Both editors are based in Amsterdam.
How do you produce one issue? How much time do you spend on it? How big is your team?
The (two) editors work with an international network of artists, writers and friends.
What have been the important steps in the life of your magazine?
Issue 1.
Which are the key incredients for the success of your magazine?
Independancy, originality.
What are the difficulties you are confronted with? What would be “the” thing to help the magazine to improve?
1) Closeted celebrity lesbians: Come out!
2) Funding, money.
Where do you want the magazine to be in five years?
Same as now but with a bigger network and hopefully financially independent.
Tell us about your audience! Who are the readers of your magazine?
Our target readership is a progressive, international audience comprised of lesbians looking for a fresh message and style, in the 18-45 age range. GLU readers are also interested in design and cultural phenomenon. Cross over audiences include artists and gallerists, stlyists and fashion designers, and people working in the media and communication industries.
Is remaining independent important to you? Is it part of the strategy?
Yes.
What’s your relationship with advertisement? Does it influence your content? Do you care about advertising-driven-editorials?
No.
Do you think that magazine readers still need to watch TV?
What kind of question is that?
Which is your relationship with your printer? Does he play a main role in your development?
Our printer plays a major role in terms of outstanding quality of our product and design sensibility; the relationship with our printer is very good.
Which magazines did influence you most? What are you looking for in other magazines?
Index, Interview, The Manipulator, I-D, The Face. We appreciate reflection and playfullnes in other magazines and when they provide a look behind the scenes.
What do you think of your issue 01, when you look back at it?
Our first issue’s just come out.
What question did you never ask in your magazine but would have liked to?
The future will tell us that.
How many magazines do you buy / get / read each month? Do you qualify yourself a maniac?
If we bought all the magazines we want we would be broke all the time. But we don’t consider ourselves as real maniacs. It’s important to keep the eyes open though, and to be up to date.
E-mail interview from “22.12.2005”. © Colophon2007.com – Mike Koedinger Editions SA (Luxembourg)
Publisher
Capricious Inc.
619 e. 6th street, NY 10009, New York, USA
- 2044
- 5180
- 2482
- 662
