Global fashion icon VOGUE magazine set for Thailand debut

? on newsstands 1st February 2013 ? boost to local designers and Thai fashion industry VOGUE Magazine, arguably the world’s most influential fashion magazine credited with an ability to make or break designers and set new global fashion trends, is set to put its first Thai edition on local bookstands by 1st February 2013 with an investment of Bht 150 million. It will have a cover price of Bht 100, be published monthly, and contain between 250 to 300 pages, with advertising and subscription sales anticipated at between Bht 150-200 million, annually. Ms. Siri Udomritthiruj, Chief Executive Officer, VOGUE Thailand, said, “The arrival of VOGUE in any market marks a milestone for its fashion industry. While VOGUE is a global title, it still sources more than 70% of its content locally. Such a high proportion of local content will give huge impetus to the local fashion industry because of the magazine’s power to influence public taste and to get more people excited about and engaged in fashion.” She said that VOGUE magazine had announced local editions in Portugal, Turkey, China, and India in the last 10 years, and in each instance the local fashion industry had benefited from the publication’s entry. Mr. James Woolhouse, President Asia Pacific, Cond? Nast International, the worldwide publisher of VOGUE Magazine, said, “I’m thrilled that VOGUE is launching a Thai edition. Thailand has a vibrant fashion industry and we can also see robust growth in the retail sector. Next to that, we have a truly great team here in Thailand producing the magazine.” Ms. Udomritthiruj added, “Underpinning our confidence in the market has been the strong performance of the Thai retail sector which is expected to grow at around 6% a year for the next several years and almost a million square metres of retail space is coming on stream in Bangkok in the next two years. One of the foremost beneficiaries of any retail sector growth is fashion and apparel, and that almost always translates to strong demand for our product.” According to Ms. Udomritthiruj the Thai luxury fashion sector has shown particularly good growth and is currently worth approximately Bht 8,000 million. Mr. Kullawit Laosuksri, VOGUE Thailand’s Editor-in-Chief, said, “VOGUE doesn’t have a global template, except for excellence. It takes on the local character of its host country and carries its own, local cover. This is what attracted me to the project and will also lead to a very sophisticated and fulfilling product for the reader.” He said that with so much local content packaged inside a title that is a global fashion icon, it will also give a major boost to local designers. “VOGUE Thailand can help kick-start the careers of local designers by giving them a place in a universally accepted, world-class fashion forum that increases their international credibility and their appeal, wherever they go,” he said. “We hope to support the enormous pool of designer talent in Thailand in getting a fairer share of global recognition for themselves.” Mr. Laosuksri said that VOGUE, around the world, works only with a country’s top fashion photographers, models, stylists and writers. “The content will combine superb local and international photography with narrative that is positive, supportive and enjoyable to read. It will dare to have an opinion. And it will also be a platform from which the most creative minds in Thailand can share their own ideas and opinions with readers,” he said. The VOGUE Thailand office will open on 25th October at Zen Tower with a staff of around 40 people. VOGUE Thailand will be the twenty-first VOGUE worldwide. The Thai magazine market is estimated to be worth approximately Bht 5,200 million, with fashion publications accounting for approximately 30% of the market. For further information, please contact Bangkok Public Relations Ltd. Kanthicha Boonphokaew (ext. 112) or Panta Poonsapmanee (ext. 116) at Telephone 0-2664 9500, fax 0-2664 951 -นท- สามารถคลิกดูภาพประกอบได้ที่ www.thaipr.net

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