Katarina Kroslakova. Photography by Pierre Toussaint. When I committed to launching an Australian edition of T: The New York Times Style Magazine three years ago, it was out of a desire to buck the trend. It was at the height of the pandemic and many of my favourite magazines had recently folded. So I decided to start T Australia as an antidote to the media cutbacks and the dire predictions engulfing the world. I wanted the local edition to showcase the best of Australia in a global context and also provide a platform for quality, long-form journalism that captures the cultural zeitgeist. It was a huge leap of faith. But 15 issues on, we’ve gone from strength to strength, having increased our publishing frequency and built a loyal following of people who love magazines as much as we do.
I have a soft spot for rule breakers and those who won’t take no for an answer — they’re my kind of people. That’s why we’ve dedicated this issue, The Yes Issue, to the mavericks, disruptors and rebels who dare to ask the difficult questions and spark change. In these pages, we explore what drives them to shape the world anew.
Our cover star, the model Ajak Deng, is a worthy face for this issue if there ever was one. After fleeing war-torn Sudan and losing her mother to malaria in a refugee camp, Deng moved to Australia with the rest of her family at the age of 12. She speaks to Victoria Pearson (page 64) about calling out racism in the modelling industry, demanding that she and others be treated with kindness, and finding a role model in Rihanna.
In “The Heir” (page 82), Nick Haramis meets Anthony Vaccarello, the Belgian designer who studied law but abandoned it to pursue his love of fashion, working his way up until he was appointed creative director of Saint Laurent at the age of 34. His designs have been lauded by Donatella Versace and Tom Ford for their sexy simplicity; they are clothes that women — and men — actually want to wear.
In “So Meta” (page 76), Helen Hawkes looks at the beauty industry’s deep dive into the metaverse. Discover the brands that are investing in try-on technology, virtual fashion shows, NFTs and partnering with gaming companies, while also pushing to make the metaverse a more diverse, inclusive space.
Elsewhere, the designer Matthieu Blazy shares his inspirations, from a family visit to Mali to his fondness for a Richard Scarry cartoon character’s outfit (page 52). Fred Siggins meets the Australian makers behind the new breed of savoury gins (page 40). Meanwhile, T Australia’s columnist, Lance Richardson, names the recent inventions that have changed his life and ponders what the future will bring (page 38).
In this issue you’ll also find our first ever special luxury travel section. Lee Tulloch takes us on board the ultra-luxury ship the Silver Nova (page 98) on its maiden voyage along the Adriatic coast; while Craig Tansley explores the Kimberley region on the 32-passenger yacht Le Ponant (page 104), and wonders why the threat of crocs, box jellyfish and blue-ringed octopuses only add to the sense of exclusivity.
This issue celebrates the visionaries, innovators and their lives less ordinary. I hope you find something in these pages that inspires you to seize the day.
Katarina Kroslakova — Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
