Pénélope Flouret
Edited by Ella Querin
Karlie Kloss is not your average model. Despite having appeared on the covers of over 40 Vogue magazines and walking in dozens of Fashion Weeks, she’s succeeded in making a name for herself off the runway.
Kloss broke barriers by developing Kode With Klossy, a summer camp for girls ages 13-18, where girls learn to code, inspiring them to pursue their passions in a technology-driven world. Kloss has also created her own world in collaboration with Roblox, letting gamers style themselves in elaborate outfits while leveling up to become editor-in-chief.
Now, once again, Karlie Kloss is making a name for herself. Last week, on November 15, it was announced that Kloss was acquiring British fashion publication i-D Magazine, which VICE previously owned. This was an unexpected business deal that no one saw coming, including myself. i-D was founded in 1980 by Terry Jones, a former Vogue art director who has created a reputation for the magazine as an alternative, edgy training ground for fashion, music, and culture starring everyone’s favorite celebrities.
This isn’t Kloss’s first rodeo in acquiring major companies. In 2020, she obtained W Magazine alongside fellow investors, model Kaia Gerber, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, and others. WWD Magazine still claims that despite Kloss becoming CEO, Alastair Mckimm will remain chief creative officer and global editor-in-chief.
The price point of Kloss’ i-D Magazine acquisition has not yet been revealed, but the sale occurred through Kloss’s new company, Bedford Media. A rep for Kloss claims that she “has a deep passion for technology and the intersection of fashion, media, and culture and how we can create interconnectivity between the digital and physical worlds.”
Before the big news broke, Kloss took to Instagram to post an old picture of herself on the cover of i-D’s spring 2011 issue when she was just 19 years old. Kloss began modeling in 2006 with Abercrombie Kids, and her fashion career took off from there.
StyleNotCom, a popular Instagram account with thousands of followers that updates users on major fashion news and events, posted the exclusive scoop in a carousel with its usual blue slides and writing in all caps. In the comments, users didn’t hold back their thoughts
Some commented, “This is literally the least punk thing that could happen,” referring to i-D’s creator, Terry Jones, who was responsible for the magazine’s reputation.
Others associated it with her marriage to Joshua Kushner and claimed that he helped throughout the whole deal, saying, “It’s amazing what Kushner money can buy,” despite it being unclear how Kloss obtained i-D in the first place.
However, despite some negative comments, the post was flooded with positive ones, such as hearts, fire emojis, and clap emojis, alongside people calling Kloss a “girl boss,” “icon,” “Queen,” and “So smart of her.”
As much as I am happy for Kloss and am proud that a woman is stepping up and acquiring publications left and right, this deal was out of the blue. When I first saw the news, I thought, why i-D magazine? Given that she’s only been on the cover once, in contrast to Vogue, how does this magazine have a special place in her heart for her to decide to buy it? What led her to do this in the first place?
That being said, it should be interesting to see, over the next few months, and even years, how Kloss takes the reins with i-D Magazine and whether it helps the magazine flourish and grow, keeping its core values at heart or whether this is the start of a downward spiral for the publication. It’s always inspiring to see a woman make major business moves. Kloss proves that women can be CEOs of companies and investors and rock the runway simultaneously, proving to the world that women can do ANYTHING!
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