The New York and Singapore listed investment group AMTD International Inc, has agreed to acquire L’Officiel Inc, publisher of the 101-year-old iconic French fashion and beauty magazine for professionals.
L’Officiel has 30 international print and digital editions, a claimed readership of 2m and 100m digital visitors. Its digital presence includes 40m total page views across the global network.It has 20m followers on social media.
The magazine (“Your official source of fashion, art, culture, and lifestyle inspiration”) was first published in 1921, the same year as Vogue. It was the official publication of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, a trade body then representing Paris designers.
L’Officiel – directed principally at international buyers of high fashion – has been credited with helping to launch the careers of many celebrated designers including Pierre Balmain, Christian Dior and Yves St Laurent.
Its future, ironically, was in doubt during the magazine’s centenary year in 2021 with allegations that many freelance contributors had been unpaid, apparently for several years.
It seems reasonable to surmise that the famous brand’s new owners will be exploring ways to compete with the high-value services now offered by the Vogue Business spin-off of the world’s best-known fashion brand.
