Letter from the Editor

Transitions of power are rarely—if ever—easy.

When it was announced in Spring 2018 that I would assume the role of the Editor in Chief of Impulse, I was at once elated and plagued with anxiety. I felt challenged to ensure an easy transition of power, but also begin to develop ideas regarding what new era I wanted to take the magazine in.

The issue that you are currently reading is the result of this elation and anxiety.

The fact of the matter is that cultivating and maintaining a loyal audience is extremely difficult. Consumers are always searching for the new even before they have received the present. From an economic standpoint, there is always a rise in demand, with often very little supply.

In addition to the challenges posed from the audience, the primary subject matter of our magazine—fashion—is not something that is particularly interesting or relevant to a population that is surrounded by corn husks. Many individuals view the industry as cunning, relentless, superficial, and vain. However, very many do not come to the realization that the qualities that make fashion such a difficult field are the very same qualities that make business so challenging.

The solution lies in finding a common ground and maintaining a consistent language that is digestible, but still uncompromising to a creative vision. The human psyche craves to be provoked, but at the same time, yearns to feel comfortable and safe.

In this issue, a primary goal I had was to increase the diversity of our models. In addition to this, I emphasized the importance of having one model per shoot, in comparison to a team of models. Attention must be paid to the clothing, the model themselves, the tone, the setting, and most importantly, the reaction to an image. Fashion is a visual language that must provoke a form of desire or yearning.

The writing plays a crucial role, too. This season, we encouraged our writers to produce pieces beyond the topic of fashion—and the results are astounding. We tackle eating disorders, the challenges in the age of the social, and the increasing importance of self-care. There are also brilliant interviews with our cover star, creative director, and EDM fantasy, Louis the Child. Thus, producing an issue that is at once diverse, but grounded.

Change is something that does not happen overnight, and although this current issue borrows from the previous Impulse DNA, we have infused it with enough quirks and tweaks that will allow for a greater rebirth.