It’s hard to believe a publication like Polyester is still young enough to be dropping their third issue. The hyperreal, girl power, glitter-spangled zine, headed up by editor Ione Gamble, has completely taken the zine scene by storm – pressing two sold out issues and playing host to art exhibitions and collaborations alike, all the while turning out a solid reputation and standing in the publishing community in under a year.
Their latest offering, launching this week, takes aim at smashing beauty and gender stereotypes. Offering an interview with Signe Pierce, the performance artist and mirrored mask wearer in shock mini doc American Reflexxx, alongside a chat with Slits’ fearless frontwoman Viv Albertine, Fashion East designer and Westminster grad Mary Benson, a ‘make down’ shot by Maisie Cousins, and two covers, immortalised by Eleanor Hardwick and Eddyline Sikuku respectively.
“We usually avoid concrete themes as we believe it leads to reductionism on important topics that are treated as trends,” explains Gamble on the mag’s mission statement. “We try and exclusively work with female and queer/LGBTQ+ artists for print and it's really important from that stance to have a platform to not only celebrate what these people do but also the problems they face that need to be combatted.”
With (almost) a triptych of issues under their belt and a growing number of loyal readers and fans following their rainbow-coloured wake, Polyester is proving that age ain’t nothing but a number. Preview the new issue first here.
Issue 3 is available for pre-order now from here. The launch party with take place this Thursday 23 July at London's Shacklewell Arms, click here for more information
