27th February is Ladies’ Magazine Day! This week, we would like to introduce what Candlewick employees feel about women’s magazines. First, let’s start with Kimata.

Lately, I have been reminded even more strongly of the influence of women’s magazines.

For example, Social Development Goals (SDGs), used to be all about the name. Broader themes such as consideration for the global environment and gender equality have been subdivided into more specific goals, and have now become an everyday part of people’s lives. Perhaps the reason why it has spread so widely is because women’s magazines such as ELLE JAPON, FIGARO japon, and FRaU have persistently taken up the topic. It seems that the way that SDGs are being featured is linked to the suggestion of an opportunity to actually think about what actions to take and implement them!

From a PR perspective, I want to continue to explore the connection between magazines and the wider world.

Next is from Catherine!

I really do think that Women’s magazines have made me who I am now.

When I was young, I would read Barbie magazine, Teen Vogue and other magazines only young NZ and Australian girls would know!

But when I hit high school, and had a part-time job, I would spend every weekend buying fashion magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

And then the internet introduced me to Japanese magazines- SPUR, Fudge, Japanese Vogue- and I was hooked!

I would cut out my favourite images and articles – dreaming of the day when I could read the Japanese text properly, and maybe even work with some of these media!

And here I am now, over 10 years later- working in PR, and interacting with all of these media I looked up to years ago in my little New Zealand house!

Last is from our CEO, Noriko Silvester!

Magazines used to be a way to sell dreams to readers.

Although they still introduce aspirational lifestyles, etc., online magazines have become more prestigious than their paper counterparts, and anyone, anywhere can read a variety of free articles and view photos from their phones.

But for me, no matter what, I just can’t get rid of the beauty of print media.
The feel of the paper, the smell of the print, even the speed of turning the pages, it is all in your own time.
The contents also allow you to feel the editor’s thoughts and the editor-in-chief’s sense of style throughout the magazine.

The same may be true online, but since my mind is constantly wandering from one place to another, it tends to be a means of gathering information that is more about speed than taking deliberate steps.

While acknowledging the need to be environmentally conscious, I am one of those people who do not want to see paper magazines disappear.