Who is the new editor-in-chief of i-D Magazine?

After months of anticipation, i-D Magazine has officially announced its new Editor in Chief and Chief Brand Officer, along with the long-awaited news of its return to print. The renowned British fashion and culture magazine, known for its cutting-edge approach and its connection to the world of British youth subcultures, has appointed Thom Bettridge as the figure responsible for leading it into a new era. The return to print, scheduled for March 2024, marks a crucial moment in the evolution of i-D, which is set to reclaim its place in the publishing world with a biannual release. Thom Bettridge, who previously held the role of vice president of creative and content at Ssense, will oversee both the magazine's digital and print platforms, while also guiding new commercial projects. Bettridge, an experienced editor with previous stints at notable publications like 032c, Interview, and Highsnobiety, brings with him a wealth of experience (and certainly a fresh approach) in blending editorial innovation and cultural relevance. His appointment comes at a time when i-D is looking to expand its influence beyond print, transforming into a multi-platform media entity.

Speaking about his new role to WWD, Bettridge expressed his enthusiasm: «I believe that magazines are tools for turning the chaos of the present into something iconic. And perhaps no publication embodies this function better than i-D». The new Editor in Chief also emphasized that his mission will be to explore the cultural movements shaping the present and future, ensuring that i-D continues its tradition of giving voice to the avant-garde and emerging creatives. Karlie Kloss, founder and chairwoman of Bedford Media, the magazine’s new owner, described Bettridge as the ideal leader for the brand’s next phase. «His creative instinct and cultural fluency make him the perfect person to write the next chapter of the magazine», Kloss said. The biannual publication, set to launch in March, will also explore new concepts for the classic print format and cross-media projects, signaling i-D’s desire to reinvent itself and update for a new era. Earlier in September, the website was relaunched with a homepage featuring pop stars Charli XCX and Troye Sivan, photographed by Eli Russell Linnetz. In addition to his editorial duties, Bettridge will work closely with Nicole Muniz, Bedford Media’s partner and CEO, to guide the brand’s overall direction. Muniz praised Bettridge’s curatorial skills, noting that i-D has always been a trusted source of cultural narratives, with Bettridge making i-D «a reliable destination for the stories that matter in the cultural landscape».

The return of i-D to print and Bettridge's new tenure represent good news for fashion publishing, a landscape that has dramatically changed over the last decade and has inevitably pushed "old" print media to incorporate various forms of digital innovation. And while the biannual return is not merely an act of nostalgia but part of a broader strategy to adapt and expand i-D's influence across multiple platforms, the continuation of print also responds to the modern desire for the preservation of physical media — standing in contrast to the hyper-digitalization that has fragmented many publications and, in some cases, stripped the charm of once-iconic magazines now forced to diversify their content and adhere to social metrics that simply didn’t exist during the golden age of print. Regardless, the reaction to Bettridge’s appointment has been positive, and his illustrious resume suggests that i-D is poised to reclaim its role as a pioneer in the fashion and cultural media space — although with new owners and rich investors in a completely changed fashion landscape, it’s unrealistic to expect the underground spirit of the ’90s to return with the same immediacy and spontaneity.