Sixth Form Students Launch Ardor Magazine
Hot off the Eltham College press this week comes Ardor, a brand-new publication launched by a group of entrepreneurial Sixth Fomers under the leadership of Founder and Editor-in-Chief Phoenix Che-Lai (Upper Sixth).
Revealing the launch on their new Instagram account, the Ardor team wrote: ‘Our aim is to become THE student-voice bible ranging from fashion, skincare, arts and culture’, and the debut issue certainly ticks those boxes, including everything from a round-up of fashion-forward footwear to a London culture diary, interspersed with insightful articles and creative writing. The team has also brought onboard an impressive array of highly aspirational brands, from the likes of Chanel and Dolce and Gabbana, rarely seen in print outside of Vogue and Elle, to Korean skincare brand Purito and Italian maker of sustainable handbags, Anema. Jeweller Mikimoto joined with the magazine in its first advertorial partnership.
In choosing which brands to approach, Phoenix told us, the team gave careful thought to the ecological credentials of each and their resonance with a young audience, giving recognition to those advocating for change as well as those which were visually inspirational. That so many agreed to allow the inclusion of their creative is testament to the team’s highly professional operation and the impressive design, quality editorial and production values of their creation. Indeed, a representative from one iconic brand partner wrote: ‘our entire team was incredibly impressed by the formatting aesthetics and the level of professionalism for a student magazine’ – high praise indeed.
Concerned that in our fast-paced world with ever-shortening attention spans, a separate creative writing section might be flicked past all too readily, the team chose to thread poetry and essays throughout the magazine, in this issue showcasing work by Eltham’s own Barney and Amber, alongside some of Phoenix’s own poems.
What next for Ardor? Already ‘inter-collegiate’ in nature, with students from Sevenoaks School, North London Collegiate School and Harris Westminster Sixth Form in collaboration with the Eltham team, the aim for now is to grow its audience both nationally and, they hope, internationally. They also aim to develop a wider network of student contributors, providing a platform for new voices in a media world where opportunities, they believe, are afforded more often on the basis of connections than hard work and ambition.
We wish them every success and send congratulations to Phoenix, to Managing Director Michelle and Co-editor Evelyn (Lower Sixth), and to our many Sixth Form contributors and writers.
Read the first issue of Ardor here. You can see more from the team on Instagram here.
