1 Granary
1 Granary is an independent fashion media platform and magazine founded by Olya Kuryshchuk in 2012, which focuses on supporting and showcasing emerging designers, graduate shows, and the intersection between fashion education and the industry. It began as a student-led blog at Central Saint Martins, London, and has since grown into a multifaceted platform that publishes print issues and online content, curates exhibitions, and runs programs to connect new talents with industry opportunities.
History
- Origins (2011-2012): Olya Kuryshchuk, while studying at Central Saint Martins (CSM), founded what would become 1 Granary as a blog in 2011, along with peers, to address issues they saw around lack of information and access for students (especially international students) in the fashion education system.[1] The name 1 Granary refers to the address of CSM’s Granary Square campus at King’s Cross in London.[2]
- First Print Issue (2012-2013): From being an online-only platform, 1 Granary published its first print issue around 2012-13, with support including from Comme des Garçons. The first issue had about 1,000 copies, which were largely hand-delivered, and featured many contributions from students and CSM alumni.[3]
- Growth & Expansion: Over subsequent years 1 Granary expanded the scope of its content (more interviews, editorial shoots, essays), increased collaboration with other art and fashion schools (Royal College of Art, Parsons, Antwerp, IFM, Polimoda, etc), and developed projects beyond print, including exhibitions, panel discussions, and talent-support initiatives.[4]
Activities & Programs
- Print and Digital Media: While 1 Granary has produced 7 substantial print projects since its founding, these are released on a more sporadic basis rather than as a regular magazine. In recent years the platform has shifted much of its publishing focus to digital, with a Substack publication that has grown into a core part of its editorial output. The newsletter offers behind-the-scenes perspectives from fashion houses, critical essays on the structures of the fashion system, and in-depth insights from designers, educators, and industry figures.[5] Alongside this, the website continues to publish graduate profiles, interviews, and long-form features.
- “Designers to Hire”: A database launched by 1 Granary to showcase recent graduates from universities around the world. It highlights the work of new designers and provides visibility to their skills, research, and aesthetic, aiming to connect them with potential employers and industry stakeholders.[6]
- VOID Initiative: VOID is a global initiative by 1 Granary which supports emerging designers. It includes exhibitions showcasing graduate work, mentorship or collaborative opportunities, and aims to bridge the gap between academic training and industry demands.[7]
- Showroom / Graduate Support: 1 Granary has previously organised physical showrooms and spaces where graduate collections were presented to industry professionals. These projects aimed to increase exposure for young designers and create a sense of community between students, graduates, and established practitioners. The organisation also hosted exhibitions, events, and panel discussions during this period, furthering its mission of connecting fashion education with the wider industry.[8]
Editorial Style & Themes
1 Granary is known for its candid tone, openness about the challenges young designers face (financial, institutional, logistical), and its visual ambition—mixing student work, editorial shoots, essays, interviews.[3] It does not shy away from critiquing the fashion system, including issues of access, payment, and what happens after graduation. Issues often explore particular themes (for example, youth culture, education, systemic problems, post-graduate life) and draw contributions not just from within London but from international institutions.[9]
Reception & Impact
Media coverage has been positive, often highlighting 1 Granary’s role in giving a voice to students and recent graduates, and pulling back the curtain on fashion’s backstage. Vogue described its third issue “Dazzling in an Age of Austerity” as demonstrating the magazine’s rising influence and its willingness to set its own agenda.[10] It’s Nice That has published interviews with its editor-in-chief about the realities of being independent and how fresh talent is handled in fashion.[8]
Programs like Designers to Hire and VOID are seen in the industry as meaningful ways to connect emerging talents with visibility and real conversations.
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- ↑ "A Take On Fashion: Olya Kuryshchuk | FHCM". www.fhcm.paris. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ↑ "BoF Exclusive | Robin Derrick Speaks to CSM's New Magazine, 1Granary". The Business of Fashion. 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sidhu, T. J. (2024-01-04). "PARIS, MILAN, GRANARY SQUARE: The story of CSM's subversive fashion bible". INDIE Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ↑ "1 granary issue four asks, "does anyone still have fun?"". Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ↑ "About - 1 Granary". 1granary.substack.com. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ↑ Yotka, Steff (2020-11-19). "1 Granary's 'Designers to Hire' Program Supports the Next Generation of Global Talent". Vogue. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ↑ Bobb, Brooke (2018-02-07). "Void Wants to Introduce You to Some of Fashion's Most Inspiring Young Design Talents". Vogue. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 ""Fresh talent has become a commodity": 1 Granary's editor-in-chief Olya Kuryshchuk". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ↑ Taylor, Trey (2018-02-09). "How do we make sure fashion graduates succeed?". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ↑ Anderson, Kristin (2015-09-19). "Exclusive: Inside the Student Magazine That's Changing the Fashion Landscape". Vogue. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
