FAQ
What’s your deal with advertising?
Most mainstream fashion magazines are businesses – making money is the bottom line. Commercial magazines earn revenue through advertising, not through readers’ patronage. This produces a shift in power: to get paid, a magazine’s content must please the advertiser first – and the reader second. In many markets, but most obviously in fashion, advertisers have such an upper hand that they’ve not only leaked into editorial content, but now dominate it. Instead of getting a little advice, readers are given a purchased opinion.
Worn refuses to operate this way. We’ve structured our sales to guarantee that the majority of our revenue comes from our readership – they alone ensure our survival. Yes, we accept advertising. But we have a strict policy of hands-off-ness from our advertisers. Our advertisers think Worn is worth supporting and our readers worth informing, but they know, understand, and applaud our policy of independence.
Want to become one of those advertisers? See Advertise.
Are you a vintage magazine?
Well, we are a publication about clothing: past, present, and future. Since clothing has been around a long time, a lot of what we work with is considered vintage. But it’s not our primary focus.
Why journal and not magazine?
Sounded smarter?
Were can I buy Worn?
Lots of places! Online in our web store, on our etsy site – the House of Worn – on buyOlympia.com and on reprodepot.com. We’re also for sale in lots of independent clothing and bookstores in Canada and the U.S., see our list under Where To Buy. Lastly, every year we have a table at Expozine and Puces POP in Montreal; Canzine, Word on the Street, and City of Craft in Toronto; and Ladyfest in Ottawa.
I moved, how do I change the mailing address for my subscription?
Send an email to dearworn @ wornjournal.com, clearly stating your old address and your new address, and wait for a confirmation email. If you don’t get a confirmation email in a week, feel free to email again and use profanity. Please note that we need 20 days notice before you move. Worn is not responsible for issues sent to the wrong address if you gave us the wrong address. And thanks for subscribing!
Can you profile my band/short film/book?
If your band/short film/book has a really interesting take on clothing, we would love to hear from you. Please send some info to dearworn @ wornjournal.com. If your band/short film/book has nothing to do with clothing (besides the fact that people wear it), it won’t be considered for Worn.
Can you profile my clothing/jewellery/bags?
In general this is not something we do, but we are always willing to give it a look. If your items are not trend driven, but are revolutionary, radical, and interesting, send some info to dearworn @ wornjournal.com
Will you profile my store?
Yes! We can profile you in our upcoming Independent Shopping Guide on wornjournal.com. Please send in your basic info (address and phone number) to profiles @ wornjournal.com and we will add it to our list.
Can I send you free stuff?
Nope. Worn does not accept any free stuff, for fear it may influence how we talk about that stuff. The exception to this is books. We do this because the book industry has a much more established understanding of a no-strings-attached policy, and have an expectation of an honest review.
I’m not a fashion writer, can I still write for Worn?
Yes! You don’t have to be a “fashion” journalist to write for Worn. Sometimes it’s better if you’re not. We are looking for a myriad perspectives on clothing and some of our best contributions have come from historians, feminists, environmentalists, psychologists, and novelists – everyone can have an opinion on clothing. For more information go to How to Submit.
I’m a student and I wrote a clothing–related essay, can I submit it?
Definitely. Worn has found that some of its best and most interesting content has come to us this way. Please submit the paper in its entirety (even though it will be way too long). if we see potential, one of our editors can then help you to rework the paper into a more accessible article. Your article does not have to be from a fashion-related major, we have found success in submissions from departments like woman’s studies, fibre arts, decorative arts, communications and cultural studies, among others.
Can I take pictures or illustrate for Worn?
Send some of work or a link to your website to serahmarie @ wornjournal.com. We’ll talk.
Can I do a photoshoot for Worn?
Each issue we run one black-and-white and two colour photoshoots. If you have an already-completed photoshoot, you can send us a small res version of it for consideration – but it’s best to consult with us first, as we may be able to provide some tips and tricks to ensure publication. Most importantly, we are interested in all kinds of beauty, and insist on including diversity of culture, subculture, gender identification, sexuality, size, race, and age. It is very important that our photoshoots reflect this. And please don’t have anyone looking bored. Fashion is not boring.
Can I be on staff?
We are looking for people to volunteer at Worn. There are lots of roles behind the scenes that make what we do possible. See Get Involved.
Can I be an intern?
Internships are currently only available in Toronto and run in three sessions: October to March, March to June, and June to October. We have successfully worked with schools for credit internships previously. Summer- only sessions may be available. Unfortunately, all internship positions are unpaid. Please email serahmarie @ wornjournal.com for more information.
Are you going to pay me?
The answer to this is, regretfully, no. We are a small non-profit publication that is currently operating out of a living room. So far no one, not even the editor, gets paid. However, we are working hard to change this sad, sad fact, as we believe that all contributors deserve to get paid.
