a cloth-covered button is the brainchild of two relatively gin-soaked Melbourne editors (and fashion tragics), who were sick of reading advertorial disguised as analysis. They got together one night in a South Yarra apartment and decided to make a magazine that reflected the intellectual curiosity of their peers – people whose interest in art, culture, music and design was reflected in the independent magazine market, but whose love of clothing was for some reason ignored. You know – a fashion magazine that wasn’t completely condescending and shit.
The magazine, as well as being an outlet for intelligent and provoking fashion writing, was conceived as a community project of sorts, a venue for underground and emerging writers and artists to comment on the design culture of their city. The vast majority of contributors are Melbourne based; a few are published for the first time, while others publish or exhibit widely. What they all have in common is a deep understanding of Melbourne’s design subculture, and an interest in the ethical, political, cultural and environmental implications of clothing.
a cloth-covered button is keen to maintain its editorial independence, and as such does not publish advertorial or solicit advertising from companies it sees as being in conflict with its ethos. It does not use models or airbrush or otherwise distort photographs, believing that holding readers captive to an unattainable beauty standard is counterproductive to its values.
It is printed using recycled paper and environmentally sustainable inks, and being a biannual publication, is designed to stay in circulation for longer than the archetypal, trend-driven, disposable fashion magazine. Most of all, its point of difference is in that its only trade is in ideas – and the only thing it is designed to sell is good writing and illustration.

Am I able to purchase this intriguing magazine from you directly or online? If so, how? I live in Perth, so I cannot come into Magnation.
Warm regards
Elisha
Hi Elisha,
we’re working on getting an online shop set up at the moment – it should only be a week or two. If you can’t wait that long, we can try to get one to you in the mail. We love people who want to buy our mag!
Thanks,
Jess
What Elisha said – you have my email address now!
Sounds great, ditto to having my emial for any updates about availability pls!
Hi Jessica and Gillian,
Could you please pop a legal deposit copy of the magazine in the post: Australian Serials, National Library of Australia, Canberra ACT 2600. We’d love to add it to our collection. If you need an ISSN for a barcode we can help: http://www.nla.gov.au/services/issn_form.html. Good luck with the mag, Philip
I believe I need your magazine! I live in the land that style forgot, Frankston. And I can’t see myself getting up to Melbourne too soon. So is it possible to send me one of your lovely magazines? Let me know…
Cheers,
Rosie
Hi! I just came across your mag, and I’d really love to get a copy. I live in the United States, though – is there any way I can purchase one? Thanks so much!
Hi there,
Just wondering if I’ve missed an issue? I have the first one.
Thanks for such a beautiful magazine.
Angelalala xx
hello
just wanted to say that i picked up a copy in magnation and absolutely love issue two, its gorgeous
thankyou for creating a scrumptious magazine
ella
xo
very interested in ordering a copy. is the online store up yet? xx
Hey how do I go about getting a copy of your mag if I live in Brisbane as opposed to Melbourne??
Oh wow you eds are younger than me – I Love your zine!
I want to email you a media release for my upcoming exhibition. You’ll like it me thinks.
Penny
hi there..this looks like a little treasure. Do you girls design and publish this magazine yourself? I am looking for a traineeship/ junior graphic design position, and would love to be working on something just like this.
if you would be able to give me some information on this, that would be wonderful.
thanks, Louise