Alastair Mckimm, Editor-in-Chief, i-D

May 29, 2023

Belfast-born Alastair McKimm felt drawn to the arts from a young age, but while he was deep in the school application process — with his sights set on a photography degree — McKimm was introduced to the work of John Galliano, and inspired to change direction and pursue design. From studying fashion at Nottingham Art School, where he bought his first copy of i-D magazine, McKimm moved to London and landed a job at that very publication, where he worked his way into the good graces of the then-fashion director Edward Enninfu, whose role he would take over years later. With immaculate, minimalist taste and a penchant for mixing luxury fashion and modern youth culture, McKimm’s styling immediately stood out, and he swiftly climbed the ranks as a freelancer for both major brands, from Saint Laurent and Versace to Supreme, as well as fashion publications such as Vogue Italia, Self Service and Interview. Considered one of the industry’s foremost players in the luxury streetwear and sportswear game, McKimm has a host of collaborations under his belt: from a children’s line with Zara, to a workwear capsule with Skyhigh Farms, not to mention the three books he published with Dover Street’s iconic bookseller IDEA. Today, Alastair has made his way back to home base — returning to i-D once again in 2018 as the Editor-in-Chief, where his renowned eye has realized a new chapter for the magazine and proven that experience as a journalist is certainly not necessary for pushing a publication to new heights.

Published in office Issue 19, Spring 2023. Get your copy here.

Interview by Anna Zanes
Photography by Jiro Konami

What is your ideal office?

My iPhone.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

My kids.

What was the last thing you wrote down to remember later?

Worry can be potent and mind-altering.

Which weather phenomenon best embodies your personality?

Lightning.

What is your most cherished item in your home? In your closet?

Gaetano Pesce Smiley Face Chair.

Do you have any rituals?

Yes.

Where did you have your first kiss?

Behind the bikeshed at primary school. Didn’t everyone?

When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

December 29th, 2022, and hopefully many more times before this is printed.

If God is real, what do they smell like?

Trust me, God is real, but its scent is unfathomable.

What is one look or trend you regret following?

No regrets.

Who was your first idol?

Can’t remember.

What is the strangest or most surprising thing you’ve seen on set?

Yvie Oddly.

What was your most-played song of last year?

“Soldiers” - Headie One and Fred Again (Featuring Sampha).

Which other mediums outside of your own bring you the most joy?

Undoubtedly, photography.

What was the biggest piece of advice you got growing up that you hold onto today?

‘Let them think it's their idea.’

Where do you go to find peace in New York?

Art galleries.

What are the most inspiring sights, smells, tastes, and textures to you at this moment?

Erewhon Brainstorm Smoothie.

What is the magic word?

God.

Fashion

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Escaping the Glass Cage

November 19, 2024

For years, she stood still, watching life rush past her, a quiet observer behind the glass. Now, the glass is broken, and she steps out into the unknown. She walks through the city, caught between two worlds—part of it, yet apart from it.

Her journey is quiet but bold, searching for something she’s never understood, something just out of reach. On church steps and under glowing city lights, she questions everything: the rules, the past, and where she truly belongs. Each step feels both freeing and uncertain.

A curious soul in a borrowed life, she keeps moving forward, leaving behind only whispers of her escape, like a fleeting shadow in the night.