Karlie Kloss, Media Dealmaker, Buys 'I-D'
The rumors turned out to be true: Karlie Kloss is buying i-D Magazine from former parent company Vice Media for an undisclosed amount, per Business of Fashion.
Kloss is making the acquisition through her newly formed company Bedford Media, and will become i-D's CEO once the deal closes. Bedford will serve as the new parent company, replacing Vice, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in mid-May before being bought out by a group of lenders. The title's masthead, for now, won't see too much change. Current Editor-in-Chief Alastair McKimm will remain at the British publication and assume an expanded role: chief creative officer and global-editor-in-chief.
This won't be Kloss's first foray into saving a struggling fashion publication. The supermodel-coder-entrepreneur led a group of investors to buy W Magazine in late 2020, bringing in Bustle Digital Group as publisher. Her latest move on i-D — and even the formation of Bedford Media — seems like evidence for Kloss' journey on the road to media moguldom. Despite fashion media's changing, contracting landscape, Kloss is betting big on its future. Maybe she'll bring in her expertise and connections in the tech world to the 43-year-old magazine, like incorporating the metaverse and artificial intelligence?
A representative for Vice Media did not immediately respond to our request comment. We will update this story as more information becomes available
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