Sublime is an international sustainable lifestyle magazine. It's an independent bi-monthly print publication dedicated to making sustainability appealing.
The magazine is based and published in Highgate, North London, and it is distributed in print to more than 30 countries worldwide.
The company is subsidised solely by advertising and sales of the printed and digital copies.
History
Sublime was founded in 2004 by husband and wife Damian and Laura Santamaria. In March 2004, they gathered a group of 30 media industry experts to test their concept. Out of these discussions, the core contributors team was formed. The concept was then promoted through events, think tank meetings and the launch of a website. By 2005, Sublime had assembled a group of 300 opinion-makers from around the world who were willing to be involved in spreading the Sublime philosophy.
Issue 0 (taster issue) was launched in September 2006, with 200,000 copies inserted into The Times and the Waitrose magazine. Issue 1 was published in January 2007 with the theme `reversing the order` featuring model Alek Wek on the front cover.
In the early days of the magazine's production, it was featured in an advertisement that was displayed in front of the Queen at the opening of St Pancras railway station. The video was called The New Age of Travel. The magazine cover featured prominently at the beginning as a woman read it on the train.
It has also appeared in a video on Current TV, with the caption: "Beauty isn't skin deep. Sublime magazine launches the first international ethical glossy."
The magazine's advertisers include Rolex (Award for Enterprise), Divine Chocolate, Nikon, Kuoni Travel, Missoni, Rado, Oxfam, Barclays Wealth, Weleda, IWC, Lexus, Lavazza, Smart, Ben & Jerry's, Zegna and Paul Smith parfums amongst others.
Topics
Sublime covers topics such as nature, energy, fashion, technology, design and architecture, culture, food and well-being. There is a strong emphasis on community, fair trade, natural and organic products, clean technologies and sustainability. Regular contributors include Wayne Hemingway MBE, Jeremy Leggett, Dr Frances Corner, John Grant and Hanspeter Kuenzler. Music reviews, book reviews and editorials also feature alongside other articles.
Every issue of Sublime magazine has a topic or theme related to the articles and other features inside. Regeneration, Eclectic and Thinkers have been themes of past issues.
Philosophy behind the magazine
Sublime aims to promote concepts of originality, ethical values, sustainability and diversity through its content. It is set to inspire and empower today's well-informed and well-connected readers. The sticker on the front cover of each issue reads "for creative thinkers and enquiring minds".
The magazine originally launched with the tagline "the first ethical international lifestyle magazine", but after the first year changed to "the first sustainable international lifestyle magazine".
The editors of the magazine said in their editorial in issue 26 that "sex, money and celebrity are the three pedestals on which mainstream magazines currently stand. When we started Sublime five years ago, we set out to challenge this convention by basing our publication on the somewhat more opposing principles of integrity, respect and interdependence."
Sublime'''s purpose is not to produce yet another green or eco magazine, but to promote a post-consumerist lifestyle that satisfies the interests of a 'transition generation'.
The magazine publishes its motto on its Facebook page: Now that the future happened yesterday Now that we are not what we can buy Now that we don't want to get anywhere any faster Now that we want to make poverty history Now that people are the most important thing for people Now that we know that the greatest risk is not to risk Now that we don't need to be asleep to dream Now it's time to start again.
Another phrase that can often be seen is: "Bringing aesthetics & ethics together with style & soul", found throughout issues of the magazine.