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Monocle (brand)

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For the political satire magazine from the 1950s–1960s, see Monocle (satirical magazine).

Monocle
Illustrated cover of Monocle's 15th anniversary issue showing a man reading
Cover of issue 151, 15th anniversary special (March 2022)
Editor in chief and chairmanTyler Brûlé
Magazine editorAndrew Tuck
CategoriesCulture, international affairs, design, fashion, travel, business
Frequency10 issues per year, plus The Forecast, The Escapist and The Drinking and Dining Directory
PublisherAnders Braso
Total circulation
(1 July 2015 – 31 December 2016)		80,251 (ABC total)[1]
Founded15 February 2007; 18 years ago (2007-02-15), London
First issue15 February 2007; 18 years ago (2007-02-15), London
CompanyWinkreative Ltd
CountryInternational
Based inLondon, UK, with offices in Tokyo, Toronto, Hong Kong and Zurich
LanguageEnglish
Websitemonocle.com
ISSN1753-2434

Monocle is a global affairs and lifestyle magazine published by Winkreative Ltd. It also operates a 24-hour internet radio station, a retail business, and an associated website. The magazine was founded in London in 2007 by Tyler Brûlé, a Canadian entrepreneur and former founder of Wallpaper* magazine.[2][3]

In 2014, Brûlé sold a minority stake in Monocle to Japanese publisher Nikkei Inc., valuing the company at approximately US$115 million. The size of the investment was not disclosed.[4] In December of the same year, the magazine introduced The Forecast, a seasonal publication. A travel-focused title, The Escapist, followed in 2015.[5]

Operations

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Magazine

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Brûlé launched Monocle in February 2007 as a print magazine, financed by a group of private investors. It is published 10 times a year and is printed entirely in English.[6] The publication has been described by journalists as a lifestyle magazine aimed at globally mobile professionals.[7][8][9]

In 2010, the magazine introduced seasonal print newspapers: Monocle Mediterraneo during the summer, and Monocle Alpino in winter.[10][11] Both were discontinued in 2014 and replaced by annual publications The Forecast and The Escapist.[12] As of that time, Monocle did not maintain official accounts on major social media platforms.

The magazine contains both traditional advertising and sponsored content, including in-house reports and surveys.[13]

Books

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In 2013, Monocle collaborated with the Berlin-based publisher Gestalten to release its first book, The Monocle Guide to Better Living. Several other titles followed, including The Monocle Guide to Good Business, The Monocle Guide to Cosy Homes, How to Make a Nation: A Monocle Guide, and The Monocle Guide to Drinking and Dining. The magazine also co-publishes a series of travel guides covering various international cities.[14]

Radio

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Main article: Monocle Radio
Estonian official being interviewed by Monocle Radio at the 2025 Munich Security Conference
Estonian official interviewed at the 2025 Munich Security Conference by Monocle Radio

Monocle Radio is an English-language internet radio station broadcasting from Midori House in London. Launched as Monocle 24 in October 2011, it features weekday news programmes and weekly shows covering business, culture, design, food, media, and urban affairs. The schedule includes both live and on-demand content, with much of its audience engagement occurring via downloads.

The station originated from The Monocle Weekly, a podcast launched in December 2008 by Andrew Tuck and Robert Bound, which became a one-hour weekend radio programme. Early weekday shows included The Globalist, The Briefing, Midori House, and The Monocle Daily. Other themed segments have included Culture with Robert Bound, Section D, The Entrepreneurs, and The Urbanist. Programmes initially ran for 50 minutes, shortened to 30 minutes in 2015, when new shows such as The Big Interview and The Monocle Arts Review were introduced.

Programming changes over time included the addition of The Stack in 2012 and The Globalist Asia in 2013. The station also broadcasts content from international events. A monthly podcast, Konfekt Korner, is produced in association with its sister publication Konfekt.

Monocle 24's editorial approach has drawn comparisons to public broadcasters such as the BBC World Service, ABC (Australia), and CBC (Canada). Brûlé has described the station as reflecting a Commonwealth-style public service model. Content is presented by Monocle staff and contributing broadcasters from bureaux in New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Zürich.

Sponsorship has included support from UBS, Novartis, and Allianz, with past branded segments produced in partnership with firms such as BMW, Rolex, Chanel, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines. Monocle 24 has aired over 60 programmes since 2011, though early hourly newscasts, weather reports, and overnight bulletins from ABC Radio were phased out by 2015.

Monocle TV

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In early 2011, six episodes of a Monocle television programme were broadcast internationally on Bloomberg.[15]

Website

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Monocle's website offers digital access to its magazine archive, with full content available to subscribers and a limited number of free articles per issue. It also hosts over 500 publicly accessible films, slideshows, and documentaries, which are additionally distributed via iTunes and YouTube.

Retail products, including in-house designs and selected collaborations, are available through the website and in Monocle retail locations worldwide.[16] The website also streams Monocle 24, the company’s radio station, and provides access to its archive of speech-based programmes.

The site launched alongside the magazine in 2007 and underwent a redesign in November 2012. In 2013, it received several Lovie Awards, including Gold for Best Writing – Editorial, Silver for Lifestyle, and Bronze for Best Practices.[17]

Retail and hospitality

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Retail

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Monocle opened its first retail store in London in November 2008, later expanding to cities including Hong Kong, Toronto, Tokyo, Singapore, New York, Culver City, and Meran.[16] The stores sell Monocle-branded items and collaborative products, and the company also operates seasonal pop-up locations.[18][19]

Café

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In April 2013, Monocle opened a café on Chiltern Street in Marylebone, London. Additional cafés were later opened in Tokyo and in the Seefeld district of Zurich, sometimes integrated with retail spaces.[20][21]

In 2015, the company launched Kioskafé, a newsstand and coffee bar near London Paddington station, modelled on European kiosks. It stocked a range of print publications but closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]

Projects

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Monocle surveys

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Further information: Most livable cities

Monocle publishes an annual Quality of Life issue that ranks 25 cities worldwide based on perceived liveability metrics.[23] In 2016, Tokyo topped the ranking.[24]

Since 2010, the magazine has also compiled an annual Soft Power survey, assessing countries by their global influence through culture, diplomacy, and trade. In 2016, the United States led the ranking.[25]

Conferences

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In 2015, Monocle introduced the Quality of Life Conference, first held in Lisbon and later in Vienna in 2016. The event brings together speakers from fields including design, urbanism, and culture. The host city varies from year to year.[26]

Reception

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Accolades

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In 2011, Monocle was named one of the top ten magazines of the year by AdAge as part of its "A List". Editor Tyler Brûlé received the title of Editor of the Year in the same feature.[27][28] In 2015, the magazine received a D&AD Wood Pencil award for its annual publication, The Forecast.[29]

Criticisms

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In 2018, former intern Amalia Illgner published an article in The Guardian describing her experience at Monocle's London office, where she reported being paid £30 per day.[30] The matter was resolved following an employment tribunal, which resulted in Monocle admitting liability and reaching a settlement.[31]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Monocle" (PDF). ABC. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  2. ^ Allen, Nick (9 June 2008). "Copenhagen named worlds best city for quality of life by Monocle magazine". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  3. ^ Bell, Matthew (1 August 2010). "Monocle: 'It's the media project that I've always wanted to do'". The Independent. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  4. ^ Mance, Henry (September 2014). "Tyler Brûlé's Monocle magazine valued at $115m". Financial Times. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Kazakhstan the Country to Watch in 2015: Monocle's Tuck". Bloomberg. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  6. ^ "20 independent magazines that every creative should have on their coffee table". Creative Boom. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  7. ^ Nolan, Hamilton (24 July 2008). "Lifestyle Magazine Is Ashamed Of Itself". Gawker.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  8. ^ Sicha, Choire (6 June 2007). "Our Dream Magazine". Gawker.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  9. ^ Shafrir, Doree (1 May 2007). "'Monocle' Sells Chic Two-Wheeling Lifestyle". Gawker.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Out now: Monocle Mediterraneo #9". MagCulture. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  11. ^ Levy, Katherine (30 November 2010). "Monocle launches winter paper Monocle Alpino". Mediaweek. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Kazakhstan the Country to Watch in 2015: Monocle's Tuck". Bloomberg. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  13. ^ Carr, David (23 August 2009). "Monocle: A Magazine, an Attitude". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Monocle Titles". Gestalten. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Monocle on Bloomberg Debuts Tomorrow". The Magaziner. Archived from the original on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  16. ^ a b Suqi, Rima (2 September 2010). "Monocle Magazine Opens Tiny Shop". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  17. ^ "Lovie Awards". Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  18. ^ Bishop, Jordan. "The Five Best Menswear Shops in Hong Kong". Forbes. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  19. ^ "The Monocle Shop". Time Out Tokyo. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  20. ^ "EDO Project Portfolio 2016" (PDF). EDO Construction. February 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  21. ^ Iten, Jocelyne (18 May 2018). ""Monocle"-Verleger eröffnet erstes Café in Zürich: Wie "Monocle"-Verleger Tyler Brûlé Zürich auffrischen will". NZZ (in German). Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  22. ^ Steven, Rachael (5 October 2015). "The Kioskafé: a new magazine shop and coffee bar from Monocle". Creative Review. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Are these the world's best cities?". CNN. 7 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  24. ^ Hongo, Jun (11 June 2015). "Tokyo Tops Monocle's Most Livable City Ranking". The Wall Street Journal.
  25. ^ "Soft Power Survey 2016". Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  26. ^ "Monocle's 2016 Conference in Vienna to Debate "Quality of Life" and Urban Livability". ArchDaily. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  27. ^ Ives, Nat (5 October 2011). "Magazine A-List: Vogue Is Ad Age's 2011 Magazine of the Year". Advertising Age. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  28. ^ Dumenco, Simon (10 October 2011). "Ad Age Magazine A-List: Tyler Brule Is Editor of the Year". Advertising Age. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  29. ^ "The Forecast – D&AD Awards 2015 Pencil Winner". D&AD. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  30. ^ Illgner, Amalia (27 March 2018). "Why I'm suing over my dream internship". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  31. ^ "Monocle Case". Good Law Project. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
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