Benji Hiller

ImprintStudios

About Imprint / 00

Magazine to studio.

What it was and what it does now.

Read about Imprint

01 / Origins

Manchester / 2023

The magazine

An independent magazine for Manchester creatives.

I started Imprint Magazine in 2023 at the end of my first year at uni. It was a way to meet more creatives in Manchester and publish their work in one place.

Before the first issue came out, I was going to creative events around Manchester and making short after films from them. It helped me meet people around the city and gave Imprint a growing visual archive. In June, I put out an open call for the first issue and received work from ten young Manchester creatives. Aliya Hasaan was the first contributor and Sofia Akhtar created an original painting that featured in the magazine and at the launch.

The first issue launched at Gone Fishing Vintage on 30 September 2023. Dorian Day and the Open Till Late crew handled the music, Sofia's painting was displayed and Jacob Clarke filmed the event. More than 100 people came through and the first run of 100 magazines sold out during the day. More copies were then made to order and those sold out as well. Imprint Magazine became an independent platform for local creative work and the people making it.

100First run magazines / Sold out on launch day.

Cover of Imprint Magazine creative collective copy number one
Launch attendee holding the first Imprint Magazine
Open Till Late DJs at the Imprint Magazine launch
Aliya Hasaan holding her feature in Imprint Magazine
Launch attendee holding an open copy of Imprint Magazine
Sofia Akhtar's original painting displayed beside Imprint magazines
Portrait from the Imprint Magazine launch film
Launch attendee sharing a portrait spread from Imprint Magazine
Editorial fashion spread inside Imprint Magazine
Ellie Ward holding her Imprint Magazine feature at the launch
Launch attendee with Sofia's painting and a copy of Imprint Magazine
Independent clothing and first edition Imprint magazines at the launch
DJ performing at the Imprint Magazine launch party
Aliya Hasaan's editorial spread on the launch table
DJ behind the decks at Gone Fishing Vintage
Black and white contributor spread inside Imprint Magazine
Open Till Late DJ set during the magazine launch
First edition Imprint magazines arranged across the launch table

02 / Magazine to studio

Manchester / 2023 → Present

The studio

Imprint is now a creative studio.

After the first issue, Imprint started taking on more shoots, films and events. The work was no longer only about publishing creative projects. We were planning and producing them as well, so turning Imprint into a studio made sense.

Studio projects are built around what each brief needs. I put together photographers, filmmakers, stylists, models, musicians, designers and locations, then plan how the work is shot and delivered.

The studio relaunch was introduced through the Imprint Gazette, created with Daisy Gilman. We delivered the Gazette around Manchester and produced a short film alongside it.

Imprint Studios now works across fashion, music, events and culture. We can take a project from the first concept through casting, locations and styling to photography, film, events and final social content. Brands, artists, venues and cultural projects can come to Imprint with an idea or bring us into one specific part of the process.

Alongside the studio work, I am developing Imprint Features, Imprint Radio and Friends of Imprint. These give us space to document creatives, build music projects and keep the network around the studio active. The website also keeps the magazine archive and newer studio projects together in one place.

Then

An independent magazine for Manchester creatives.

Now

A creative studio across image, film and events.

Still

Community led and collaborative.

The magazine remains in the archive. The studio is the current focus.