Harper’s Bazaar set to relaunch in Australia

Global fashion bible Harper’s Bazaar is set to relaunch into the Australian market, as the US media giant Hearst teams up with a new and much smaller local partner to have the glossy back on local news-stands by September.

After being unceremoniously dumped by its former Australian partner, the German-based Bauer media a year ago, Hearst Magazines International has partnered with Switzer Media, a small custom-publishing outfit that also produces the cult fashion magazine Russh in a joint venture.

The debut issue of Harper’s Bazaar Australia, a special collector’s edition, will hit news-stands in September.

First launched in 1998 by the Packer family’s Australian Consolidated Press group and published for nearly two decades, Harper’s Bazaar Australia established a market-leading position and loyal readership in Australia and New Zealand.

In July 2020, it became a victim of the ever shrinking print media business in Australia as Bauer fought to salvage its $500 million loss-making investment in Australian magazines when it bought ACP from the Packers in 2012.

Bauer sold out of the business months later, while Hearst has been busy trying to secure a new local partner to realise its ambitions for the historic high-end fashion title.

While key editorial positions have not yet been revealed, it is understood the magazine’s most recent editor-in-chief, Eugenie Kelly, is likely to be reinstalled.

Maureen Jordan, Switzer Media publisher, will lead sales, marketing and brand strategy for Harper’s Bazaar Australia.