Copyright stoppress
Not long after celebrating its fifth birthday, independent style and fashion platform Ensemble is closing its doors. Ensemble was set up in August 2020 by Zoe Walker-Ahwa, the former editor of Fashion Quarterly, and fashion, beauty and marketing expert Rebecca Wadey. The publication was then acquired by Stuff a year later in 2021. Last December, Walker-Ahwa and Wadey announced they had taken back the reins, resuming their tenure as independent owners of Ensemble. Knowing when ‘it’s time to leave the party’ The pair announced the news of Ensemble’s closure via their website, Instagram and Substack on October 22. In the post, they describe the publication as the “most rewarding” of their careers but also the integrity of knowing when something has come to a natural end – and “when it’s time to leave the party”. “Over the past year of independent (again) ownership, we’ve poured all our energy into adapting and refining what Ensemble could realistically be. But maintaining the standards that we hold for ourselves, and the Ensemble brand, is no longer sustainable – emotionally, financially or creatively.” Paid Substack subscriptions have now been paused and will be soon cancelled. But it’s not over yet: Walker-Ahwa and Wadey write that next week they’ll publish some farewell stories and highlights from the archive. They give their thanks to their readers, team, contributors, advertisers, subscribes, friends, family, collaborators, community and each other. ‘For both intelligence and whimsy‘ As well as fashion and style, Ensemble covered range of topics including beauty, wellbeing, women’s health, culture, pop culture and important, influential people. On the Ensemble website, Walker-Ahwa and Wadey write their aim was to create an independent platform dedicated to thoughtful inclusive storytelling. This includes honest editorial, sharp social commentary and joyful in real life events, with the guiding ethos of: “for both intelligence and whimsy”.
