nunu

I have a memory of my brother holding a Skeletor mask up to a lamp to release its glow-in-the-dark powers. Its glow worked for approximately five minutes at a time, then it was time to recharge all over again. Eventually, whatever it was that made it glow stopped working altogether. My brother did not stop wearing the mask.

(This is not my brother, but this is the Skeletor mask he wore.)

So glow-in-the-dark is pretty powerful stuff. Powerful enough to inspire newsstand sales of print magazines? Stephen Gan, editor-in-chief and creative director of oversized gem V magazine, says yes, so they printed the cover of their latest issue, featuring Natalia Vodianova and Luke Grimes shot by Mario Testino, using a special UV gloss that makes it glow.

Here, Gan tells the nunu between shows in Paris why you will be standing next to a lamp ad infinitum with V in hand and which fall 2009 collection is his favorite so far. Also after the jump, a preview of V’s Vodianova spread.

What inspired the glow-in-the-dark issue of V?

I’ve always loved these “paper tricks,” things like die-cuts and pop-ups and the pop-up Visionaire “Surprise” is a good example of the “height” of these tricks.

At a recent panel discussion with Tina Brown, editor of The Daily Beast, she made an interesting comment about what the future of print magazines might be, that they may become more like books, i.e. more beautifully designed and less time-sensitive in their topics.

This is something you have already been doing with Visionaire. Do you think this type of model will become more prevalent with magazines?

Visionaire is more of a limited edition art book that’s quite expensive, and it can afford those “fireworks.” With a newsstand magazine like V, one has to choose how to do things like this. The glow-in-the-dark V will work wonderfully on newsstands. Imagine walking by a row of V’s at night!

What has been your favorite Fall 2009 collection thus far?

Balenciaga on Thursday morning was beautiful.