THE EXODUS AT MAN: Man of the World, the men’s fashion and art magazine, is going through major changes. Its creative director, Randall Mesdon and art director, Enrico Pirondi, have left the publication and have since formed a creative agency called Black Sun Atelier. The two plan to launch a yet-to-be named biannual publication at Art Basel that will cater to a younger audience.
“It’s a celebration on both sides,” said Mesdon of the departure. “We both are parting ways to pursue our new dreams and opportunities, which I wanted to always do. All of us worked really hard to achieve what we have at Man of the World. I thought it was finally a good time to go and move forward.”
A handful of the magazine’s writers, photographers and editors will move on from Man of the World and follow Mesdon to his new publication. The publication works off of a staff composed of mostly freelancers.
Mesdon was tapped as the magazine’s creative director when the title launched in 2012. Under his vision, the publication collaborated with photographers like Bruce Weber, artists like Tom Sachs, and booked many up-and-coming celebrities, like Scott Eastwood, to established names like Jake Gyllenhaal. His last issue, number nine, is on newsstands with Tom Brady on the cover.
Man of the World’s publisher, Alan Maleh, said he was “in talks” with naming a new creative director and still seeking talent.
“Sometimes you want to evolve and take things in a different direction,” he said of the change. “There were certain things that were becoming redundant and static and we’re always pushing for greatness.”
But the direction under a new vision will have subtle changes, he said.
Maleh, whose background is in retail, invested in Man of the World as a personal hobby. Since then, the publication has grown to a circulation of 30,000.