Dossier magazine, set up by Fabulous Female Founder, Mia Ziervogel
Where were you brought up?
I grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. My parents had an ad agency in the city, and we lived in the countryside. I would spend most afternoons after school in the city, and weekends on the farm. South Africa was a strange place to be a teenager in the 80’s, we had a lot of anger towards our government, and the country experienced sanctions, so even getting a pair of Levi’s was difficult. The only escape I had was magazines - which arrived in SA three months after publication, and music.
I lived in Paris, NYC, Stuttgart, but returned to Johannesburg to be with my family.
When and why did you decide to start Dossier?
I fell in love with magazines as soon as I could start paging through them. My parents had a lot of magazines in the house. I always knew I would have my own magazine. I started buying the British, American, and Italian Vogue in the 70’s as a little girl. I drove my mom mad. I eventually ran out of storage space and donated them to a fashion school. I had an insatiable desire for content from travel to photography, news, beauty, fashion.
Why ‘Dossier’?
Dossier magazine
Dossier is one of the few words that mean the same in every language- a file/document. I wanted to publish a beauty file, fashion file, travel file. Since I started the magazine 17 years ago, the name has been stolen. I came up with the name more than 20 years ago in a conversation with my mom in a hotel in Fez.
How often do you create a printed version and how do you get your hands on one?
We have weekly content on our site and print an annual. 2020 was the first year we could not print, for obvious reasons, but will pursue it again this year. We distribute through our social media platforms.
What were you doing before?
I have been a photographer since 1986. I was a commercial photographer in SA, but I could not see myself carrying equipment around for the rest of my life. I ran a big studio with staff, catering to clients for breakfast and lunches, had difficult advertising clients. I was a single mom of two boys, working late every night, most weekends. Then everyone bought digital cameras and became a photographer, undercutting each other. I was burning out, so I thought I would rather do so while following my own dream. For the first few years of the publication, I still worked as a photographer.
What gets you up in the morning?
We have five dogs, so that definitely wakes us up. I have a husband who makes me a latte before I get out of bed, while I check emails and social media, that’s worth waking up for. Making travel plans for Dossier keeps me motivated, as long as there is a trip on the horizon, I am happy.
Do you have an international following?
A third of my readership is South African, the rest is from anywhere from Mexico to Thailand, Wales to New Zealand. Being digital means no borders.
Favourite photographer?
This is a very tough one, but if I had to choose one right now it would be Eugenio Recuenco, I love his sets, his quirkiness. In the past, Nick Knight and Javier Valhonrat inspired me. I also love Txema Yeste’s work.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get inspired by everything, a flower, a movie, a song, my husband. Inspiration is easy for me to come by. It is everywhere.
An object you would never part with.
My Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso watch my mom bought me, and her engagement ring.
The biggest female influence in your life
My mother was an incredible woman. She was an intrepid traveller, going to places way before it became tourist attractions. We were incredibly close, we did everything together. We both loved books, movies, hotels, cafés. I was truly blessed to have a mother that was intellectual yet loving, supportive. She sent me Au Pairing in Paris straight out of school at 17. She had vision. I was blessed to have a woman for her depth and character in my life.
In my suitcase, I packed..
I usually pack at the last minute, I have been travelling for so many years, I have managed to streamline the process. I decided long ago to keep things simple. I do like to have a special fragrance for each trip, as that reminds me of the destination.
Where would you like to go next?
I recently remarried, and I want to take my husband to all my favourite destinations like Morocco, Mozambique, Seychelles, Paris, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires. I can never get enough of the African bush. I would really like to travel to Stockholm and Copenhagen. Cambodia is also on the list.
Favourite colour?
Electric blue. I sometimes paint, but only in blue.
Your favourite website
The Impression. One needs to subscribe though, but it is worth it if you want to stay informed on fashion and brands.
A recent “find” or brand
It might not be new but I love Memo Fragrances. There is a South African brand called Africology, which I can highly recommend, it is made with great love and passion and smells like heaven. africologyspa.com
If you were to buy a magazine subscription which one would it be?
Cereal Magazine
I like Cereal Magazine, simple and clean. A South African food magazine/book that is special is Jan The Journal. Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen has a Michelin star restaurant in Nice, and busy launching new restaurant at a lodge in South Africa too. For everyday inspiration, one cannot go wrong with Porter.
If you weren’t doing what you do
Every now and then I get this urge to do something “meaningful” – I once ran a pre-school for little kids from disadvantaged homes, I wanted to open an orphanage for babies born with HIV, was accredited and ready to start. But I realised lately that jobs are meaningful, and by me promoting hotels, brands, restaurants, destinations – that I am promoting jobs. And that has meaning.
In your fridge, you’ll always find
Currently, South Africa is in a lockdown with alcohol being banned. It is crazy. But normally, if I have my coffee in the morning, and a glass of wine at night, I am pretty content. So in normal times, I would say a bottle of South African bubbly is a must.
The beauty staple you’ll never without
Sunblock. I use Dermaceutic as it is tinted and it has active ingredients as well.
Favourite Hotel
This is terribly hard to answer! But any hotel by the Aman Group always makes me feel good to be alive. There are incredible lodges in South Africa, such as The Singita group. I just adore a hotel. From the Ritz in Paris to a Riad in Fez… I just love a hotel!
Print or digital
Nothing is as gorgeous as a paper magazine. But to reach many, digital has been very good to us.
What are your plans for Dossier?
It has always been the plan to build a Dossier Photographic Museum in South Africa. We have interesting photographers, rich history, and a huge interest in the medium. I will keep on pursuing it, but at the moment our economy is at an all-time low.
We would also like to add e-commerce to our site as there are stunning things being created in South Africa.