Jacques Thrives: New Erotic Magazine Breathes Life into Print

Jacques Magazine just keeps on growing. In a time when many print magazines are either cutting costs or folding, the new Williamsburg-based erotic magazine is not only staying afloat but increasing circulation.

Founded in Spring of 2009, Jacques Magazine is headed by editor-in-chief Danielle Leder along with contributing editor Jonathan Leder (the two are married.) Since then, the quarterly magazine has successfully sold out of two of its first three issues. “I think we have something like 15,000 readers,” said Daneille Leder. It’s a fact that is particularly noteworthy, given the current economic climate. “We have subscribers from Switzerland, Japan, Canada, Chile,” she added. “I could go on.” Jacques Magazine, which is about to picked by a large national U.S. distributor, is already impressively international. In addition to stores around New York and other select America cities like L.A. and Austin, Jacques can be found in Paris, Rome, Milan, Tokyo and Berlin.

What’s the Jacques secret, in such a difficult time for print publishers? “Maybe the [other] companies should look at what they’re offering people,” said Leder, 23, who, prior to founding Jacques, worked as a burlesque dancer and model. “I think they try to compete too much with the internet, as far as information. And there’s no way you can. For men’s magazines, I think it’s mainly the retouching and the quality.” She went on next to list the lack of quality in offerings from Conde Nast fashion magazines and the lack of affordability from high-end fashion magazines like France’s Purple Magazine. “Who can afford a forty dollar magazine?” she asked.

Much of Jacques Magazine’s success can be attributed to their unique aesthetic vision, which is both erotic and fashion-savvy in a way that evokes 1960’s and 1970’s erotica with its natural lusciousness. “Some magazines we loved in the past were Nova (a British mag from the late sixties), Wet, Ritz, and all the amazing adult erotic and sex mags from the years gone by,” said Jonathan Leder, who is also the magazine’s associate art director. “Basically any magazine that had the balls to take some risks—unlike the super boring Conde Nast and Hearst pubs being produced today.”

Featuring richly colored photographs of classically beautiful models, Jacques promises pictorials that are “never retouched, never airbrushed and shot exclusively on film.” Compared with the Jenna Jameson and Pamela Anderson types typically found in current adult magazines and film, the difference is night and day. “That’s why our magazine has a little bit of a spot,” said Jonathan Leder. “There’s really no model for beauty between fashion and porn. Which is kind of crazy. Or you have Suicide Girl-type things. We’re definitely making a very conscious effort to stay away from tattoos.”

“Wholesome,” he added with emphasis.

The idea of wholesome erotica is as interesting as it is refreshing. With recent advertising campaigns like American Apparel’s provocative posters of “real-life” models complete with blemishes, moles and other so-called imperfections, the kind of girl-next-door eroticism exemplified in Jacques is a growing trend. “We hate the retouching,” said Danielle Leder. “All the models look like aliens. It’s not fun, it’s not sexy. As a woman, I’m offended by what’s out there. It’s either really vulgar or…I bought a Playboy the other day, just for fun. They looked like Barbie dolls.”

Up next for Jacques is their fourth issue, to be released in February and themed the “Red Light Issue,” featuring “sinners, harlots and courtesans.” In addition to the new issue, Jacques is planning a launch party around Valentine’s Day and the Jacques Magazine blog (http://jacquesmag.com) features short videos of their models, updated frequently.

“I don’t think publishing or magazines are dead at all,” said Jonathan Leder. “But I think people need to be encouraged to take some risks and at least try to produce something that is at least moderately interesting. For the future of Jacques we are simply trying to do better and better and involve the most talented people possible and give our readers things that interest them.”