The magazine seems to ask: What does freedom look like in an era of algorithmic control?
But if you are a creative professional, a student of visual culture, or simply someone who feels exhausted by the sterile perfection of Instagram, this issue is a breath of exhaust fumes. It is raw, it is confusing, and occasionally it is illegible. But that is the nature of being young and free.
The answer, according to the editors of 117, is . Models are shot in motion, faces obscured by motion blur or pixelation. Text runs over images in unreadable layers. It is disorienting, but that is the point. This issue isn't trying to sell you a sweater; it is trying to sell you a state of mind—one where perfection is boring and anonymity is the ultimate luxury. The "Post-Human" Cover Story The centerpiece of Issue 117 is a 34-page spread titled "Körper 2.0" (Body 2.0) . Without giving too much away, the editorial uses AI-generated backgrounds paired with real human models to explore the uncanny valley. Jung Frei Magazine 117
There are fashion magazines that sell clothes, and then there are fashion magazines that sell a worldview. Jung Frei (German for "Young & Free") has always planted its flag firmly in the latter category, but with the release of , the publication has done more than just push the envelope—they’ve ripped it up, reconstituted it, and turned it into a collage that critiques the very idea of envelopes.
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One standout spread features handwritten essays on "Quiet Firing" in the creative industry, scrawled over photos of abandoned office buildings. It is punk. It is angry. And it feels desperately needed in an industry that usually pretends politics are "too messy" for pretty pictures. Jung Frei 117 is not for everyone. If you want seasonal trend reports or "10 Ways to Tie a Scarf," put this back on the shelf.
In one striking image, a model wearing Balenciaga (naturally) stands in a forest where the trees melt into binary code. In another, a face is split down the middle: one half human skin, the other half a metallic 3D render. The magazine seems to ask: What does freedom
Beyond the Binary: Decoding the Visual Rebellion of Jung Frei Magazine 117
This isn't just fetishizing tech. There is a melancholy to the images. The styling—lots of straps, utilitarian vests, and protective goggles—suggests a body preparing for battle against the digital world, rather than embracing it. What makes Jung Frei 117 stand out from 032c or Purple is its raw, fanzine energy. The magazine has not forgotten its indie roots. Interspersed between the high-fashion editorials are Xeroxed-looking pages of protest photography from Berlin and Paris. Graffiti tags share space with Dior advertisements. But that is the nature of being young and free
Available at Dover Street Market, Soho indie newsstands, or directly via the Jung Frei web store. Hurry, the print run for 117 was notoriously limited. Are you a fan of avant-garde fashion media? Have you picked up Issue 117? Let me know your thoughts on the "Körper 2.0" editorial in the comments below.