What Monocle does

Monocle is a privately held, London-headquartered global media brand founded in 2007 by Tyler Brûlé, who continues to serve as Editorial Director and Chairman. The company produces editorial coverage of global affairs, business, culture, design, fashion, and travel, anchored by a monthly print and digital magazine (Issue #195 covers July/August 2026), Monocle Radio (a live streaming station broadcasting shows including The Monocle Daily, The Foreign Desk, The Briefing, The Globalist, The Urbanist, The Entrepreneurs, and The Curator), daily and weekend email newsletters, city travel guides, and printed books and handbooks. A dedicated global editorial team of named editors and regional correspondents operates from bases including London, Paris, Tokyo, Lisbon, and Shanghai.

The company monetizes through five distinct revenue streams. Subscriptions to the print magazine (with free worldwide shipping) generate the recurring core; one-time merchandise purchases through monocle.com/shop — spanning clothing, accessories, bags, homeware, books, and travel guides at price points from $15 to $1,730 — generate DTC retail revenue. Sponsored editorial content and flagship partnerships with luxury advertisers including UBS, Chanel, RIMOWA, World of Hyatt, and the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism generate branded-content and advertising revenue. Monocle Radio is offered free to listeners and functions as a top-of-funnel channel. Events, including the Quality of Life Conference (Lisbon, 2026) and rotating pop-up shops in cities such as Shanghai, Athens, Zürich Airport, St Moritz, and Toronto, generate both ticket and retail revenue and serve as experiential brand activations.

Monocle also operates a portfolio of sub-brands (Konfekt magazine, Monocle Films) and a curated OEM/whitelabel merchandise program with heritage manufacturers across Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Distribution is multi-channel: e-commerce, global magazine subscription shipping via Deutsche Post, physical retail and café locations, free radio streaming, and live events. The company is independent with no disclosed parent, private equity backing, institutional investment, or public listing.

Name

Monocle

Legal name

Monocle

Website

https://monocle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Print & Digital Media Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Retail-Misc General Merchandise Stores (5399)

akta.pro primary industry

Music + Podcast Aggregator Super-Apps (MPAIADAF)

Keywords

• Global affairs journalism
• Print magazine publishing
• Online radio broadcasting
• Travel city guides
• Branded merchandise shop

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Monthly and annual subscriptions to the Monocle print magazine, with free shipping included in subscription price.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including clothing, accessories, bags, homeware, books, and travel guides through Monocle's e-commerce platform.
3. Radio and Content: Monocle Radio broadcasts news and cultural programming, available for free to listeners.
4. Events: Monocle hosts events including the Quality of Life Conference and various pop-up shops in cities like Shanghai, Athens, Zürich, and St Moritz.
5. Partnered Content: Sponsored editorial content from partners including Chanel, RIMOWA, Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, and various travel boards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Monocle is a global media brand that publishes a monthly print and digital magazine covering global affairs, business, culture, design, fashion, and travel, alongside a live internet radio station (Monocle Radio) with daily news and cultural programming. The company also sells branded merchandise and books through its direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop, publishes city and country travel guides, runs email newsletters, and hosts live events such as the annual Quality of Life Conference and international pop-ups.

Product overview

Monocle is a media company operating a multi-platform portfolio centered on global affairs, culture, and design journalism. The core offerings include a monthly print and digital magazine (Issue #195, July/August 2026), live radio station (Monocle Radio) with news programs, curated city travel guides, and published books/handbooks. The company also operates an e-commerce shop selling branded merchandise including clothing (T-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, trousers, shorts), accessories (caps, bags, wallets, leather goods), and homeware (beach mats, towels), featuring exclusive collaborations with external brands. Additional revenue streams include events (conferences, pop-ups) and email newsletters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Monocle Radio: Monocle's radio station featuring news programs including The Monocle Daily, The Foreign Desk, The Briefing, The Globalist, The Urbanist, The Entrepreneurs, and The Curator.
• Konfekt
• Quality of Life Survey
• Monocle Films

Products and services

• Monocle Magazine Monthly print and digital publication covering global affairs, business, culture, design, fashion, and travel, sold via monthly/annual subscriptions and individual issue sales.
• Monocle Radio Live radio station featuring news programmes (The Monocle Daily, The Briefing, The Foreign Desk, The Globalist, The Urbanist, The Entrepreneurs, The Curator) and global music programming, streamed free of charge and including sponsored segments such as The Bulletin with UBS.
• Monocle City Guides Curated travel guides covering cities such as Los Angeles, Singapore, Stockholm, Helsinki, Venice, Athens, Melbourne, Paris, Hong Kong, Sydney, Milan, Palma, Istanbul, Rome, New York, Mexico City, Copenhagen, and Bangkok.
• Monocle Books and Handbooks Print and digital books including country and city handbooks, photography monographs, and the Designers on Sofas book series, sold direct through the Monocle Shop.
• Monocle Shop E-commerce platform selling Monocle-branded merchandise including clothing (T-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, trousers, shorts), accessories (caps, bags, wallets, leather goods), and homeware (beach mats, towels, stationery), featuring co-developed collaborations with heritage brands.
• Monocle Events Live events including the Monocle Quality of Life Conference and travelling pop-up shops and hosted gatherings at Monocle shops and cafés in cities such as Lisbon, Shanghai, Athens, Zürich, St Moritz, and Toronto.
• Monocle Newsletters Email newsletters including The Monocle Minute and Weekend Editions providing daily and weekly editorial content summaries.
• Konfekt Magazine Sister publication under the Konfekt sub-brand, focused on European culture, style, and living, released seasonally as a print magazine and sold through the Monocle Shop.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• UBSflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerUBS sponsors The Bulletin with UBS, a radio show on Monocle Radio that airs on the top of the hour, providing financial news and market updates.
• ChanelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMonocle on Time feature showcasing Chanel J12 watches, with radio partnership including Chanel Radio X Monocle in Shanghai.
• Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu DhabicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple partnered content pieces including Destination: Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi's new generation of creativity, and Abu Dhabi cultural calendar 2026–27.
• RIMOWAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRIMOWA Design Prize collaboration with Monocle, featuring the winner of the 2026 prize.
• World of HyattcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonocle x World of Hyatt city guides partnership pairing Monocle's insider recommendations with Hyatt's hospitality expertise.
• YkraminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHungarian bag brand Ykra produces the Monocle Travel Case, handcrafted in Vásárosnamény, Hungary using cotton canvas and suede.
• YuketenminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerJapanese designer Yuki Matsuda's Yuketen produces suede bluchers for Monocle, handcrafted in Italy's Sibillini mountain range.
• Beams PlusminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerJapanese label Beams Plus collaborates on the Flight Bag Jumbo, sewn by hand in Tokyo's Adachi ward.
• Archives Design (Bangkok)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerThai leather specialists Archives Design produces Monocle leather goods including sunglasses cases, wallets, laptop sleeves, and zipped pouches.
• LavenhamminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerBritish quilting brand founded in 1969 produces the Monocle Quilted Jacket in their Suffolk factory.
• ArpenteurcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFrench brand Arpenteur produces multiple Monocle products including the Air Jacket, Air Parka, Fox Track Trousers, and Wool Angora Coat, made in France.
• ValstarminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerItalian menswear label Valstar produces the Classic Valstarino jacket for Monocle, made in Italy.
• Kappy DesignminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSeoul fashion brand produces T-shirts and caps for Monocle, including the Yeti T-shirt with illustrations by Japanese artist Toru Fukuda.
• MühlbauerminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAustrian heritage millinery brand produces the Otto Sepp hat for Monocle, handmade from wool felt.
• InvertèreminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerBritish coat-making brand revived in 2013 produces the Monocle Duffle Coat using herringbone fabric from Joshua Ellis.
• Torres NovasminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPortuguese brand produces the Large Belém beach mat for Monocle, made in northern Portugal.
• TEP_PminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerTokyo-based shoe brand founded by Teppei Yoshimi produces Tyrolean leather shoes for Monocle, handmade in Asakusa district.
• BurelminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPortuguese wool artisans produce House Slippers and Weekender Bags for Monocle using wool from Serra da Estrela mountains.
• LinusminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerBrazilian footwear brand produces double-strap sandals for Monocle, made from recyclable micro-expanded PVC.
• BodhiminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerJapanese cashmere brand founded by Satoshi Mizutani produces the Rollneck Sweater for Monocle.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Aesop: Aesop is a luxury skincare brand known for its literary editorial voice, in-store periodicals, and curated retail experiences. While not a media company, it competes for the same affluent lifestyle consumer attention and operates a comparable retail-as-media playbook of physical stores plus branded content.

Direct peers

• Kinfolk: Kinfolk is a quarterly lifestyle magazine covering design, travel, food, and culture with a minimal, premium aesthetic. It shares Monocle's horizontal segmentation of affluent global readers and operates a parallel e-commerce and branded-content model.
• The Economist: The Economist is a weekly print and digital global-affairs publication with a similar cosmopolitan editorial voice, subscription-led model, and premium positioning. It is the most direct competitor in the global-affairs magazine category and shares Monocle's blend of news, business, and lifestyle coverage.
• Surface Magazine: Surface is an independent design and architecture magazine covering fashion, culture, and the built environment. It competes in the same premium design journalism niche and shares Monocle's design-led, global-correspondent editorial model.
• Wallpaper*: Wallpaper* is a monthly design, fashion, and lifestyle magazine with print, digital, and city-guide products. It overlaps directly with Monocle's design and travel coverage and serves the same affluent, internationally minded audience.
• Departures (by Chase): Departures is a bimonthly luxury lifestyle magazine historically tied to affluent cardmembers, covering travel, fashion, and culture. It competes in the same high-net-worth media category with overlapping advertiser pools and city-guide content.
• Cereal Magazine: Cereal is a quarterly independent magazine focused on travel, design, and style, distributed in independent stockists globally. It overlaps with Monocle's city-guide and design coverage and targets a comparable affluent, design-literate readership.
• FT Weekend (How To Spend It): How To Spend It is the Financial Times' weekly luxury lifestyle supplement covering fashion, travel, design, and culture. It competes for the same affluent professional audience and advertiser base (luxury houses, travel boards, watch brands) as Monocle.

Emerging players

• Suitcase Magazine: Suitcase is a quarterly independent travel and design magazine with strong city-guide content and a similar curated, design-led visual identity. It overlaps with Monocle's travel-guide product but at smaller scale and narrower scope.

Broad incumbents

• Bloomberg Businessweek / Bloomberg Media: Bloomberg Businessweek and Bloomberg's broader media division serve a global business and affairs audience with both print and digital products. It is a much larger incumbent that competes with Monocle for affluent global readers and advertising spend, but at significantly greater scale and breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/monocle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/monocle
• Instagraminstagram.com/monocle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Monocle