Sleek
Sleek is an independent Berlin-based art, fashion, and culture publication operating a print quarterly, paid membership, weekly newsletter, Shopify merchandise store, and event venue, distributed globally through stockists in 20+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Sleek does
Sleek is an independent art, fashion, opinion, and culture publication headquartered in Berlin, Germany, operating as a print quarterly supplemented by digital, events, and merchandise verticals. Founded around 2010, the company has produced 89+ issues, with the most recent being SLEEK #89 themed 'PLAY'. The publication serves culture enthusiasts and fashion-industry readers, distributed through a global stockist network spanning 20+ countries across Europe, North America, Asia, and Latin America, alongside online magazine platforms (D*Zine, Magpile, Scopalto, Sharemagazines) and a Shopify e-commerce store.
The core product is a print magazine priced at €15 per issue, bundled with a weekly newsletter and a paid membership subscription that includes print delivery. The company has expanded into adjacent verticals: a Shopify merchandise line (premium blankets at €149, pillow cases at €89), the SLEEK Art Space venue for live events, and a SLEEK Universal Profile (SLEEK Token) built on the Lukso blockchain targeting digital identity and art collectibles. Sleek also operates mobile apps on iOS and Android.
The business model combines single-copy print sales, membership subscriptions, merchandise, event hosting, and brand partnerships — a recent example being the YOOX Berlin Fashion Week Kick-Off event on 2026-06-26. With 15 employees and no disclosed external funding, Sleek operates as a privately held independent media and lifestyle brand. Customer concentration risk is structurally low given the B2C, distributed-subscriber base, though overall revenue scale is small and dependent on the editorial brand's continued cultural relevance.
Sleek firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sleek
- Legal name
- SLEEK Magazine
- Website
- https://sleek-mag.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sleek is an independent Berlin-based art, fashion, and culture publication operating a print quarterly, paid membership, weekly newsletter, Shopify merchandise store, and event venue, distributed globally through stockists in 20+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sleek industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Arts and Culture Magazine
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines (MPAJAEAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines (MPAJAEAA), Newsletter Publishing Platforms (MPACAIAA)
Keywords
Where Sleek is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sleek business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Print Magazine Sales: Sale of physical print magazine issues (SLEEK #89 and previous issues) at €15 per issue through e-commerce store and global stockist network.
- Membership Subscription: SLEEK Membership providing full archive access, member-only events, and print magazine delivery. Includes newsletter with weekly editorial dispatches and event invitations.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including limited edition blankets (€149) and pillow cases (€89) through Shopify e-commerce store.
- Digital Art Collectibles: Limited-edition digital artworks released by SLEEK and partner artists, distributed to SLEEK Token holders as collectibles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Print magazine issues |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - Blankets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - Pillow Cases |
| Subscription | Monthly | SLEEK Membership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Sleek product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sleek Magazine publishes a Berlin-based independent print magazine covering contemporary art, fashion, opinion, music, film, and culture (89+ issues, latest titled SLEEK #89 - PLAY), distributed globally through stockists and its own Shopify e-commerce store. It complements the print publication with a digital website, weekly newsletter, paid membership program with full archive access, branded and limited-edition merchandise, and the SLEEK Art Space venue for cultural events. The publication additionally operates the SLEEK Token / Universal Profile, a Lukso-blockchain-based portable cultural identity system that unlocks digital art drops, member discounts, and priority event access.
Product overview
SLEEK Magazine operates as a unified editorial platform centered on its print publication covering art, fashion, opinion, and culture. The core magazine is complemented by a digital ecosystem including a weekly newsletter and membership program that provides archive access and event perks. The SLEEK Universal Profile (SLEEK Token), built on the Lukso blockchain, serves as a portable cultural identity layer offering digital art collection and exclusive access features. A dedicated e-commerce store sells print issues and artist collaborations, while the SLEEK Art Space hosts physical exhibitions. The portfolio functions as an integrated editorial and commerce experience, with the magazine as the anchor, supported by membership, blockchain-based identity, and retail components.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SLEEK Token (Universal Profile): A portable cultural identity token built on the Lukso blockchain that serves as a permanent record of events attended, works collected, and cultural moments. Unlocks digital art drops, member-only discounts, and priority event access.
- SLEEK STORE
Products and services
- Sleek Magazine (Print and Digital Edition) Quarterly print magazine and accompanying digital publication covering contemporary art, photography, fashion, music, film, and opinion from a Berlin-rooted editorial perspective; distributed globally through stockists and the Sleek e-commerce store.
- Sleek Newsletter
Quantifiable outcome
- Distributed in 20+ countries globally through stockist network
Companies that use Sleek
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sleek technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Sleek partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- YOOXminorSLEEK partnered with YOOX for Berlin Fashion Week Kick-Off event, combining fashion editorial with retail partnership for exclusive access and experiences.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sleek competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- i-D Magazine: Long-established arts, fashion, and culture magazine (now owned by Vice). Comparable editorial positioning around fashion, art, music, and youth culture with print, digital, and social content distribution.
- Dazed Magazine: UK-based independent arts, fashion, and culture publication with print and digital editions. Closely comparable editorial scope (art, fashion, opinion, culture) and similar hybrid print-plus-digital-plus-events business model, making it a head-to-head peer for advertising and reader attention.
- Buffalo Zine: Independent arts, fashion, and culture magazine with strong visual identity and a hybrid print/digital/event-driven business model. Direct peer in editorial positioning and target audience of culture-conscious European readers.
- Purple Magazine: French independent arts, fashion, and culture magazine covering contemporary art, photography, fashion, and music. Comparable editorial scope and luxury positioning, with both print and digital presence and event programming.
- Document Journal: Independent contemporary arts and fashion publication. Comparable niche positioning at the intersection of contemporary art, fashion, and critical writing with a print magazine and digital platform.
- Mousse Magazine: Independent contemporary art magazine with strong fashion and culture coverage. Direct peer in editorial niche (contemporary art and fashion), print-plus-digital distribution, and international stockist network.
- 032c Magazine: Berlin-based independent arts, fashion, and culture magazine. 032c is SLEEK's most direct geographic and editorial peer—same city, similar cultural positioning, comparable combination of print magazine, merchandise, events, and digital content.
- Printed Pages: Independent arts, design, and culture magazine (formerly known as Hotpress). Direct peer in editorial positioning around contemporary visual culture, fashion, and design with print, digital, and event touchpoints.
- Kaleidoscope Magazine: Independent contemporary art and culture publication. Comparable editorial scope (contemporary art, cultural commentary) with print and digital editions targeting similar culture-engaged international readership.
Broad incumbents
- Frieze: Global arts media and events company with leading contemporary art magazines (Frieze, Frieze Week) and major art fairs. Overlaps with SLEEK in art editorial coverage but operates at significantly larger scale as an established incumbent in the contemporary art space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sleek social profiles
Digital presenceSleek financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sleek leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Sleek funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sleek M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sleek
What does Sleek do?
Sleek Magazine publishes a Berlin-based independent print magazine covering contemporary art, fashion, opinion, music, film, and culture (89+ issues, latest titled SLEEK #89 - PLAY), distributed globally through stockists and its own Shopify e-commerce store. It complements the print publication with a digital website, weekly newsletter, paid membership program with full archive access, branded and limited-edition merchandise, and the SLEEK Art Space venue for cultural events. The publication additionally operates the SLEEK Token / Universal Profile, a Lukso-blockchain-based portable cultural identity system that unlocks digital art drops, member discounts, and priority event access.
Is Sleek a public or private company?
Sleek is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sleek founded?
Sleek was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sleek based?
Sleek is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Sleek make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Print Magazine Sales are the primary driver. The others are membership Subscription, merchandise Sales and digital Art Collectibles.
Who are Sleek's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are i-D Magazine, Dazed Magazine, Buffalo Zine, Purple Magazine, Document Journal, Mousse Magazine, 032c Magazine, Printed Pages and Kaleidoscope Magazine. Frieze is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Sleek have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sleek.
What industry is Sleek in?
Sleek's product category is Independent Arts and Culture Magazine. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAN, Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines, with a secondary code of MPAJAEAA, Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines. Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.