Façon Magazine was founded by Lara Lupish in late 2015. After building an international career across film, advertising and fashion, Lara returned to Australia.
With a young family of her own, Lara made the decision to return to Newcastle, after establishing herself as a stylist in the Sydney creative industry, to be closer to her parents, Vitaly and Irene Lupish. That homecoming proved pivotal. While Newcastle had a growing creative community-photographers, stylists, designers and writers, there was no dedicated publication presenting that talent in a refined, editorial format. Lara recognised the gap immediately.
From that need, Façon was born.
What began as a one‑off project quickly evolved into something far more substantial. Drawing on her experience across international productions and editorial environments, Lara approached the magazine with both creative instinct and industry knowledge. The first issue confirmed what she had sensed from the outset: there was an audience for Façon, and a creative community ready to be seen.
At its core, Façon operates with a small, dedicated team of five, supported by an extended network of contributors. This collaborative structure reflects Lara’s background in styling, where strong relationships and collective vision are essential. Each issue blends emerging talent with established creatives, resulting in work that feels both refined and authentic.
Lara’s career continues to shape the magazine’s identity. She has worked as a costume designer with high‑profile actors including Naomi Watts, Sir Ian McKellen, Laura Dern, Mark Ruffalo and Laura Harring. After returning to Sydney following time in London and Vancouver, Lara built an extensive styling career. Lara’s work in Sydney was also as Delta Goodrem’s stylist for 3 years where she constructed all of her looks for magazine’s, stage, red carpet and for The Voice. Many of her Sydney‑based clients became part of the Façon story, appearing as contributors and cover talent. Figures such as Ricki‑Lee Coulter, Kate Ritchie and internationally recognised Indigenous model Samantha Harris helped establish the magazine’s presence and visibility.
As Façon grew, it naturally expanded beyond print. What began as a magazine evolved into a broader creative platform. Façon Creative was established as the agency arm, specialising in branding, marketing and PR for external clients, while Façon Models was launched to support and develop emerging talent. Both extensions grew directly from the foundation built by the magazine, transforming Façon into a multi‑faceted creative business.
Like many independent publications, Façon has had to adapt to a changing media landscape. Rising print costs and the impact of COVID‑19 prompted a shift towards digital publishing, allowing the magazine to expand its readership while maintaining its strong editorial voice and distinctive visual identity.
In April 2026, Façon celebrated its 10‑year anniversary with a major event at the Newcastle Museum on Thursday, 30 April. More than 200 guests attended, walking the red carpet for an evening marking a decade of creativity and collaboration. The night featured a model installation, a live performance by diploma students from the National College of Dance Newcastle, and the official opening of Façon 10 – A Retrospective.
The exhibition, open to the public free of charge until 21 June, showcases the magazine’s journey through key imagery, collaborations and defining moments. It stands as both a reflection of Façon’s evolution and a celebration of the creative community it continues to champion.
Today, Façon Magazine remains grounded in its original purpose: to create with intention, support emerging talent and tell stories that matter. The publication continues to work with the University of Newcastle and TAFE NSW to help strengthen pathways for students entering the creative industries.
What began as a simple idea has grown into a lasting creative platform—one that firmly places Newcastle on the cultural map. The 10‑year edition of Façon Magazine is available to read for free at faconaustralia.com, marking both a milestone and the beginning of the magazine’s next chapter.
Source of photos Façon Magazine
