Refinery29 ( R29 ) is an American multinational digital media and entertainment website focused on young women. It is owned by Sundial Media Group.
21-656: Justin Stefano, Philippe von Borries , Piera Gelardi, and Christene Barberich co-founded Refinery29 in 2005 as a city guide, emphasizing fashion local to New York City . The name of the website alludes to the website distilling information into its essence. The company headquarters is located in the Financial District, Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Refinery29 has over 450 employees globally with offices in Los Angeles , London , and Berlin . In 2015,
42-478: A credit bid for nearly all of its assets. In April 2024, Sundial Media Group purchased the company. Refinery29 at the time of the sale had around 100 employees and roughly $ 100 million in annual revenue. In July 2024, it was reported that Refinery29 Australia would shut down amid a restructuring at Pedestrian. Refinery29 produces editorial and video programming, live events, and social, shareable content delivered across major social media platforms, and covers
63-474: A credit bid for nearly all of its assets. In April 2024, Sundial Media Group purchased the company. Refinery29 at the time of the sale had around 100 employees and roughly $ 100 million in annual revenue. In July 2024, it was reported that Refinery29 Australia would shut down amid a restructuring at Pedestrian. Refinery29 produces editorial and video programming, live events, and social, shareable content delivered across major social media platforms, and covers
84-492: A former employee recalled in 2020 that Barberich once cried in a team meeting after being told she seemed "squeamish" when discussing race. It was stated Barberich had decided to go home earlier that day due to the confrontation. Philippe von Borries Philippe von Borries is a German-born entrepreneur. He co-founded Refinery29 and served as co-CEO of the company. He is currently entrepreneur-in-residence of Red Ventures and president of Lonely Planet . von Borries
105-458: A localized New York platform for discovering independent boutiques and shops. The company later evolved to include digital media and e-commerce features. The company raised around $ 130 million from investors including First Round Capital , Floodgate Fund , Stripes Group , WPP plc , Scripps Networks Interactive , and Hearst Communications . von Borries was named one of the "Silicon Alley 100" in 2013 and 2015 by Business Insider and named to
126-600: A reported $ 400 million, valued the combined company at $ 4 billion. In March 2021, Pedestrian Group announced a multi-year deal with Vice Media and Refinery29 to become the Australian digital publishing home of both brands. A new team was announced for Refinery29 later that year. On May 15, 2023, Vice Media formally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy , as part of a possible sale to a consortium of lenders including Fortress Investment Group, which will, alongside Soros Fund Management and Monroe Capital, invest $ 225 million as
147-665: A variety of categories. Refinery29 was listed three consecutive years on Crain's "Fast 50", has won seven Clio Awards , and seven Webby Awards . The company produces an annual pop-up exhibition, 29Rooms, where visitors can take self-portraits for sharing on Instagram . 29Rooms was launched in 2015 on Refinery29's tenth anniversary. It has been credited as the first " selfie museum ". Notable writers for Refinery29 include Kathleen Newman-Bremang . In early June 2020, women of color and black employees and freelancers took to social media to tell stories of discrimination while working for Refinery29. A writer for
168-643: A variety of categories. Refinery29 was listed three consecutive years on Crain's "Fast 50", has won seven Clio Awards , and seven Webby Awards . The company produces an annual pop-up exhibition, 29Rooms, where visitors can take self-portraits for sharing on Instagram . 29Rooms was launched in 2015 on Refinery29's tenth anniversary. It has been credited as the first " selfie museum ". Notable writers for Refinery29 include Kathleen Newman-Bremang . In early June 2020, women of color and black employees and freelancers took to social media to tell stories of discrimination while working for Refinery29. A writer for
189-422: Is an American multinational digital media and entertainment website focused on young women. It is owned by Sundial Media Group. Justin Stefano, Philippe von Borries , Piera Gelardi, and Christene Barberich co-founded Refinery29 in 2005 as a city guide, emphasizing fashion local to New York City . The name of the website alludes to the website distilling information into its essence. The company headquarters
210-576: Is located in the Financial District, Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Refinery29 has over 450 employees globally with offices in Los Angeles , London , and Berlin . In 2015, the company launched a UK edition at www.refinery29.uk and the following year in 2016, a German edition at www.refinery29.de. In 2016, Refinery29 announced it had raised $ 45 million in funding led by Turner . As of 2017, Refinery29 reaches an audience of over 500 million globally. On October 2, 2019, Vice Media announced that it would acquire Refinery29. The deal, worth
231-422: Is that R29 has to change. We have to do better, and that starts with making room. And, so I will be stepping aside in my role at R29 to help diversify our leadership in editorial and ensure this brand and the people it touches can spark a new defining chapter." On June 11, 2020, author and former Refinery29 employee Sesali Bowen called Barberich a "sacrificial lamb" on Twitter. Barberich also faced criticism after
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#1732780292283252-420: Is that R29 has to change. We have to do better, and that starts with making room. And, so I will be stepping aside in my role at R29 to help diversify our leadership in editorial and ensure this brand and the people it touches can spark a new defining chapter." On June 11, 2020, author and former Refinery29 employee Sesali Bowen called Barberich a "sacrificial lamb" on Twitter. Barberich also faced criticism after
273-479: The 2016 New Power New York List by Variety magazine. In 2018, Refinery29 laid off ten percent of its workforce. von Borries stepped down from a Refinery29 management role in 2019 after Vice Media 's acquisition of Refinery29 for a reported $ 460 million. His wife, Piera Gelardi, continued as Refinery29 's executive creative director. von Borries later joined Red Ventures in November 2020 and became
294-504: The combined company at $ 4 billion. In March 2021, Pedestrian Group announced a multi-year deal with Vice Media and Refinery29 to become the Australian digital publishing home of both brands. A new team was announced for Refinery29 later that year. On May 15, 2023, Vice Media formally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy , as part of a possible sale to a consortium of lenders including Fortress Investment Group, which will, alongside Soros Fund Management and Monroe Capital, invest $ 225 million as
315-409: The company launched a UK edition at www.refinery29.uk and the following year in 2016, a German edition at www.refinery29.de. In 2016, Refinery29 announced it had raised $ 45 million in funding led by Turner . As of 2017, Refinery29 reaches an audience of over 500 million globally. On October 2, 2019, Vice Media announced that it would acquire Refinery29. The deal, worth a reported $ 400 million, valued
336-404: The company wrote on Twitter of "a toxic company culture" and pay disparity [between people of color and white employees]. On June 10, 2020, co-founders and CEOs Justin Stefano and Philippe von Borries released a letter addressing the controversy, which read, in part: "After having read these accounts, we recognize how our privilege as two white male CEOs created blinders that kept us from seeing
357-403: The company wrote on Twitter of "a toxic company culture" and pay disparity [between people of color and white employees]. On June 10, 2020, co-founders and CEOs Justin Stefano and Philippe von Borries released a letter addressing the controversy, which read, in part: "After having read these accounts, we recognize how our privilege as two white male CEOs created blinders that kept us from seeing
378-405: The head of Lonely Planet . In 2022, Lonely Planet bought Elsewhere, a website that links travelers directly with experts who assist in designing trips. In 2020, von Borries wrote a letter with Refinery29 cofounder Justin Stefano apologizing to the company's Black and employees of color for tokenizing staff and making them feel that they didn't belong. Refinery29 Refinery29 ( R29 )
399-488: The struggles, exclusion, and aggressions that you felt at R29. This is an earthquake of a wake-up call." Co-founder Christene Barberich stepped aside as Global Editor-in-Chief, but remained an employee of Refinery29 until November 2020. In Barberich's Instagram announcement post she wrote, "I’ve read and taken in the raw and personal accounts of Black women and women of color regarding their experiences inside our company at Refinery29 and what’s clear from these experiences,
420-486: The struggles, exclusion, and aggressions that you felt at R29. This is an earthquake of a wake-up call." Co-founder Christene Barberich stepped aside as Global Editor-in-Chief, but remained an employee of Refinery29 until November 2020. In Barberich's Instagram announcement post she wrote, "I’ve read and taken in the raw and personal accounts of Black women and women of color regarding their experiences inside our company at Refinery29 and what’s clear from these experiences,
441-745: Was born in Cologne , Germany . He graduated from Concord Academy in Massachusetts , and received his bachelor's degree in history from Columbia University . He attended high school with Grizzly Bear singer Ed Droste . Upon graduating from Columbia, he moved to Washington, D.C., to join the Globalist , an online international affairs magazine that focuses on the economics, politics and culture of globalization. In 2005, von Borries co-founded Refinery29 with his high school friend Justin Stefano, his wife Piera Gelardi and Christene Barberich as
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