Glorious is a new platform celebrating women’s sport through art and culture

Launching today (26 February 2021), Glorious is a new platform for creative talent specifically dedicated to capturing female athletic strength in a way that has not been seen previously. The platform shines a light on leading creatives including photographers, illustrators musicians and photographers. So far, it has featured the likes of Coco Capitan, Maria Svarbova, Todd Antony, Vic Lentaigne and Kelly Anna. As well as being a platform, Glorious is also home to a new community titled the Glorious Club. It offers a membership service providing access to a variety of editorial content. Here, readers can find interviews, trend pieces, podcasts, events, exclusive offers and the latest collaborations.

The Glorious team is lead by editorial director Alison Root, who has 20 years' experience in the industry, as well as lifestyle editor Annabel Herrick. It is co-founded by Martin Root, creative director and founder of award-winning creative agency, Root and Robert Maloney. The Glorious events include hosted bike rides, topical panel discussions, various classes and weekenders; all aiming to elevate women’s sport through the lens of art and culture. Additionally, it aims to carve more space for female voices and grassroots sporting clubs that are growing across the world.

In one story, for instance, wrier Al Greenwood interviews her favourite photographers who are navigating the grassroots women’s football field. In another, Amy Abrahams tells the story of how a London sprint club is celebrating speed, founded by a group of women with a distinctly inclusive approach. Other editorial stories include a Q&A with photographer Maria Švarbova, a piece on an all-female Muslim rounders team from Yorkshire, and features platforming the achievements of pioneering athletes who have changed the face of sport. For example, Dottie Frazier, the first female scuba diver.

On the creative commissioning side of things, Glorious has commissioned a film featuring the women of London’s Fighting Arts Academy featuring women of all ages and backgrounds. To coincide with the platform’s launch, Glorious collaborated with artist Kelly Anna to produce a limited edition three colour screen print; depicting an illustrative expression of female strength. The platform has been three years in the making, and marks a key moment, reads the press release: “as we navigate through the pandemic, the importance of physical wellbeing and the power of community is more important than ever.”

With the aim of connecting like-minded people from all over the world, Glorious offers a much-needed dose of positivity during a trying time. To further support this ethos, Glorious has partnered with The Women’s Sport Trust and will be donating a percentage of its membership to the charity. Tammy Parlour MBE, CEO and Co-Founder of The Women's Sport Trust, says: “Building a culture around women’s sport is so important and this is why we believe the launch of Glorious is so exciting. From the in-depth features to the modern aesthetic, it elevates sportswomen and their stories, which is exactly what is needed. We are excited to partner with them and see how, together, we can take the stories of female athletes to the next level and champion change.”