India, Jan. 4 -- What is a fashion magazine without photo shoots? Without those glossy images of models, photographed in glamorous locales and produced by a small army of hairstylists, makeup artists, editors and assistants?

It's a more environmentally friendly magazine, for one. Or so says Italian Vogue, which aims to make a statement about sustainability this month by omitting photo shoots.

In his January 2020 note to readers, Emanuele Farneti, the editor-in-chief, described what it takes to fill one issue of his magazine (in this example, the traditionally thick September issue) with original photographs:

"One hundred and fifty people involved. About twenty flights and a dozen or so train journeys. Forty cars on standby. Sixty inter...