The title is an additional win from IPC for the Islington-based pre-press firm. Earlier this year it picked up half of IPC SouthBank's titles including flagships Marie Claire, Homes & Gardens and Livingetc, which had previously been handled by Wyndeham's Argent and Graphics pre-press divisions.

Colour Systems won the Wallpaper* repro contract, which includes advertising and editorial pages, from fellow London repro house Electronic Solutions (ES).

It is the second high-profile high-end title ES has recently lost, after twice-yearly Emap East fashion and photography title Pop switched to Wyndeham Graphics.

Joint managing director of Colour Systems parent firm Fresh Media Group (FMG) George Berg said that Wallpaper* was "a huge high-profile title. It's like a bible it's over two inches thick."

The October issue, which went on sale today (8 September), is the title's largest for five years. With over 400pp it weighs in at 1.5kg and has enjoyed a 50% rise in advertising year-on-year.

Wallpaper*, which bills itself as global lifestyle title with a strong interiors bent, faces the launch of a rival too today in the form of Wonderland Magazine, an "aspirational lifestyle" magazine.

The new title is being launched on the back of funding from telecoms millionaire Peter Jones, following on from a pitch on the BBC2 series Dragons' Den.

Story by Barney Cox