This Little Red Book doesn’t contain Chairman Mao’s favorite aphorisms, and not once are comrades called to unite.

To be sure, this magazine isn’t a vehicle for communist thought at all. Instead, it speaks of “faux paws” and Athens’ latest fashion trends.

The new Little Red Book fashion magazine, which will be released on Friday, was co-founded by fifth-year Jen Hayes from Marietta, junior Nicole Dushman from Eatonton and fifth-year Nina Cantrell from Athens.

Hayes and Dushman are members of the Student Merchandising Association. Dushman also co-founded Women in Business and is an executive of the Sigma Delta Tau sorority.

In an interview last week, Hayes and Dushman said the inspiration for the project came last summer when the three took a fashion promotions course.

“There are a couple girls at [Florida State University] who started a magazine, and they were featured on MTV in the spring,” Dushman said.

“We were like, ‘That’s such a good idea.’”

Hayes and Dushman said the class served them well in preparing them to create Little Red Book.

“It’s how I learned how to write a press release and do media kits and do advertising for different publications,” Hayes said.

The magazine has status as a University organization but does not receive funding from the University, Hayes said.

“We registered late and weren’t eligible, so all the money has come from sponsorship and advertisers,” she said.

Dushman said the magazine has about 25 volunteers who come from various majors and backgrounds in the University.

As they are avid readers of fashion magazines, the co-founders looked to their favorites in formatting the magazine and its content.

“Between the three of us we get every fashion magazine there is, so it’s a combination of all the fashion magazines we love,” Hayes said.

“My mom and I are the biggest shop-aholics ever,” Hayes said.

Dushman and Hayes said the magazine will highlight local trends and businesses and is geared toward University women.

The first issue’s photo shoot is tailgate-centric, with the fashion spreads shot on North campus and in front of Sanford Stadium.

“We love local businesses,” Hayes said. “That’s one of the best things about Athens – the small town feel – but you have all the luxuries of a big city.

“I feel like lots of people go to Atlanta to shop, and they don’t realize there’s so much good fashion and shopping right down the street.”

Both women mentioned Fortsons Clothier as a favorite for personal shopping, along with Opulence and Nico.