Interview: Louis Pisano

Louis Pisano is a self described “over-opinionated social media aficionado”.

An outspoken and unapologetic creative who is passionate about pop culture, fashion, and diversity with a reputation for telling it like it is. In conversation with Samantha, you will learn about Louis and his approach to social media and the role of humour.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/author/226321/louis-pisano/

Tell us a little about your platform and the work you do there. How would you personally describe it?

I mean I think it’s very simple what I do on my platform, I just take the thought processes and conversations I have IRL and have them online unfiltered. I started from not being able to have these conversations with my “peers” in the industry, people didn’t want to talk about the things I talked about despite it not being a secret the industry was fucked up. So I vent, online, and hope to find people that are also frustrated with the system and the more people you find that are like minded the more resources you have to be able to plant the seed of change. It’s always simple like that for me, if I see something messed up or something that could be improved I have to say something even if it could and it does get me in trouble

How do you use humour in your work? Why?

I don’t always set out to use humour per se, I think my mind naturally is a bit petty and shady all the time so I always see the entertainment value in the less serious sides of my work, I think people on fashion take EVERYTHING so serious all the time and there’s a time and a place for it but also some of that “fashion person” persona that seriousness is also the reason the industry hasn’t progressed as fast as it should in terms of being more welcoming and open.

Your content does incredibly well on Instagram and you have also worked with the internal Instagram Fashion team. What do you enjoy about using this platform specifically, as opposed to other alternatives?

I like using Instagram, specifically stories, because I feel like I can use different styles of content in one place, whether it’s creating fashion imagery, or text based stories, audio, video, lives, it’s a creative hub with so many different communities and places to find inspiration. I think that for so long there was a certain kind of fashion content that was the status quo on Instagram and now we are showing people that it can be so much more than just a place where people are trying to show off, or sell you something. It’s a place where change is starting, conversations are being had and that stands out against a backdrop of what I consider mediocre which is what we’ve been led to believe is the epitome of excellence on social media in terms of fashion content.

How do you think the landscape of fashion media is changing? Particularly with regards to the new generation of fashion media voices and platforms?

I think the landscape of fashion media is becoming more democratic. Instead of just one block of people who are opinion leaders there are so many spaces for so many voices with all sorts of thought processes from so many walks of life. It’s thanks to social media to be honest. While social media has its flaws it has allowed for a new generation of creatives to rise. We can have more critical conversations than our predecessors because we don’t rely on kissing the asses of the fashion system. We self publish and with a tap of a button we can reach more people than the old guard ever could.

How critical is humour in fashion media nowadays?

Very. I mean we live in crazy times. If we’re going to push the validity of clothing that costs several thousands, let’s at least poke a little fun at the absurdity of the entire enterprise. Humour breaks down barriers, makes things a little less daunting & scary.

Fashion is notoriously elitist, including in the media realm – do you think the changing landscape of fashion media, including this general movement towards less serious and more humorous fashion media, has been a good thing for combatting this?

Absolutely, yes fashion is a business and a serious business but acting like the entire thing is a humourless exercise is so pretentious. I feel like most of these people are doing mental gymnastics to convince themselves of how groundbreaking the most mundane things they do are and it’s funny and I think people now are highlighting how ridiculous so much of the fashion industry is, the posturing, the caricatures, and addressing this with humour breaks down those barriers that kept people out.

What do you think?

• Do you agree with Louis, that fashion is becoming more democratic?
• Does fashion take itself to serious, after all it is a serious business?

Share your replies with your peers in the comments down below.