London College of Fashion Special Collections has an ever expanding fashion zine collection that encompasses gender, body politics, sociology of clothes, hair & makeup, queer theory and more. We’re delighted to launch a series of interviews with zinesters, whose work can be found in the collection. Today we’re going to be finding more about Sad Plant by Leaf Wicks.
Leaf Wicks, Philadelphia Pennsylvania
How long have you been making zines for?
I have been making zines for about 3 and a half years. I made my first zine at age 18.
What do you like to create zines about?
I create zines about myself. I use zines to process events in my life by combining text and pictures to create a collage of my emotions.
What is your favourite zine/comic/book?
My current favorite is Papergirls
Tell us a bit more about your creative process..
My process in regards to zine making usually starts with a strong emotion. I’ll get a feeling that can only be expressed through a larger body of work. I consider my zines small galleries for my art, places where I am able to curate things I’ve already made to express a specific emotional message. My process starts with a piece (poem, essay, photography, illustration etc.) that matches my mood and I take other works that I’ve created and use them to boost the feeling.
What does it feel like to have your zine/s in the London College of Fashion Library’s Special Collections?
I’m honored that Sad Plant was chosen. I find it funny because I wrote it when I was 18 and have changed a lot no longer relate to what i’ve created. But, here it is three years later continuing to make it’s rounds and affect others. I find that really cool.
What influenced Sad Plant?
Sad Plant was inspired by a harsh conversation I had with my mother about how I don’t shave or behave as feminine as she would like of me. At the time, I identified as a woman and I was exploring gender expression and breaking the rules of what was expected of women. In short, I was really fed up with people giving me attitude about something as small as body hair during a time where it was critical for my growth to explore my gender/gender presentation.
What one piece of advice would you give UAL students about zine making?
My best piece of advice for zine making would be to not overthink the work. Zines usually have a DIY nature, a homemade quality to them. It’s ok to throw them together quickly on a copy machine or bind them with rubber bands. The message is the important part of a zine.
