Meet the Barbra Streisand-obsessed Cancerian living in Brooklyn, NY, who creates show-stopping wearable art pieces - Pissy Pussy. The nightlife enigma and self-taught designers' origins date back to 2016, what began with a few stitches, blossomed into a metamorphosis of outrageous couture and sheer brilliance. They’re anything but ordinary - strutting down the streets of New York City in tower high boots, alien-like headpieces, all while breathing fresh air into the new age of fashion. From his first look up until their most recent one, they defy all odds, breaking every rule in the handbook to fully embrace and capture their extraterrestrial-like vision. Most of their work covers the human body from head to toe with playful shapes, eccentric patterns, colours and contrasting textures - completely transforming the wearer into a walking and talking exhibit.
Hi Pissy, how are you? What are you feeling the most excited about right now?
I’m great! Well as I do this interview, it’s New Years Eve morning. So I’d have to say I’m really excited for the new year and a mental reset. I’m definitely one of those people who believe in things like, new year, new me.
The name Pissy Pussy is outrageously genius, it’s quite the provocative name but it meshes so well with your brand as a whole. Could you tell me about the origins of your alias, PissyPussy? When did your love for designing ignite?
Well I definitely know my brand name plays a big role in the success of my brand because it’s vulgar. But rolls off the tongue so well. It certainly attracts the attention of almost anyone when said out loud. I got the name from a combination of things. But the main influence was actually, my sister. My sister's name is Missy and my Mum would always call her Pissy or Piss (and she really was a ball of moods back then so it fit her.) So when the time came to choose a name Pissy Pussy kind of just came to me. I never touched a sewing machine until I moved to NYC when I was 23. I never showed any interest in fashion or designing until I went out into NYC nightlife, and that’s what really started my designing journey. And from nightlife Pissy Pussy became a thing.
You’ve created some of the most outrageous couture pieces both for yourself and other performance artists – they’re also embraced by the likes of top tier visionaries including Azealia Banks. How do you curate each piece and what does the designing process look like?
Everything is very very very random. I don’t plan anything, don’t sketch, don’t take notes. I just shop and I see a fabric and in my head it’s like boop, I just see it and then I go with it. My most successful commissions for clients have been the ones that gave me full creative freedom. Once people start giving me specific requirements I start to lose inspiration or begin to second guess myself. So sometimes I’m not able to take on commissions for clients who want something very specific. Side story, I actually tried dropping out of the Azealia project at first because she did really want something pretty specific and in my head I started to spiral and told her I don’t think this project is for me and I was really sorry but I had to drop out. But Azealia sent me the sweetest voice messages hyping me up and extended my deadline and talked me through it and it really did come out to be a sick piece. My design process isn’t the most convenient, but my brain works in inconvenient ways.
The sheer brilliance that you demonstrate in your work is unmatched and the contents of each creation spew out this chaotic-esque energy. You’re based in New York, so you’ve got consistent fuel for inspiration at every corner. Tell me, what triggers the inspirations behind your designs?
Well it’s funny you mention chaotic, because I actually have the word chaos tattooed across the back of my head. That’s because it’s exactly what my brain feels like ever since I kind of became an artist and moved to NYC at 23 (I really did not do much creatively before that). I think NYC kind of reset my brain, it’s hard to explain, I love it here, but I hate it here. But I feel I can never leave NYC because it truly is the place that breathes life into me, to then breathe life into my work. New York is pure chaos, but in that chaos is a lot of inspiration. My main source of inspiration has always been and will always be nightlife and club-wear. That’s where Pissy was born. It wouldn’t exist without all the creative energy from the NYC nightlife scene. It’s truly unmatched.
You mentioned in another interview that your work is non-human and alien. From the looks of it, it seems like your work demonstrates exactly that. Could you expand a little further on this idea?
Well I really just find everything in this world so complicated in so many ways. So I think it was very natural for me to create like a different species or life form out of my art so I can just live in a different world for a bit. And now I get to take my followers into my little world of no faces where everyone is fabulous, simple but outrageous and equal. I like everything uniform and the same. I always used masks because the human face kinda bores me, especially in fashion. Just cover it I always thought. Covering the face really creates a whole other being and makes things a bit less superficial I think. I just like that concept. It’s so much less confusing.
PP has also grown into the further sectors of fashion with branded apparel. In parallel with your usual designs, they’re definitely more minimal but they still make a statement. What elements of fashion did you choose to incorporate with these looks?
I always loved skate wear as a kid - although I definitely didn’t skate, just for the look. So as Pissy Pussy grew and my following grew I realised how badly I wanted to create my own branded apparel. This also is a more sustainable way to make money, because not everyone wants to wear one of my torturous masks (laughs) because my work is very expensive to create I needed a constant income and branded apparel was the perfect thing to do. Everything is hand screen printed by me and I collaborate with small artists to make the original designs that I then turn into screens. My branded apparel is very skate or street wear and all unisex. I hope to really be able to grow my branded apparel in 2022.
On an ordinary day with no work or designing, what do you find yourself doing? Are you constantly gravitating towards your designs or have you found a way to separate yourself from it?
Well to be honest I really don’t love working. I sometimes am so jealous of people who are just constantly working and so driven. But I require a lot of rest. I nap every single day, my excuse is because I’m an artist and need to rest this brain of course (laughs). I usually don’t have trouble separating myself from my work. Unless it’s been a while since I’ve created a major look and I lack the inspiration. I’ll like torture myself until I figure out a new look, which sometimes can take months to get that vision. But other than that I’m probably either riding my bike trying to find my new favourite place in NYC to eat or watching Real Housewives.
You had a very busy year in 2021. What were some of your most memorable highlights and accomplishments this year?
Well I’m always really hard on myself and never feel I accomplish enough. 2021 was a bit of a struggle mentally for me so I didn’t feel super proud of my full year of work, but mental health is important so I had to spend some time working on that. Hands down my proudest moment of my life was dressing Azealia. Anyone who knows me, knows I love Azealia Banks. And I truly never imagined not only that I would be designing for AB, but we would also be meeting in person, talking one on one. Then getting to dress her backstage and watch the show right at the edge of the stage. It’s one of those moments that I was just blank behind the eyes watching the concert because I couldn’t believe it. For me that was major.
In December Covid-19 was getting pretty bad again but you spent hours stacked upon hours designing and breathing life into garments behind closed doors. As a self-taught designer who’s based in Brooklyn, NY, did the recent surge negatively impact you or your work at all?
The biggest challenge with Covid has been supply shortages. Every last thing that I use has either become more expensive, impossible to get or both. Also the garment district has become a ghost town with some of my favourite shops closing over the last two years. As for physically working it’s been pretty fine because it’s just me and my assistant in our little room working away.
Lastly, what can we expect to see from you and your brand in 2022? Do you have any upcoming projects?
I truly believe something big is in store for PP in 2022. I’m not sure what yet, but I feel it. I’m currently working on a new branded apparel capsule with one of my best friends creating the designs. The designs are going to be tattoo inspired and very cute. But mostly in 2022 I want to pump out more major looks than ever. Pissy Pussy will always be about major looks, and that’s what I really want to present this year.
