moth glow

JORGIA BURKE: HER CREATIVE PROCESS

EST: 7 min read

JORGIA BURKE IS A WRITER AND JOURNALIST WHO TAKES A NICHE ROLE IN FASHION WRITING. SHE HAS EARNED BYLINES ON VOGUE, TO BE MAGAZINE, RUSSH AND KEEPS HER OWN SUBSTACK UP TO DATE WITH WELL ARTICULATED DISCUSSION. JORGIA SPOKE WITH MOTH HUE ON HOW SHE NAVIGATES HER CREATIVE PROCESS.

@Jorgia Burke

The Interview

As someone who writes for major and small publications and your own substack do you feel a difference in your writing style or topic?

No matter the platform, always try to stay true to what I want to say. But, it's easy to get lost in the sauce. I'm still growing my skills and honing in on my style, but this year has given me a lot of freedom to explore this. Magazines are a brilliant platform for turning messy baby ideas into juicy pieces but I think with Substack, there's total agency so you can really lean into exactly what you are voicing. Magazines, of course, are a bigger beast and at times, need to fit a certain cookie cutter to get the tick of approval. I want to get back on my Substack this summer, I guess this is my way of holding myself accountable. I feel like I have so many niche ideas I want to flesh outI and in turn, empty my brain onto paper lol.

How do you decide what comes first? Does a particular clothing style or article inspire an analysis or do you investigate a topic and then find what fashion represents that?

I feel like the former, generally. I'm chronically reading articles as it feels quite indulgent to me, so maybe something will catch my attention in an article which will then inspire me to go on my own tangent or explore a related topic. I also tend to pick out parts of conversations I have with friends, strangers at parties or online discourse that I see and try to draw an idea out of a passing comment. I mean there's a lot to talk about, and we should be voicing our thoughts. But to me, talking about it can feel hazy, I find that clarity is more accessible on paper.

A GLIMPSE AT JORGIA'S SUBSTACK WORK

←

As an Aussie who's spent time abroad, how does your fashion & culture change with cities you visit?

Absolutely. As for everyone, travelling is simply my biggest source of inspiration. I have been so lucky to spend a lot of time hopping around different cities and living abroad so far in my twenties. You really do pick up so much along the way: style, taste, culture, language. I don't really feel this abundance of inspiration when I'm in Sydney, I more so feel inspired by my friends and the people around me. I really miss finding inspiration through place though, you know that feeling in your belly when you're in a new city and you just feel so much excitement to see everything all at once. Maybe it's time to move again, which is something that has been on my mind a lot recently.

Have a favourite article to share?

I wrote an article about how being reachable around the clock impacts personal space and I guess it is very relatable, as most people I talk to share the same sentiment. I got inspired to write this off the back of a conversation in the office about DND. But my best work is yet to come, I'm just getting warmed up.

What do you wear the most when you're writing your best?

That's a fun question and of course, feeling fly helps boost creativity (or something like that). Honestly, I have been paring things back recently and delving into the idea of a uniform rotation. Of course, clothing is one of the best ways to express yourself and I believe that with my whole chest but god, sometimes it can be exhausting. As we are in the trenches of summer heat in Aus, I have been reaching for some vintage denim, and a selection of t-shirts, and then throwing my Vibrams on. Above everything, I'm just trying to wear things that align with my mood, as confidence and comfort are inseparable in my books.

“My advice would be to try and find genuine, honest people to have in your corner that will look out for you and provide guidance.”
— Jorgia Burke

What is one piece of advice you want to offer to an aspiring creative writer/journalist?

I mean I am still on the outskirts of the media bubble as it takes so damn long to fully break in. But, in all transparency, this industry is merciless and will chew you up and spit you out without hesitation. It sounds grim, but having a thick skin is a necessity. My advice would be to try and find genuine, honest people to have in your corner that will look out for you and provide guidance - this has been my bread and butter. I have been really lucky to work with a few people like this, who have opened up doors for me. Another thing I have learnt so far is sometimes you need to put your pride aside. By this, I mean not every article you write is going to be completely aligned with your style of writing. As I'm so stubborn, this was something that didn't sit right with me but honestly, exposure is king.

LINKS TO READ MORE OF JORGIA'S WRITING

Words for Supply Store Sydney. All photos courtesy of the artist.

Jorgia Burke: Her Creative Process | Article Produced by Moth Hue. All Rights Assumed.