We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Skylar Moore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Skylar thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Pink Slip began as a small group of friends, surrounded by creativity on all sides and feeling like there wasn’t enough documentation of it in our area. Our ambitions at first were modest: distribute photocopied punk zines about our creative friends within the suburbs. But when we opened up submissions to the public, we received on outpouring of poetry, photography, music, visual art, and handcrafted items. It became evident to us that we were one of the few print publications in the Chicago area that didn’t have steep barriers to entry. By removing application fees and other forms of red tape, we aim to uplift voices that have too long been cast aside. Today, we receive submissions from across the country and are able engage with communities in a meaningful way through high-quality printed magazines.

Skylar, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a 24-year-old nonbinary musician, writer, and DIY publisher. My degree is in journalism, but I found myself quite disillusioned by how competitive and inequitable the industry was. Pink Slip was started purely as a creative outlet, but became a way for me to forge a more ethical path in the journalistic field — a path that is more accessible for whose voices need it most. My favorite thing is featuring an artist and hearing them say it’s their first time in print. We live for that moment! Pink Slip serves as an emblem of DIY culture. We want artists to share their experiences through their own eyes, and to support community at the grassroots level.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I think that going to school for journalism instilled in me the idea that the industry had to be cutthroat, had to be survival-of-the-fittest. But starting a community project from the grassroots level has revealed an entire undergrowth of community members ready to support you and uplift you. The greatest lie America perpetuates about economy, is that only few can be at the top. I’ve found that the opposite can be true! We all serve a purpose in our communities, and we can all grow together. Those are the strongest communities.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My coeditor Natalie Stellato joined the creative team as we were approaching the print deadline for our first issue. At the time, we were just a group of punks in the suburbs, ready to sell $5 zines printed at the library. Natalie came in and electrified everything we were doing! She brought the vision for expansion and growth that I wasn’t even thinking about at the time. Because of her, we were able to secure a printer, establish branding guidelines, and increase the scope of our project beyond our small area.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @pinkslipzine
• Facebook: @pinkslipzine

Image Credits
Photos by Natalie Stellato and Julia Gawronska