Serving Good Strange Vibes

"Know that 'you' is a fluid, changing thing that you can explore through your ideas"

Dreaming Up a Better, More Empathetic World

Let's start at the beginning. What was the 'spark' that turned Goodstrangevibes from a feeling into a fully-fledged business?

I had no intention of starting an art business! It happened organically—mysteriously! I wrote this diary entry about how it all started back in 2018:

'In the process of recovering from an eating disorder, I began drawing my own body—forcing myself to see my body as art and worthy of appreciation. I did this in the evening, a time I used to spend staring at my naked body, feeling hate and repulsion. This new habit directly challenged these previous destructive thoughts. By drawing and liking the art I produced, I then began to appreciate the body that had inspired them.'

I started drawing diverse bodies and body-positive messages, and posting them on Instagram under the name Goodstrangevibes.

How was your art received once you started sharing it more widely?

I started receiving positive feedback from people who said my art was helping them feel better about their bodies, and this really inspired me to keep creating and posting my work (and also to keep working on my own body image journey). Soon after, I printed a single t-shirt with my art on it, and people asked for their own. So, I created small, customised batches. Soon, I was selling at markets in Newcastle and working with brilliant student business coaches—the wonderful Gretel Ferat and Tracy Clarkson.

Goodstrangevibes grew alongside my own self-discovery—from working through anxiety to realising I was queer, and eventually realising I was trans. It's always been about challenging the status quo and dreaming up a better, more empathetic world that deeply values the power of being strange!

“Embrace your entirety—the weird, confusing, unique, unsmoothed edges of your humanity!”

Flowing with my Energy Levels

You wear two very different (cool) hats: Business Development Manager at Lutalica and Lead Creative at Goodstrangevibes. How do these two roles talk to each other? Do they get along?

I do like my hats! Their relationship is full of contradictions, but ultimately, they get along. The Lutalica hat likes to be put on earlier in the day, whereas the Goodstrangevibes hat has no sense of time or place. They often teach each other things, but there is an undeniable push and pull. Goodstrangevibes feels both freed and limited by Lutalica, and vice versa—but I love wearing both!

How do you build and maintain a sustainable foundation for a creative freelance life?

To be honest, it hasn't been my priority the last year or two. In some ways, 'maintaining' it just means giving it the freedom to rise and dip. If an art opportunity comes through, I almost always find the time to make it work. But when things are quiet, I don't push like I did when I was full-time. Nowadays, I flow with my energy levels and what comes to me.

Will this be your approach in 2026, also?

This is actually something I'd like to shift a little this year—channelling more effort into finding Goodstrangevibes opportunities in the same way I do for Studio Lutalica. So far, I've worked with the capacity I have, avoiding forcing it when I lack the mental or physical energy. Typically, when an opportunity comes in, I'm so motivated that the capacity arises! I'm very privileged to be able to ebb and flow with it, but I do want to maintain it more intentionally.

It can't be underestimated how much external support helps sustain a creative freelance life. Moving back to London to live with my parents (rent-free!) gave me focus, and finding my role at Lutalica allowed me to move out while keeping space for art. That support is what makes this creative, freelance life possible!

Good, Strange, and Queer

Your work is so vibrantly, unapologetically queer. In a world that often tries to buff the edges off 'professionalism', how important is it to you that your business remains a space for good and strange and queer vibes?

Of the utmost importance! Goodstrangevibes simply doesn't exist if it's not good, strange, and queer. It would lose its entire essence!

We're big believers that supporting queer and trans businesses isn't just a 'nice to do'—it's an act of community building. What's one thing you wish people understood about the impact of 'buying queer' beyond the transaction?

The ripple effect is essential. It ensures queer creatives can keep doing what they're doing and continue creating authentic art. It also feels really freaking nice when people want to connect with your creations—it's the best feeling, and it can't be quantified!

Embrace Your Entirety

If you could gift one piece of 'good strange' advice to a trans or queer creative who is currently sitting on a brilliant idea but is too scared to launch, what would it be?

To embrace your entirety—the weird, confusing, unique, unsmoothed edges of your humanity! Play around with who you are and what you create. Know that 'you' is a fluid, changing thing that you can explore through your ideas—either by learning more about who you are, or who you're not. If you embrace all that you are, you gain more access to your ideas and can play with them with more confidence and ease!

(Note: I also need this advice).

January is often seen as a month of jumping back into things, but we prefer to live by the mantra 'Rest is Radical'. How are you keeping your creative tank full?

Whenever I can, I go to a 'flow to restore' yoga class and a sound healing bath. I find these really help me process a busy life and slow down. They also teach me more about yoga philosophy and how I can integrate it outside of class.

Read more about Lou's work with Studio Lutalica here. Follow Goodstrangevibes on Instagram here.