Founder and Director of gIRLS aBOUT pECKHAM, Natalie Worgs is continuing to highlight and showcase style, community and culture, adhering to “Substance over Hype”. Natalie has established a platform of visibility to document, celebrate and provide community representation; showcasing underrepresented voices, stories and talent. As gIRLS aBOUT pECKHAM grows, it continues to procure residencies, exhibitions, creative projects and programmes, radio and print magazines; showcasing fashion editorials, artwork, designers, stylists, writers, musicians and additional creative content. The second issue of the g.a.p zine, ‘Peckham 3000’, reflects the diversity, inclusivity and culture of the community, and contributes to the conversations amidst the changes of the area. I spoke with Natalie to discuss gIRLS aBOUT pECKHAM; inspirations, highlights, accredited programmes and projects, the value of community, the power of utilising content to connect and manifest inspiration, and so much more.

NAHUEL CONTRERASYour formative background in fashion, assisting, working as a stylist, writer and art director, afforded you a vast knowledge of the industry. What was your main incentive for creating gIRLS aBOUT pECKHAM? NATALIE WORGSThe original gIRLS of pECKHAM had slowly dissolved to be replaced by what we are seeing now; I quickly noticed the changes through the girls and their style. The original girls’ styling was different as well as the story they left behind; I wanted to celebrate as I was part of the nights out in pECKHAM; at the shubs under the bridge, or in the local barbers, even the Jamaican food shop after hours. In most of my images you can recognise something that has now closed or is due to change into something else. NCgIRLS aBOUT pECKHAM is a great reflection of the local community’s comradery, energy and community. Who or what influences you and your work? NWMy surroundings and location, my parents, family and my upbringing, values I grew up with. My cul de sac was the location, for me growing up around people from different cultures. When I think about growing up I smile and think of how we would sneak food out of the house to share; that was how we introduced each other to our culture. NCWhat do you enjoy the most about gIRLS aBOUT pECKHAM? NWThat I represent for the underrepresented and it’s a NO RESTRICTIONS zone, especially with Bubble Wednesday where we celebrate Dancehall Queens and girls and their fashion from back in the day. I remember my auntie Winsome would get the latest dancehall videotapes; they would always run me out the room, but I would peep and take a look through the glass pane. NCDo you feel a responsibility for your work to deconstruct certain narratives? NWThe more I go on this journey I understand it’s about US, not one individual group or person, we all have value to add - some of us are great speakers, some of us work great behind the scenes. NCHow viewers make sense of art in conversation may relate to their experiences and perception of the world. How do you incorporate your own experiences, both past and present, into your work? NWFrom the beginning it’s a touch of everything, a lot is what I’m seeing, what my mind is questioning, or what I may have read. I mentioned before that all of these things are unique to me and to my story; I use my memories and past references to create experiences - they do say you have to look back to go forward. NCDuring the current socio-political climate, how have you been able to manifest inspiration and motivation? How has the g.a.p community developed this year? NWI have manifested inspiration and motivation by doing new things that allow my mind to race. One thing that has become my manifestations are TREES believe it or not. The relationship I have built with nature over the lockdown has been amazing; the messages I have received will be coming into life.
g.a.p has developed with new team members coming on board which is amazing; we now have our photographer Angela, Hair Stylist Rosie and our writers Nour and Mathushaa. I feel like a beetle pushing it’s load; it starts off small but gets bigger as the journey continues. But what’s nicer is I’m now pushing with support!! NCAlthough many creative hubs establish themselves within local communities, whilst excluding, displacing and disposing those who are marginalised, gIRLS aBOUT pECKHAM celebrates the original Peckham girls. In addition to placing emphasis on the lack of representation and opportunity within industry, g.a.p contributes cultural and creative expansions within the community, working against the destructive consequences of gentrification. What are the topics you feel most passionately about representing and discussing? NWCommunity building and culture both go hand in heart; your love for community and your culture is a part of you, everywhere you go in the world you will find community and culture, that feeling of belonging to a community. I recently found out that trees also form their own community. They assist each other to grow, get enough sunlight and room for their branches to grow - IMAGINE if we did that! NCUplifting stories of personhood, reclaiming narratives, using your voice to implement change and initiating positive discourses. As your work addresses larger social contexts, how do you balance between the eyes’ need to be visually stimulated, with expressing higher truths and evoking emotion in your viewers? NWI want to deliver “Substance over Hype”. People move to the beat of their own drum, and when something connects, it’s magical. As James Baldwin says, “The role of the artist is exactly the same as the role of the lover. If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don't see.”
Usually I get messages saying that what I am doing creates a true love for pECKHAM. People tell me what they are missing, especially if they are in another part of the world, that sense of belonging. I could say emotion comes into it but I prefer it to be an inner connect that they find in what I have shared. NCThe Internet can be beneficial in providing visibility and accessibility. However, in some ways it has also established greater challenges for creatives. How influential would you say the Internet is as a platform for g.a.p, or do you find local community engagement to be more beneficial? NWThe Internet allows me to be more visual across the world, but offline interaction is way better as you can’t beat that community spirit - the link up, engaging and sharing amongst each other. NCA commitment to fashion, art, social and cultural engagement and development has seen g.a.p flourish and communicate with wider audiences, and led to local and national projects and exhibitions. What have been some highlights for gIRLS aBOUT pECKHAM? NWBeing commissioned by the Tate to bring South East London so we represented for pECKHAM - it was the first dancehall feature ever done there. I celebrated Rye Lane and the melting pot of diversity that we have in pECKHAM.
Lecturing at universities such as CSM, UAL, NYU - something that I would be continuing, I can’t say much about it right now.
Soft launching ‘P’s’, our cultural initiative. We believe that behind every abbreviation and statistic exist real people, stories and raw talent. NCYou’ve just released the second issue of your zine, Peckham 3000. With editorial collaborations, print, radio, local and national community-directed projects, how do you see g.a.p developing this year and what are your hopes for the future? NWWe are launching our accredited fashion programme MAD ABOUT OUR GIRLS, please save the date 4:7:2021, and look out for what’s coming next from gIRLS aBOUT pECKHAM.
Hopes for the future are to be in the position to continue to create opportunities for communities no matter the location.
As a platform I am extremely proud of the direction we are walking in and most recently wrote an article for MCQ, soft released of ‘P’s’, our cultural initiative, we have already secured clients that we will be working with in the summer holiday. The zine is going from strength to strength, and I’m not saying that it’s the comments and emails that I have been receiving, some went as far as to review the zine and send me their thoughts, and that means a lot to me. Lastly I’m working on a programme for the underrepresented gIRLS of my community called ’MAOG’.