Lou Schoof

Jo Rosenthal: Talk to us a little bit about what you do and how you got into modeling
Lou Schoof: I started modeling without initial expectations, enjoyed it, and then eventually ended up doing it for longer than I would have thought. It is a continuous source of inspiration and a foundation to explore myself and life quite independently and freely. I got into doing what I do by understanding more about movement and expression and learning more about photography.

JR: What are some hobbies or passions outside of that?
LS: I love intaking the world from different perspectives. Playing with different angles, paces, or filters influences my perception and gives me a new understanding. My impression and expression fluctuate much and they keep long-term interests alive. I read, I walk, I take pictures, I pause, I paint, listen and talk, I move my brain and body.

JR: When you’re not modeling, what’s a typical day like for you?
LS: My days vary, but for years I maintain a basic daily routine that I find a supportive base for any other activity. It includes spending time outdoors, cooking fresh food, exercising, and reading.

JR: Who are some brands or designers (can be friends or people you know personally) who inspire you?
LS: Great designers and brands carry a new perspective on things. They make us dare to see, dream, or wake up, go further as a society. I am strongly inspired by people that understand a message before others and manifest their understanding in their medium. That includes all different kinds of communicative forms, also the one speaking through fashion design.

JR: What’s a brand you’ve always wanted to work with and why?
LS: I am interested in work environments that are aligned with one’s moral beliefs. Brands that I admire now understand the overall impact and potential that fashion has and that aim for social and environmental justice.

JR: What’s the most exciting story you have from your travels around the world?
LS: I decided to spend most of the time during the pandemic in Germany. The biggest excitement came up when returning to NYC – probably the most interesting city to me where I feel most connected to what I do. Had the city changed or had I? What fragments had remained the same, or had I?

JR: What is something you’ve always wanted people to know about you?
LS: Often I hesitate to put my answers into words.

JR: How do you think the industry has changed since the pandemic?
LS: It has accelerated and become more digital. The industry has become increasingly aware of issues such as inclusivity and sustainability and changes in production and communication. A real and stable change requires commitment for establishing long-term practices towards fair practices and I am hoping to see these in the future. The main structures within the fashion industry though have remained – also about how much and big of a change we expected to happen through the pandemic.

JR: What are some changes you’d like to see in the industry?
LS: Within industries in general, but especially within the fashion industry that is so communicative and working with images, dreams, and faces, I’d like to see true responsibility and transparency that are a key to a fair coexistence. Dressing people beautifully is great – but contributing to a world of beautiful action is much greater. Fashion can give impulses and ideas towards a different tomorrow and have a cultural impact. That’s what I find interesting about it.

JR: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to be you or do what you do?
LS: I have clear advice against taking too much advice before listening to oneself. The answer mostly lies within ourselves. Apart from that, I find curiosity and enthusiasm for the process much more promising rather than a focus on the outcome.