By carving out a uniquely "by queer/for queer" model, they've been able to create a profitable and sustainable ecosystem that did not exist at anywhere near this scale a decade ago.
"Drag is first and foremost a visual art, because when someone steps on stage, what they're wearing is the first impression," Willam tells Fashionista in a recent follow-up interview. "My drag is kinda like my armor. I put on enough sparkle and detail as I can to draw attention to myself. The look is sometimes the one thing you can control in regards to drag.
Then there's Dallas Coulter, a Rochester, NY native currently living in San Francisco, who started designing clothes over two decades ago when she "was a club kid in the '90s and there was nowhere to get fun clothes," she tells Fashionista. Now, she's one of the most sought out designers working among the high-profile queens, many of whom have followings in the hundreds of thousands on Instagram.
The designer adds that it's helped with her business for the obvious reason: visibility. But that's not what she's doing it for. "As great as it is to see my work on TV, it's way more important to me to make sure the queens are happy, deadlines are met and the girls feel and look great so they can put on the best show they can.
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