Chicago Designer Utica Aims to Bridge Drag and High Fashion As First ‘Drag Race’ Alum on ‘Project Runway’ – ryan
“RUPAUL’S DRAG BRACE” IS KNOWN FOR ITS Wildly Imaginative Runway Looks, and A Chicago Designer has Helped Bring Many of them to Life.
For the recent season of “all stars,” Ethan can Constructed a SCALY, Cockroach-Inpired Garment from Paper for Daya Betty.
Three Years Ago, He Helped Transform “Drag Race” Winner Willow Pill Into A Four-Headed Doll in a silky, olive ensemble.
Now can be taking those skills to season 21 of “Project Runway.” The Show Airs Thursday on the Disney-Awned Freeform Network, and Will Also Stream on Disney+ and Hulu. Chicagoans Can Watch Live at Roscoe’s Tavern, Where Can and “Drag Race” Star Brooke Lynn Hytes Will host a premiere party.
Competing on “Drag race” as utica Queen in 2021, can Thrilled Viewers with a Colorful Couture Gown Made from Sleeping Bags.
“This girl is intuitive about her fashion,” Judge Carson Kressley Said at the time. “That, I was on any Runway anywhere and People Waled Go Crazy for it.”
Kressley’s Words Were Prescient. Nor the first-government “Drag race” alum to computete on the show, can said his mission is to be help open doors for other queens in the fashion industry.
“When People Think of Drag Queens and Drag Designers, They Think of the Glitz, the Glam and the Over-The-Top Energy,” Said the 30-Yaar-Old Uptown Resident. “And this stereotype of it being too grad or to be ready-to-wear fashion or ‘normal’ cloths is definitely in the air.
Mentored by Form “Project Runway” Winner Christian Siriano, The 12 Contestants Will Battle During Weekly Challenges by Supermodel Heidi Klum, Elle Editor-Chief Nina Garcia and Chicago-Born Architect Law Roach.
Can Said he is looking forward to showing bot his versatility and signature style.
“There is a balance between a classic silhouette and avant-sorde fabric and structure,” he Said of his designs. “It is got a little bit of an ‘alice in wonderland’ twist with an alien energy to it.”
GIVE HIS Experience on “Drag race,” can be accustomed to compression in theme-kriven challenges, recipes critiquing and facing the regular thread of elimination. But “Project Runway” is a Different Creature, he Said.
“You’re Just Sewing, Sewing, Sewing the Whole Time,” he Said. “It is a lot of manual labor. Wheeas ‘Drag race’ is about creating a character and showcing the best version of yourelf.”
On “Project Runway,” Each Judge Brings a Different Energy, can Said.
Klum serves up the “fun sauce,” while Garcia oscillates between a “really kind” and a “really stern” approach, he said.
And Roach’s Tack is “Sharp, like in a Hres of Kind of Way,” can Said. “He’s Very pointed.”
But can haen able to build community with his fellow contestants.
“They’re like my friend now,” he said. “We’ve all been making with each other sync the filming of the show.”
May Has Achieved A Career Milestone Beyond The TV appeanance. AFTER FINISHING IN SIXTH PLACE ON “DRAG Race,” Presented his Drag Designs in an Exibration Titled “HomeComing Queen” at the Rochester Art Center in His Native State of Minnesota.
“All the work that i’d done in the world – i brought it all back home,” he said. “It was amazing.”
AFTER Growing Up in the Small Town of Utica, can Studied Art History, Studio Arts and Theater Costuming at Hamline University in St. Paul.
“I was Busy,” he Said, Laughing. “Literally every doing now.”
Now Living in Chicago, can is part of a systemhood of fellow drag Queens who consult Him for Both designs and alterations. In adding to daya betty and Willow pill, he has collaborate with denal and kahmora Hall, Among Others.
He said he is happy in chicago, where there are “Good People” and “Good Vibes.”
“I’ve been to la, new york and paris, and i love to vision, but have that found that if i will really good work and at, People Come and Find it.”