What once started off as simply fulfilling the female roles in theatre plays, has evolved and become a global phenomenon. During the 17th century, the Shakespearean era, allowed only men to participate in the production of plays. The men playing the female lead parts, would often complain about their gowns and dresses dragging behind them, which gave rise to the term ‘drag’. The progression of this common theatre practice to an award winning form of entertainment, has garnered quite some attention on both national and international level.
Every year in honour of pride month, many drag queens strut their stuff, showcasing their talents and finding a place in society without being judged. The world of fashion is a vast land, with multitudes of possibilities and concepts. ‘Drag’ encompasses this very idea. Men and women alike are able to express themselves using flashy silhouettes, costumes and makeup. It was introduced in the US under the genre of ‘Vaudeville’, a mix of dancing, music, comedy and burlesque. The Drag culture really took off in the early 2009 when RuPaul launched his famous drag race show bringing the culture to the mainstream platforms.
However, drag is not just about the pompous wigs, glittery outfits and impeccably loud makeup, it’s an art of self-expression. Drag culture is a trendsetter in the fashion and makeup industry. The contouring, heavy base makeup, over the top eye shadows and the over lining of the lip, all these techniques have stemmed from the drag culture. Drag has become a gender bending art form that can influence masses all across the globe. Luxury brands incorporate drag queens and kings for the promotion of their products. Features in advertising to walking on the runway, drag culture has integrated and embedded itself deep into the world of fashion, both draw inspirations from each other. The 2019 Met Gala theme ‘Camp-notes on fashion’ was heavily inspired by the drag culture.
Even in India, the drag wave has been welcomed with open arms, clubs like ‘Kitty Su’ offer a stage for both national and international artists to entertain the crowd by showcasing their talents. The drag culture is excessively dynamic and is inspirational for the fashion industry. Drag queens keep getting better at their profession, more artsy and show no sign of stopping. More power to these artists in the near future as well, or, as a true drag enthusiast would say “YASS QUEEN, SLAYYY”.
