For the EveryQueer team, attending the DapperQ fashion show has become something of an annual tradition. Each year, we look forward to picking our outfits, catching up on the latest style trends, and stepping into a space that radiates queer creativity and community. This year marked the 10th anniversary of DapperQ’s Queer New York Fashion Week show at the Brooklyn Museum, and not even a wicked allergic reaction to new contacts could have kept me away.
A Milestone Celebration
On September 11, 2025, DapperQ proudly staged its 10th annual showcase in partnership with the Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Pride, Inc. The milestone event celebrated a decade of bold creativity, radical visibility, and unapologetic queer joy—all staged in direct resistance to the rising tide of censorship facing LGBTQ+ art in cultural institutions across the United States.
As one of the largest LGBTQIA+ fashion shows in the world, DapperQ Presents Ten was nothing short of spectacular. The runway featured new collections from seven designers—ALEGRÍA, BoiPKG, DYKEMINT, Zoe Grinfeld, Hesta, Soid Studios New York by José González, and Transguy Supply. Each designer brought their own perspective, translating identity and community into fabric, structure, and movement. From bold streetwear to avant-garde couture, the runway pulsed with originality and representation.
More Than a Fashion Show
What makes DapperQ special is not just the fashion, it’s the atmosphere the team creates. Walking into the Brooklyn Museum that night, the energy was electric. Queer joy was everywhere: from the booths showcasing local designers and queer-owned businesses, to the crowd cheering for models who reflected the diversity of our community, to the beats of DJ Mo, who kept the energy high all night long. Whenever Mo is spinning, you know it’s going to be a good time.
It’s this mix of art, music, and community that makes the show so empowering. DapperQ doesn’t just present clothing on a runway; it uplifts voices across the LGBTQ spectrum, particularly queer designers of color whose work often gets overlooked by mainstream fashion. The room DapperQ brings together is powerful, spanning so many parts of the queer community in one space.
A Personal Tradition
For me and the EveryQueer team, DapperQ has become more than an event—it’s a ritual. Over the years, we’ve collected photos of our outfits and the moments we’ve shared at the show. Looking back, those snapshots tell a story of growth: in our personal styles, in queer representation on the runway, and in the visibility of our community as a whole.
Even this year, with my eye watering from a contact lens mishap, I felt the joy of being in that room surrounded by creativity and resilience. It reminded me that queer fashion is never just about clothes—it’s about declaring our existence, celebrating our community, and pushing back against erasure.
Vision & Impact
For the past decade, DapperQ has stood as a beacon of queer empowerment, amplifying voices that fashion’s mainstream often ignores. In 2025, that amplification feels more urgent than ever. The 10th anniversary show wasn’t just about showcasing couture—it was a bold act of defiance against censorship and a declaration that queer art and queer fashion cannot and will not be erased.
As we look ahead, DapperQ’s work continues to inspire. It reminds us that queer fashion is political, celebratory, and deeply rooted in community. And it leaves us eagerly awaiting year eleven.
