Sep 15
A Decade of Defiance: dapperQ Celebrates 10 Years of Queer Fashion at the Brooklyn Museum
READ TIME: 4 MIN.
Brooklyn Museum’s Beaux-Arts Court pulsed with energy as dapperQ, the acclaimed queer style platform, hosted its 10th annual Queer New York Fashion Week show—an event now recognized as one of the world’s largest LGBTQIA+ fashion presentations. This year’s show, staged in collaboration with Brooklyn Pride, Inc., was more than a celebration of style; it was a vibrant assertion of queer resilience and identity in a climate where LGBTQ+ creativity faces escalating censorship in cultural institutions nationwide .
For ten years, dapperQ’s runway has amplified designers and models from across the queer spectrum—particularly those who are trans, non-binary, and queer. The 2025 lineup featured collections from ALEGRÍA, BoiPKG, DYKEMINT, Zoe Grinfeld, Hesta, Soid Studios New York by José González, and Transguy Supply, each offering a unique take on queer identity through fabric, silhouette, and movement. From bold streetwear to avant-garde couture, the designs on display challenged mainstream norms and centered narratives often relegated to the margins of fashion .
Executive Producer Anita Dolce Vita underscored the urgency of this year’s event, stating, “As queer visibility faces unprecedented attacks—including the soft censorship of exhibitions being postponed or toned down—it is essential that we reclaim our narrative on the runway. Our 10th Annual Show is not just fashion; it’s defiance, celebration, and survival. We are proud to have Brooklyn Museum continue to stand for inclusive values and provide a platform for incredibly talented designers to showcase on a worldclass runway” .
The evening began with a lively “Sip and Shop” hosted by Henrietta Hudson—New York’s longest-standing brick-and-mortar lesbian bar—where attendees browsed pop-up booths from queer designers and local businesses . As the runway show commenced, models of all genders and body types strutted in front of a cheering crowd, embodying the theme of unapologetic queer joy. The event’s musical backdrop was curated by DJ M.O., whose infectious beats kept spirits high into the afterparty.
More than just a fashion show, dapperQ’s anniversary felt like a reunion for the broader queer community—a space where attendees could see themselves reflected in every aspect of the program. The atmosphere was electric, echoing the resilience, creativity, and diversity of queer life in New York and beyond .
This year’s show arrived as museums and galleries across the U.S. face mounting pressure to alter or cancel queer-themed exhibitions. Event organizers and artists cited recent coverage by NBC Out and others that highlighted a “chilling environment for queer artistry,” with exhibitions increasingly subject to postponement or censorship . dapperQ’s 10th anniversary event directly confronted this trend, transforming the runway itself into an act of protest and affirming that queer fashion cannot and will not be erased.
