We love supporting emerging designers and fashion industry creatives. One of the people we have come to love is Nathan Van, a “genderfluid creative, queer influencer and founder of Naarm not-for-profit organisation Queer Connect”. Nathan is a model, stylist, creative director, event choreographer and fashion designer.
“Primarily as a model I’ve done both editorial and runway, modelling for hair and makeup campaigns, brand shoots, music videos and magazines as well as walked for PMFF, RMIT, EMC and of course Revival Runway among others.
“I excel behind the lens too. As a major people-person I take to roles like choreography and directing super easy, helping coordinate large editorials, music videos and of course now runway!
“Some of my favourite projects to direct however are shoots for garments and wearables I’ve made myself; pieces affectionately known by names such as my ‘Denim Biker look’, ‘Big Hat Look’ or ‘Moon Child Mask’ – the latter was shot and used in Polish art magazine Art Monitor – are from start to finish the most rewarding.
“Creating the garments or pieces from scratch, debuting them at events and then taking them to studios or spaces and modelling them myself in editorial style shoots is where I thrive.”
THE IMPORTANCE OF FASHION, ART AND PERFORMANCE
For Nathan, fashion, art and performance are “super important” particularly “through the lens of expression”.
“I think something I’m most well known for is my own sense of maximalist style and I find I get the most personal enjoyment in fashion when given the opportunity to dive into my wardrobe and explore myself and my gender in clothing! It can be more than a fun hobby or this fierce well styled end result though, but something deeply integral to my everyday.
“As a genderfluid individual I can often wake up dysphoric about my gender and styling outfits that affirm me when I’m feeling more femme/masc etc can make an astronomic difference to my day.
“I think art and performance are extensions of that in other mediums too and as a queer person the avenue that creative disciplinaries give me to be political and advocate for my community is another thing that’s super important to me.”
FRIEND OF REVIVAL RUNWAY
Nathan became involved with Revival Runway in 2023 when they reached out to us to walk one of our shows: “My close friend was designing for [the show] Little did we all know then the way in which I would click with the entire revival family, and the talents they were able to help me develop. Within less than a year I was able to flip around to support them,” Nathan says.
“Becoming Revival Runway’s model coach and auditioning the new up and coming talent has been such a full circle experience and example of my growth.
“The community of models, designers, stylists, MUAs and photographers I’ve had the privilege of both giving opportunities to but also meeting and working with through Revival Runway has been life changing, even on a personal level, confidently knowing I’ve made connections for life through this family.”
THE QUEER CONNECT COMMUNITY
According to Nathan, Queer Connect was launched in December, 2023. The organisation’s mission is to “uplift and connect Queer Artists across the Naarm Creative Scene by providing an inclusive platform for a diverse group of people – diverse in their identities, their experiences and their craft”.
“The idea as a grassroots concept came to me at age 18 having just left school in the south east and longing for community myself, however having no idea where to find it or if it even existed in Naarm,” says Nathan.
“Today the idea has elevated as I grew into the fashion scene to connect and promote queer talents across the arts as a means of unifying the Naarm queer community. Our vision however extends beyond just showcasing talent and aims to connect with the younger queer audience.
“We want to ensure they understand that there is a vibrant and proud queer talent pool right in their backyard, bringing a full circle close to how the idea of QC started and ensuring no LGBTQ+ youth like myself feel alone or disconnected from the community.”
After launching Queer Connect, Nathan and his co-founder Darren Halsted began curating ideas about producing queer events that could “highlight, elevate and showcase queer talent”.
“My partner with QC, Darren [pictured below left], who came onto the project in September of 2023 has a lot of experience in club and music events and so we started there – however with both of us wanting to create space for queer events outside of club walls we turned to my experience to combine queer community and the fashion scene!
“From there reaching out to Revival Runway was a no brainer for me, Sofie and Niki were already like family to me, so I approached them with the idea, either for advice on how we could best do it ourselves, or the later and more exciting option, ‘what if we did it together!’.”
SUPPORTING QUEER CREATORS
“Supporting queer creatives is so important to me but how to put it succinctly is difficult,” explains Nathan. “Obviously as one myself the patterns of how LGBTQ+ artists are treated in Naarm becomes very apparent over the years working in fashion.”
“It’s often our talents are seen only through a diversity hire lens or tick of inclusion, and before that is even taken into consideration we are often taken at face value and judged on the marketability of our queerness, in other words does it subscribe to heteronormative systems or not.
“It’s tough to see, especially when a lot of LGBTQ+ people end up in creative fields in order to not sacrifice their creative freedom and expression in a corporate world dominated by patriarchal cishet white men, where other gender, race and queer identities aren’t respected equally.
“For me, ensuring that creative spaces like the fashion scene are not only safe for queer artists but are avenues where creators can make a living and thrive is so important for the health and safety of the wider community, especially since most queer artists may have no other alternatives.”
You can follow Nathan at @nathan.vannn and Queer Connect at @queerconnectnaarm. For more information about Queer Connect, go to www.queerconnect.com.au
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