Yvie on TV!

&

67971948_790958271299458_492804857210182

Owner and co-founder Lou is a massive drag fan. His journey started during the very first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, rooting hard for local Denver legend Nina Flowers during her meteoric rise on the show. At the time, Lou was working in the fashion industry alongside a local celebrity designer. He became a regular at a monthly drag show hosted by Nina, immersing himself in the incredible local talent and meeting some of the franchise's earliest "RuGirls."

Over the years, Lou has remained a dedicated supporter of local drag performers and emerging talent. Strap Up proudly sponsored "Weirdo"—an amazing drag competition hosted by Gladys: The Nosey Neighbor—for two years, providing custom gear prizes to local performers. It quickly became one of the most successful drag competitions in Denver, and Lou loved spending his nights there connecting with the vibrant queer artist community.

Meeting Yvie & Creating Runway Magic

Yvie and Lou’s friendship began around 2016 in the outdoor smoking area at Tracks Nightclub. Yvie was always an unforgettable presence, from her striking stature to her unmistakable laugh. In 2018, Yvie approached Lou to design a harness for a top-secret project. Lou had a strong hunch about what it was for, but he was sworn to secrecy. From there, Stephen and Lou began crafting what would arguably become one of the most talked-about runway looks in RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11 history.

At the time, Lou and Stephen were operating out of Stephen’s garage. They brought Yvie in for a custom fitting and managed to build the entire full-body harness in a single day so she could take it home to finish the rest of the outfit. Once completed, the piece was beautifully embellished by Yvie’s former creative partner, the talented Morgan Taylor. Lou spent countless days collaborating with The Odd Squad™, helping their friend prepare a package that would showcase her unique perspective on drag to the entire world. Look out world, Yvie was coming—beep beep, toot toot!

The 8-Week Wait & National TV

Lou waited patiently for Yvie's return from filming. After a long eight weeks, Stephen and Lou invited her out to dinner at their favorite Mediterranean restaurant, eager to know if the harness had made it to the main stage. When Yvie confirmed it did, they could barely contain their excitement.

Their work was going to be seen on national television in front of RuPaul—a reality that felt completely surreal. Thrilled and inspired, Lou approached Yvie after their meeting and pledged all of his free time to assist with any projects leading up to and following the premiere.

Lou joined a brilliant team of queer creators to help bring Yvie’s post-show press week looks to life. He helped stone accessories for the Meet the Queens YouTube video, assisted with the "wood elf" press look, and joined Yvie on fabric runs (where Lou noticed that the distressed fabric they selected was actually shaped like trees). From stone-work on the finale shoes to everyday styling prep, working alongside so many talented queer artists was an incredibly inspiring experience.

Watching the T-Rex Stomp the Runway

Lou watched his friend rise to the top during her first four weeks on the show. Then, in Week 5, the big moment arrived.

On March 28, 2019, Stephen and Lou gathered with fans at Tracks Nightclub to watch Yvie take the Drag Race main stage in their full-body harness for her iconic, sexy T-Rex runway look. She completely blew away the judges, including guest panelists Cara Delevingne and Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. As the season progressed, Lou and the rest of the Odd Squad continued to cheer loudly as their friend made her undeniable mark on television history.

The Finale & Looking Back

The Odd Squad was ultimately invited to Los Angeles to assist Yvie backstage at the Grand Finale taping. Lou jumped at the opportunity. The experience was unforgettable—backstage energy was electric, they got to hang out with the entire Season 11 cast, and Lou even got to meet Aquaria and Monét X Change!

The day before the finale, Lou was asked to help execute a last-minute idea Yvie had for her lip-sync performance. He spent the entire day stoning the words "FREE BRITNEY" onto a pair of green reveal shorts that would flash on screen for just a split second. He even missed a date because of it, but it was all worth it!

Looking back, the entire experience feels like a beautiful dream. Lou is incredibly grateful to know and collaborate with such phenomenal artists. While the pandemic made him deeply miss those close-knit creative circles, the memories of that era will remain a definitive highlight for both Lou and the Strap Up Custom Gear family for years to come.