Ray Dragon - Fashion Design

Fashion Design

Dragon’s fashion label—founded in 1990 with only US$1,500 and a collection of sample fabrics—found an initial niche in the gay community. Designing sportswear that accentuated the male physique, his fashions were often considered homoerotic; he was later recognized as an industry leader for introducing stretch fabrics to men’s fashion.

Gaining popularity in a wider audience, Dragon’s line appeared in magazines such as Details, Vanity Fair, The New York Times Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Detour, Out, Ocean Drive, Rolling Stone, Spy, The Advocate, and several exercise and fitness magazines. His clients have included such notables as Tom Cruise, Gregory Hines, and Aaron Neville.

Dragon’s creations have appeared on Broadway in productions of Rent, Chicago, and Fosse. Among others, the Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham dance companies have used his clothes for costumes, as have the Royal Copenhagen Ballet and the Frankfurt Ballet. Dragon has also designed costumes for ice skating shows, and his costumes for an off-Broadway production won critical acclaim in The New York Times. His swimsuit collection has recently been relaunched at raymonddragon.com.

As a photographer, Dragon has published an 80-page collection of photographs of nude and partially nude men, Real Men. The book also contains the information that Dragon has been in a steady relationship with his partner, Tim Cass, since 1989.

In 2001, Ray sat for a revealing interview with freelance writer Rod Labbe. Entitled “Dangerous Man,” it can be found on Ray’s website at: http://www.RayDragon.com/editorial/interview.html.