Fashioning Drag

Drag cabaret meets performative runway by Melbourne unisex fashion label JUDE

Artisanal Melbourne-made fashion meets soulful drag performance, meets VIP shopping night for the premiere of an exclusive range of one of a kind and reworked clothing produced in the JUDE studio exclusively for the event, with a strong emphasis on zero waste and upcycling.

For one night only, designer Jude Ng reprises his 20 years seasoned drag character, Miss Moneesha, Peranakan queen of Chinese and Malay descent, accompanied by Davey Thompson, First Nations actor and writer, as they embark on a cross cultural journey where wearable art comes to life in a heady narrative of old-school drag, tuned to the songs of heartache by famed soul divas. Hosted by Mistress of Ceremonies, Victoria Haslam and accompanied by a layered and diverse cast of characters, the audience is transported into a decadent, speakeasy style salon.

Spreading the message that fashion should be a vehicle for social change by bringing the community together through inclusivity and creating a safe space for creative expression, JUDE breaks down the traditional gender roles of clothing the body, crossing culture, heritage and fashion history, to produce a unique performative runway experience.

About The Artist

Miss Moneesha is the drag alter ego of Melbourne fashion designer Jude Ng. Miss Moneesha is an eclectic character inspired by the designer’s upbringing: traditional straits Chinese culture meets 90s pop culture. She is inspired by Jude’s colourful upbringing in Singapore in a Peranakan household, where there was a strong sense of matriarchy and Jude was surrounded by powerful women, listening to their stories of overcoming hardship and adversity. Miss Moneesha is also inspired by the 90s soul divas which the designer would listen to and emulate as a kid, an ode to the strong women he admired.