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A self-taught drag costume designer from Spain is turning heads with his over-the-top creations, blending traditional Asian motifs and European flair into dazzling stage outfits. From flamenco dresses featuring Taiwanese Hakka prints to elaborate Venetian-inspired clown costumes, Iago Valín has taught himself everything from pattern-making to sewing. After coming to Taiwan as an exchange student 13 years ago, he found more than inspiration here. He found a place where he feels free, accepted, and proud to call home.

A groovy, glowing Christmas tree outfit, a ruffled flamenco dress dotted with Hakka print flowers, and an east-meet-west Venetian carnival jester costume. All of these drag looks shining on stage were created by Iago Valín, from Spain.

Iago Valín
Costume designer from Spain
If you look closely, you’ll see it’s all qipao brocades. So part of it comes from Asia, and part of it comes from Europe. I spent almost 200 hours on this one.

From design and pattern-making, to sewing it all together. Everything to the last stitch was crafted by Iago, who surprisingly is completely self-taught. By watching videos online, he learnt how to make outfits that only get more elaborate and grand.

Iago Valín
Costume designer from Spain
My mom does a lot of traditional crafts, so even since I was young I would see her making lace or dying fabrics. This shirt I also made myself. I used a bedsheet from when I was a kid. It’s full of my childhood memories.

Iago’s talent also extends to languages. He’s from Galicia, an autonomous community in northwest Spain that has a language of its own. In primary school, his family moved to the island of Jersey, a British Crown Dependency in the English Channel close to France. Besides speaking Galician, Spanish, English, French and Mandarin, he’s also studied German and even Ancient Greek and Latin. In university, he double majored in linguistics and Chinese, and fell in love with Taiwan after coming here on exchange.

Iago Valín
Costume designer from Spain
I first came to Taiwan because I was curious. I ended up loving it here. I feel like Taiwan is very free, and I feel really happy here. One part is because I’m gay, and Taiwan is a very accepting society. That was really important. Because when I’m out and about I don’t feel like I’m in danger or anything.

Having lived in Taiwan for 13 years now, Iago’s friends, partner and job are all here. The freedom and diversity of the island have made this his second home, and he’s here to stay.

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