Gillian Macdonald

Scottish fashion designer Gillian Macdonald had no idea she’d be creating stunning custom outfits for world-famous drag queens to wear on stage in Las Vegas or partnering with Irn-Bru to craft a look for Glasgow Pride when she accepted her Fashion Business degree from Glasgow Caledonian 10 years ago.

However, a decade after graduating University, she’s doing all that and more.

Now the creative director of her own brand, called Gillie Jean King, the 31-year-old creates bespoke stage-wear and made-to-measure garments for a range of clients from drag performers like Lawrence Chaney – the winner of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK season two – to brides, musicians and celebrities.

“Being a queer person myself, I think my clients feel they can trust me and trust this is a safe space. A lot of people who come in have never worn the kinds of things I am making that fit their body. Sometimes they stand in front of the mirror and they’re just so emotional,” she said.

“Having that relationship with someone where you’re making them feel a way they’ve never felt before and giving them that empowerment is so amazing - I love it and I’m so grateful for my clients, every day.”

Gillian founded the brand during a tough time in her life after losing her job during the pandemic. Since then, she’s built up her popular business and has designed bespoke fashion for clients all over the world.

“Very excitedly I’ve been working with Irn-Bru for a piece for Glasgow Pride – I reached out to them after finding this orange material with blue flecks that was like nothing I’d ever seen before,” she said.

“The look is quintessentially Scottish and the queen wearing it is Lady Rampant so you can’t get more Scottish – I can’t wait to share it with everybody.

“Some of my favourite looks I’ve made are the three pieces I made for Lawrence Chaney to take to their show in Las Vegas, they’re part of Ru Paul’s Drag Race Live.

“My wife and I actually went over to LA to see them because we thought we can’t miss this opportunity to see my costumes on the Vegas strip - I think they’ll always be markers in my career as standout pieces.”

The talented artist and designer, whose pieces explore themes of gender identity and sexual orientation with the aim of speaking out forcefully for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community, said her love of fashion began in early childhood.

“I remember in the millennium, the year 2000, when my mum was throwing a party, she lay me down on this sparkly silver fabric, cut around me and made me a dress and I just thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Gillian said.

“I would’ve been seven or eight years old and that will just stand out in my brain forever – everyone was like, oh you’re dress, you’re dress!

“I also think being really into Halloween has played into it as well, when I was young we didn’t really have much money and mum would get so creative and crafty when it came to Halloween. There was a costume competition at my school and we would always go for it and win just because we loved it so much – having the freedom to get creative and dress up like a bunch of grapes was so fun.”

While she’s always loved fashion, Gillian’s path to where she is now was by no means a linear one.

“This wasn’t what I intended to do when I started. I set out with a goal in mind of having a collection and maybe doing a few made-to-measure pieces but as it went along it snowballed and custom pieces are what everyone wanted,” she said.

“My clientele found me rather than me finding them which I think is so organic and nice and I love that it happened like that.

“I was thinking about it and there are so many clothes in this world that nobody ever buys, but if you’re making something for someone that they are going to want and need and wear until it falls apart, that’s pretty great.”

Looking forward, Gillian has plenty of hopes for her no-doubt bright, sequin-studded and glitter-covered future.

“I think a goal of mine is to have something on Ru Paul’s Drag Race, I’d love to see one of my pieces walk down the runway on the main stage or even appear on the show, that would be pretty special,” she said.

“I would also love to work with – their name is Whatsername on TikTok - they’re a cosplayer from Ayrshire. I’d love to make something for them because it would be an entirely new avenue, I respect them, they’re really Scottish and they make me laugh - recently they dressed up as Princess Peach, I’d love to make that!”

To see more Gillie Jean King designs, visit her Instagram page at Gillie Jean King (by Gillian Macdonald) 🌼 (@gilliejeanking) * Instagram photos and videos.