Evergreen Style: Rossario George at Queer NW’s PRIMAVERA
Model sporting a fit with quotes about fashion
Courtesy of Tony Vicente
In fashion, Pride Month is too often approached as a marketing strategy rather than a real commitment to LGBTQIA+ communities. As companies continue to face scrutiny over rainbow-themed campaigns that disappear once June ends—or are scaled back amid political pressure—the conversation around performative allyship has only grown louder. The tension raises the question of what Pride Month invites us to remember.
Pride Month itself traces back to the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, a key moment in history that galvanized the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement. More than five decades later, the month remains both a celebration of joy and a call to defend rights that are still contested worldwide— including Seattle, a city whose vibrant LGBTQIA+ community continues to influence the cultural landscape.
On June 17, Queer NW offered an example of what that commitment can look like through PRIMAVERA, an evening of food, fashion, and feel-good music that centered Queer chefs, designers, and musicians. Stepping into the space and seeing models rehearsing their runway walks, photographers settling into position, and impeccably dressed attendees connecting over hors d’oeuvres and drinks, it was clear that this was more than a fashion show. It was about conveying art as an embodied, relational experience rooted in community.
Before the show, I sat down with one of the featured designers, Tony Vicente, to hear his perspective. Eight years after founding the award-winning luxury label Rossario George, Tony was preparing to debut a new haute couture collection, La Maison de Rossario George. His work has earned recognition for designs that blend timeless elegance with bold storytelling while celebrating individuality through artistry. Our conversation explored the role fashion plays in fostering self-expression, visibility, and community during Pride Month, and why those values hold true long after June.
JeLisa (J): In celebrating Pride Month alongside chefs, designers, and musicians at this event, what do you hope to convey about the relationship between fashion and sustainability?
Tony (T): I think being human is a part of being prideful, and of course, being human also goes hand in hand to being sustainable. We have a relationship and responsibility to this planet, and I feel like human beings, no matter what gender [or] whatever they may love, we all have that same responsibility. For me, Rosario George has always been all about sustainability. I always wanted to make sure any brand that represents me or what I represent is going to really benefit the world. I vet everyone. The manufacturers have to meet a certain standard. They have to have a sustainability certification, and we never test on animals. In fact, we made it a point to create cruelty-free products and to get [our clothes] certified through the Leaping Bunny. We do not order or make tons of clothes in one shot. I use the whole bespoke model for ready-to-wear and couture is saved on all the fabrics that we waste, and at the same time, people get to enjoy it, and it's a better quality for sustainability.
J: Regarding the pieces [you] are debuting on the runway, is there a conversation that you’re going to be having with the attendees, so that they understand what’s happening behind the scenes when you’re designing?
T: You know, I think people are very familiar with the Rossario story now. So, for me, when I hit the runway, I want models to just enjoy themselves. Life is fun, and I like that to be represented. I just really want the models to feel empowered, and also know that they should be feeling very confident and comfortable. Knowing that they are wearing clothing that would never [be] wasted. These are high-quality fabrics. They’re wearing makeup that is cruelty-free. There’s a pride in all that. I’m really looking forward to seeing them, the pride, and the audience.
J: So, letting the work speak for itself, basically?
T: Yes, absolutely.
J: With that said, since this is hosted by Queer NW, what opportunities do you think events like PRIMAVERA create for advancing LGBTQIA+ rights while also centering sustainable practices within the fashion industry?
T: I think how it connects is that… Hey, I’m happily gay. I’ve been with my partner for over 25 years, and we both share the same kind of love for the world and our environment. Outside of this, I am just such a homebody. I like to plant and garden. I like to give back to Mother Earth. So, I think the way that we connected is to kind of humanize what being gay really is. We’re all one people. We’re on the same planet. We breathe the same air. I hope that we represent some things that people don’t think about, you know? They get to see what being gay or lesbian is on TV, but to meet each other, talk to each other, just see that we’re not as different as you think, and if we connect like that, then we can all come together and do what’s right for Mother Earth. There is that continuous connection that can potentially be made, and it starts right now.
J: Yeah, they’re not separate identities. It is intrinsic to who you are.
T: Inclusivity is a beautiful thing. I think if we have a moment to just talk to each other, we’ll find out there [aren’t] as many differences as you think they are. You know? We’re not caricatures that you would see on a TV show. We’re human. We’re regular people.
J: I mean, with a massive talent—not everyone can say that they’re designing like you’re designing.
T: [Laughs]
J: How have the values upon which Pride Month was founded, such as belonging and justice, influenced the way that you think about designing your fashion?
T: Well, everything Rossario George is for everyone. You know, I don’t design clothes for ‘men and women.’ I design clothes for humans. So, that is my gift to Pride Month, which should be Pride Year, and it is for me. I just want to be the best representation I can for not only me, but for my team. I mean, they’re my family. They’re my friends. I always want to make sure that they feel proud—and that’s, to me, what Pride is about. It’s just being proud of who you are every day, 24/7/365 a year.
J: Okay, so building on that, there are a lot of companies that take this month and kind of make it a performance. Right? There’s been a lot of pushback lately from shoppers who can call that out very easily. So, what makes your approach different? What makes you stand out compared to another company that may be doing something more performative?
T: Mine is genuine from the beginning. I’m not trying to promote anything. I’m not selling anything that I wouldn’t sell any other day. Rossario George is welcome to everybody. It’s always going to be that way. In the eight years that we have been in business, I think that’s one of the reasons why we’ve grown the way that we have. Because we relate, we tell the story of evolution, we tell the story of being responsible, and just enjoying life and fashion. We don’t have to promote it, we live it.
J: Understanding that fashion is so impactful and is used as a self-expression tool for everyone—especially for the LGBTQIA+ community—why is it important to create space for authenticity while also encouraging accountability and mindfulness within the fashion industry? How do you balance those two things?
T: You know, the fashion industry has had a bad mark on it for years. Now that I’ve been in it, I believe that we have a responsibility to change. You know? So, what we do is very different from a lot of people, and I’m proud of that. I’m proud that we are inclusive. Inclusivity is a part of our mission statement. It’s a part of our ingrained soul. Being responsible is a part of our responsibility. I don’t think fashion [as a whole] is there yet, because there’s a lot of animosity. There are a lot of things that make the fashion industry potentially negative, but not here. I won’t allow that. Fashion should be fun, and anything Rosario George faces, that’s what I’m bringing to the table.
Model walking the runway at PRIMAVERA
Selena Amor for The Evergreen Echo
J: What inspired you to start with that perspective?
T: I grew up in New York. My mom really instilled in me to just do [my] best and just enjoy life, and that’s always something that I take with me, and I try to present to everyone. You know? We’re living right now in some really challenging times. To stay positive makes it easier, and also brings a better energy to you and your circle. People get to see that, and I’m so happy that people are seeing that in the brand.
We’re more than just beauty. We’re more than just fashion. We’re a lifestyle brand. Our goal is to make life as beautiful as possible for everybody, whether it be our pricing [or] how we do things. How we promote ourselves is for everyone, and that’s what fashion should be like, and that’s what Rossario George fashion is always doing.
J: In reading about this event, I learned that it’s inviting the community to engage with fashion and flavor through unforgettable moments. How do you envision the community and everyone who shows up tonight carrying this energy forward?
T: I think tonight will give them a reason to just sit back and go: You know what, people are great. Music is fantastic. Food is delicious. Fashion is fantastic, fabulous. And as I leave this door, I had a great moment, and I’m going to remember that moment. They'll wake up the next morning feeling good, because they had a great time with great people. I mean, there’s probably a whole bunch of people that are gonna be making connections tonight, and that’s what tonight is about. It’s about showing each other who we are, being proud of who we are unapologetically, and enjoying it. So, people are gonna leave this door knowing the fashion was on point, music was on point, food was on point.
With the show almost ready to begin, Tony expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share his story. Despite his international reach, the message of using fashion to bring people together, I found, is alive and well right here in Seattle.
Our conversation highlighted the essence of Pride Month, inviting us to remember that its impact lies not in a single event but in the organizations and the people who live the values every day. PRIMAVERA offered a celebratory pathway. What began as a commemoration and continuation of resistance has evolved into a recognition of community, creativity, and identity that honors past leaders, amplifies current LGBTQIA+ voices, and inspires meaningful action.
Visit Queer NW to learn more about their ongoing work.
