Drag performer’s new hosiery line aims to make artists feel ‘seen and celebrated’ at last

Just over a year ago, Honey Davenport, drag performer, recording artist, and contestant on Season 11 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” was on a hike in Palm Springs with a new friend. As they walked, Davenport mentioned that their feet were hurting.

“But it wasn’t from the hike we were on, it wasn’t from my shoes the night before, it was specifically from the amount of pairs of pantyhose that I had on the night before and the compression on my toes,” said Davenport.

They explained that drag performers typically wear five pairs of pantyhose during performances for coverage and durability. That extreme compression causes a condition known in the drag community as “Barbie Toe,” where feet remain stuck in a pointed position after being removed from heels.

Adding to the discomfort, most tights are designed for ballet dancers with square-toed shoes, while drag performers wear pointy-toed shoes. That mismatch leads to excess fabric bunching in the corners of heels, causing rubbing and irritation.

“And then they don’t even come in their size and colors,” said Davenport, expressing disbelief that no one had created hosiery tailored for drag performers despite the industry’s explosive growth. “With ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ franchising out all throughout the world, there’s thousands of new queens born every day, and there’s a very essential product to them performing that nobody has taken the time to cater a version of it towards them.”

Their friend looked at them and said, “That’s a business.”

Following their rise in popularity after “Drag Race,” Davenport had tried various product launches—lipsticks, perfumes, and other brand expansions—but nothing stuck. This time felt different. From lived experience and conversations with fellow performers, Davenport knew this was a product that could make a meaningful difference in everyday life. And with that, Honey’s Hose was born.

In addition to inclusive sizing, the line will offer a wide range of skin tone shades. Davenport noted that while there’s now a brand with a color close to their own, that hasn’t always been the case.

“Beforehand, I used to have to dye my own tights. I would get the darkest color suntan I could find because they didn’t make them dark enough,” said Davenport. “And I would dye them with teas and coffees to match my skin tone. And so for years, over a decade, that was how I operated. And so I never thought that was fair.”

Launching soon, Honey’s Hose will begin with six shades, with a goal of expanding to 13. The hosiery is designed to be thicker, so performers can wear fewer pairs, reducing compression and increasing comfort. They’re also made to last longer and resist tearing. The gusset — typically a darker patch in the center of tights that becomes visible during splits and jumps — has been redesigned to match the rest of the garment, maintaining durability without compromising appearance.

The brand’s slogan invites people to “join the revolution,” and for Davenport, that revolution runs deeper than comfort.

“In a world where we’re seeing drag under attack, in a world where we’re seeing diversity and inclusion consistently be challenged, I think that the revolution is people who say, ‘No, I’m going to create more of this.’ I’m looking for my small part in that,” said Davenport.

“My part might be as simple as creating hosiery, but I think in our world right now, while our rights and freedoms are under attack, while our differences are under attack, that we should be focusing on celebrating our differences…as people in our political climate try to tear away our existence, we should be creating more life, more existence. That’s the only way to fight those things, because you can’t fight fire with fire.”

To further that mission, Davenport plans to launch a side program after one year of sales. Called Honey’s Heaux, the initiative will sponsor about 10 local performers, providing funds for hosiery and access to drag-related services—such as hair, costumes, shoes and jewelry — through a growing drag directory.

Davenport’s life’s work as an activist, actor, singer and performer has shaped their entrepreneurial spirit. They’ve been writing poetry about social justice since age 10 and have long used drag to protest and represent marginalized communities, including people of color and women. While much of their work has centered on empowering others through expression, Honey’s Hose offers a tangible way to do that — by giving people a product that helps them feel seen and celebrated.

What does Davenport hope someone feels when they put them on?

“That finally, somebody has made a product for them. I wanted to feel like this product was made specifically for you. Because for so long, I’ve experienced so many products that weren’t made for me, and I don’t want anybody to feel that way,” said Davenport. “Honey’s Hose really highlights that there are multiple shades, multiple sizes, of people, and that they all deserve to be empowered, but they all deserve space on this little rock that we call home.”

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