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INTRO

Hey there, Friend! I’m James Divine, tailor, clothing designer and owner of the House of Raige. This fundraiser is to support the next step of my business.

I started my business in 2019. I have been fully self-funded. Investing little by little as I grow my brand. I manufacture my own products, create my own garments, draft all my own patterns and package all my orders at my studio in Buffalo, New York.

I want to take the next step in my business plans and with the help of my community I can do it faster than I could on my own.

My Initial goal is to raise 15k for my business to update my sewing machines, stock fabric and invest in a strong advertising plan.

My Stretch goal is to get to 25k where I will invest in a seasonal storefront during the pride and holiday seasons of 2026.

**My Initial campaign Goal is 15k, GoFundMe breaks this down into sections, so you will see the initial amount raised as $4,000**

Thank you for taking a look at what I have to say, I appreciate any and all donations and hope you leave here knowing more about me and my business.

FUNDRAISING GOALS

Asking for donations requires a level of humility

Providing donations requires a large amount of trust

Here is an outline of how I will utilize the funds I raise.

Initial Goal Total $15,000

1. Fabric and Sewing Notions $4,000

I buy fabric slowly overtime. This raises the price for me and my customers. With the finances I could order in bulk at a lower price and keep the fabric on hand so that my turnaround time for custom garments is reduced.

This offers me more flexibility when taking on new work and provides my customers with more options upfront

2. Marketing $4,000

Advertising may be the most nebulous of the spend, but it is the most vital. With stronger marketing tactics I can reach more folks across the country who resonate with my brand and work.

3. Sewing Machines $7,000

I want to create better work. Most of the machines I own are domestic. I will stock my studio with a few more industrial machines that will really elevate my work.

The machines that I plan to invest in are

My Stretch Goal Total $25,000

1. Seasonal Storefront $10,000

If we exceed my main campaign goal we will stretch for 25k

Seasonal Popup storefront (Pride and Holiday Season of 2026)

ABOUT HOUSE OF RAIGE

I created the House of Raige as an outlet to share my passions and skill. It is an alternative lifestyle brand where I create my own garments and accessories at my studio in Buffalo, New York.

Since I began I have been fully self-funded. I’ve dedicated my time, money and resources to all aspects of my brand. I have built my website, created sewing patterns, created my own graphics, and I manufacture my own products.

The house of Raige is named after my drag personality, Alice Raige. My brand fuses elements of the queer and punk rock communities to create a lifestyle that is bold, provocative, inspiring and strong.

Below is a small timeline of my work and business.

2018 I landed my first tailoring job at Riverside men’s shop. It was a great experience, and it taught me a lot. Within the same year I also worked briefly at Tom and Luigi's Tailoring, and as an independent tailor at Monroe’s Boutique.

2019 I completed the paperwork for my DBA. DBA stands for “Doing Business As” it is a way to start earning money under legal business name. I brought my tailoring business home and started my own Etsy shop, where launched a small line of jewelry, accessories and t-shirts.

My Etsy account has over 3,000 sales and a 4.7 star rating from 700 reviews! https://etsy.com/shop/houseofraige

From there I started working at craft fairs and festivals. These markets have increased my presence in the community. Helping me network with other creative people in the area and reach more people who resonate with my brand.

Side Note: I knew this was my calling from a young age. To create and craft. Sewing and designing have been by far my favorite medium. I’ve known for a while this was what I wanted to do with my life, but it didn’t seem possible.

Buffalo New York is not necessarily known for its creative opportunities. And coming from a family of people who worked 40 hours a week in offices, factories, medicine, and manual labor - an artistic life didn’t seem feasible because I had never seen it.

But with the success of my Etsy and local events. I decided to commit and go all in on my business. I emptied my savings and invested everything I had into this business.

I am so grateful that I did because this has been the most rewarding thing I’ve done with my life. I feel powerful. I feel like I have purpose, and I want to continue building this brand.

2021 I transformed the business into an LLC. A limited liability company in the state of New York. I paid for business insurance and started my website, https://houseofraige.com

I continued working as an independent tailor and drag show host to fund my main objective – which was to create more one of a kind garments, work in fashion shows and start offering custom commissions.

2022-2024 I laid low for a while. I began drafting sewing patterns, continued building my website, started video editing and learning all I could about running a business. I took a step back from my life as a Drag queen and show host to focus completely on my work. I also got a weekend job cleaning offices to support my business goals.

2024-2025 was a huge breakthrough. I spent all of my time designing and creating. I showcased my first collection at Buffalo Fashion Week and my next at Rochester Fashion Week.

Entertainers throughout the city requested custom commissions and I had an extremely busy pride season working at dozens of pride events and festivals.

Present Day. I want to continue creating one of a kind garments. Continue showcasing collections in local fashion shows. All while creating and stocking the products people know and love from the House of Raige.

I want to take on more commissions. It has been an honor to dress local talent, and I would love to take that national and dress entertainers in music and stage.

Over the last five years I’ve spent well over 20k growing my business. It would be an honor to have the community join me in the next step of my business.

ABOUT ME

As a kid I was definitely shyer and more introspective. I loved to read, craft and create. Some of my fondest memories are drawing, painting, cutting paper doll dresses and modeling clay.

When I was twelve my grandma Bonnie bought me my first sewing machine, then my grandma Mary took me to buy fabric. These two women saw how much I loved to create and set into motion my biggest ambition.

As I grew up though I felt like I didn’t fit in. There was this deep unsettling feeling that I was meant to hide who I was. This stemmed from being gay and very… very weird.

In school I had good grades but the older I got, the more they slipped. I couldn’t focus. This shame was so heavy. Eventually I came out. It was freeing but created new challenges. Constantly a target at school, bullied, I started acting out. I struggled with mental health and got into therapy to help with my struggles. Unfortunately, over time I stopped going.

I started doing drugs and dropped out. Moved out young and had a very difficult time finding stability and support. I am grateful for the friends I had during this time. I found a good group of people; I got sober for a while and got my GED.

But there was a falling out with those that I lived with. I moved out and bounced around from living with friends and strangers for several years. Slowly I started drinking again and lost my sense of self and direction.

In 2016 I met my partner Alan who has since been the most stable thing in my life and from that point I knew I needed to get clean and find a way out of this darkness I was in. It took a couple years, but I got sober in 2018. And made some great progress with the help of my best friend Frankie - with whom he and his family gave me a place to stay as I got back on my feet.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in that dark place. I’m proud to say that I am 7 years sober, and I have a beautiful apartment and studio in downtown Buffalo. I could attribute my business to saving my life. I could also say it was for my partner Alan. But it was for myself too, I wanted to live and devote my time to creating.

Now I spend my time almost exclusively on my work. But when I’m not sewing, I like to skate. I love board games, my friends, the outdoors and spending as much time as I can with Alan.

I come from humble beginnings. And every step of my business has been slow. It gave me the time to figure things out while I reinvested little by little. I have never taken out a loan. I have never owned a credit card. And aside from borrowing money from a couple of very supportive friends - to which was ALWAYS paid back- I’ve done this solely on my own. With my partner Alan supporting me along the way.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Why have I shared so much of my personal life? Maybe an attempt to get donations, but maybe I just want to tell my story. If I’m going to raise the amount of money I need to propel my business forward, I want to put all my cards on the table.

To ask for money requires a large amount of humility.

To give donations requires a great amount of trust.

I hope that I’ve earned your trust. For those that have the means of donating. Thank you. Any amount is greatly appreciated. And if you don’t, that’s okay. I hope that you got to know more about me and my work.

Perhaps you could take a moment to share my campaign?

Thank you Endlessly, Cheers!