Fashion designer Aidan Euan makes everything shimmer. The 25-year-old Mexican designer’s signature crystal embellishments are a favorite of Colombian singer Kali Uchis, as well as Kim Kardashian West, and for good reason — he custom-makes every piece by hand, supergluing thousands of glittering Swarovski crystals onto dresses, chokers, tights, bikinis, and more.

Born in the Mexican city of Mérida, Yucatán, his childhood was spent in the nearby port town of Telchac, a beachy paradise where ancient Mayan temples stand tall. It was a setting that was not only beautiful, but one that would leave a lasting impression on his future in fashion design — his online store AKNA is named after the Mayan goddess of motherhood and birthing.

Euan now resides in Los Angeles. Having dropped out of high school, he began working a diverse string of jobs which eventually led to a corporate gig as a visual merchandiser — a path, he told The FADER over the phone from Los Angeles, that was short-lived: "I didn't want to use my talent towards them, I wanted to use my talent towards myself." With a lack of employment lighting a motivational fire under his ass, he refused to let any obstacle stand in his way and eventually started his own business.

It’s RuPaul’s Drag Race: Season 9 that Euan has to thank for helping grow his brand. His work is being favorably reviewed in challenges and on the runway, where his creations are modeled by Los Angeles drag queen and fan favorite, Valentina. It takes a big team to pull off her looks — a team made up of a community of friends. As Valentina explained to The FADER in a phone call, Euan is “one of the main ones” in her crew. “We live this little story where I'm his little daughter and he's my daddy, 'cause I don't have a drag mom, or anything like that," she said. Sharing a laundry list of cultural references that include ‘40s Mexican cinema star María Félix and ‘70s era Cher, the two collaborate artistically to revive a sense of glamour in the world.

In a wide-ranging interview with The FADER, Aidan Euan discussed his work, obsession with Swarovski crystals, and his intense desire to represent the Latinx community.