A new merchandise collection celebrating the life and legacy of drag icon The Vivienne has launched to help raise funds for a permanent statue in Liverpool's Pride Quarter.
The range, created in support of the Bring The Vivienne Home campaign, features original artwork by illustrator Jaimee Andrews and has been produced by You Betta Merch, the late star's official merchandise partner.
At the heart of the collection is a portrait of The Vivienne, the drag persona of James Lee Williams, surrounded by symbols reflecting the performer's connection to both Liverpool and Wales. The design features a teal liver bird, Stanley Street's famous sign draped in Pride flags, Welsh daffodils and The Vivienne's signature beneath a mirrorball.
All profits from sales will go towards the campaign's £120,000 target to commission a life-size bronze statue honouring Williams, who died in January 2025 following a battle with ketamine addiction.
Andrews, who donated the artwork to the campaign, said it was important the design reflected "The Vivienne's life and legacy".
"The statue would be an amazing addition to the city, and I hope this can help raise funds for its creation," she said.
The collection includes T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, caps, beanies, mugs and tumblers, alongside a second design featuring The Vivienne's signature on its own.
You Betta Merch co-founder Elliott Barnicle said the company was honoured to be involved in a project celebrating the performer's impact on Liverpool and the wider drag community. "We wanted this collection to be something fans could wear with pride, while helping make sure her legacy has a permanent home in the city she loved," he said.
Williams moved from Colwyn Bay to Liverpool as a teenager and found fame after winning the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK before appearing on programmes including Dancing on Ice. Before gaining national recognition, The Vivienne became a well-known figure in Liverpool's LGBTQ+ nightlife scene, particularly within the city's Pride Quarter.
The Bring The Vivienne Home campaign is being led by Williams' mother, Cassie Williams, and managed by LGBTQ+ platform Proudly Said. Organisers say the statue will serve not only as a memorial to Williams but also as a gathering place for Liverpool's LGBTQ+ community and a platform for raising awareness of substance misuse.
John Hyland, founder of Proudly Said and manager of the campaign, said the merchandise offered supporters another way to contribute to the fundraising effort. "Not everyone can drop a tenner into a fundraiser, and not everyone wants to," he said. "This is another way to raise the funds we need for the campaign, where you get something you will actually wear, and the campaign gets closer to its target."
He added that the artwork reflected the two places that shaped Williams' life. "James came from Wales and he became The Vivienne in Liverpool, and both of those places have a claim on him. It's a beautiful representation that we are proud to have as part of James' legacy."
Scene was founded in Brighton in 1993, at a time when news stories about Pride protests were considered radical.
Since then, Scene has remained proudly independent, building a platform for queer voices. Every subscription helps us to report on the stories that matter to LGBTQ+ people across the UK and beyond.
Your support funds our journalists and contributes to Pride Community Foundation’s grant-making and policy work.
Member discussion