In photos: The ‘raw and real’ looks from Sextou’s sweat-drenched Pride rave

In just a single year, Umberto Borraccia and Timothy Wang have made Sextou one of London’s hottest queer nights. The pair have done it mostly through suggestion alone: an enigmatic Instagram page shows nothing but flyers for the upcoming edition, and photography is banned on the dancefloor, so the only way you’ll know what it’s like is by joining in yourself. The happy accident of a suggestive name also helped create some buzz, despite the fact that ‘Sextou’ has nothing to do with sex, meaning ‘Happy Friday’ in Brazilian Portuguese. “We loved how playful it sounded,” say the founders in a conversation over email, “since it reads like ‘sex-to-u’.”

Like many queer raves before it, fashion has become an operative part of how Sextou communicates its “raw, real, and always unexpected” ethos. “Fashion and style are integral to club culture – they’re not just about how you look, but about how you show up,” say Borraccia and Wang. “When people dress with intention, the whole space becomes more alive, more connected.” And though the dancefloor is off-limits, so you might’ve never even seen a Sextou outfit anyway, the duo bent the rules for one night only, inviting Sextou family friend and photographer Dani d’Ingeo to capture clandestine moments in corridors, queues and a fag-strewn smoking area.

See d’Ingeo’s document of the night in the gallery above, and scroll down for our full convo with the Sextou founders.

We know that Sextou is only a year old, but when did you first think of the idea?

Umberto Borraccia and Timothy Wang: The idea of starting a party first came to us back in early 2014, when it was just three of us dreaming out loud. After months of conversations and brainstorming, we finally brought our vision to life on July 5, 2024. Today, it’s the two of us and we are carrying the idea forward – and we truly believe in it!

Was there anything that inspired you to dream it up?

Umberto Borraccia and Timothy Wang: The idea that masc4masc gays only mix with each other, femmes stick to femmes, and dolls fear rejection from the wider gay community – it’s outdated. We saw an opportunity to break down those walls and bring everyone together in one shared space, and that is the music and the dance floor. United by the belief that we all belong to the same community, while also creating a platform for artists within it.

How does the fashion reflect that ethos?

Umberto Borraccia and Timothy Wang: We’ve always believed that people should be free to express themselves however they like. That’s why we never enforced a strict dress code – the style just evolved organically. It reflects the diversity of the crowd and the energy of the night. The way people dress has become part of the identity of the party – raw, real, and always unexpected.

How else would you describe the style of the Sextou raver?

Umberto Borraccia and Timothy Wang: Since the night is mainly techno-driven, you’ll often see club and rave-inspired looks – bold, expressive, and full of personality. Some go all out with DIY pieces, others keep it sleek and minimal, and occasionally someone shows up in almost nothing at all! It’s all part of the freedom we love.

At a good club night, fashion isn’t about following trends – it’s about embodying mood, experimenting with identity, and feeling confident in your skin

– Umberto Borraccia and Timothy Wang

In what ways would you say fashion is important to nightlife?

Umberto Borraccia and Timothy Wang: Fashion and style are integral to club culture – they’re not just about how you look, but about how you show up. In the club, style becomes a form of self-expression, resistance and freedom. It sets the tone, tells a story and creates a visual energy that complements the sound and atmosphere. At a good club night, fashion isn’t about following trends – it’s about embodying mood, experimenting with identity, and feeling confident in your skin. When people dress with intention, the whole space becomes more alive, more connected. You’re not just at a party – you’re part of a collective expression.

And what about the DJs you collaborated with on this edition?

Umberto Borraccia and Timothy Wang: For our first anniversary edition, we wanted the lineup to feel truly special – a celebration of the journey so far and of the community we’re building. We brought together some of our favourite DJs from London and abroad, including two incredible artists from Brazil. Each artist brought their own energy and sound, making the night a rich, genre-spanning experience. This edition’s line-up, from A-Z, included Alírio, Bull Horris, Cherolainne, J. Aria, Lexii, Mika Kailes, Tedesco and co-founder TWANG.

And lastly, what’s the story behind the name Sextou?

Umberto Borraccia and Timothy Wang: The name comes from a Brazilian Portuguese slang term that means ‘Happy Friday!’ It all started last year in the park, when our Brazilian friend Caio shouted, ‘Sextou, guys – it’s Friday!’ We were surrounded by our usual crew of Brazilian friends, and the energy just clicked. From that moment, we knew it had to be the name. We loved how playful it sounded, especially since no one ever says it quite right. Most English speakers think it has something to do with sex, since it reads like ‘sex-to-u’ – which honestly just makes it even better.

Scroll through the gallery above for all the looks from the night