Crafting Culture: Raul Lopez on LUAR's Impact

• A New York native of Dominican descent, Raul Lopez first came onto the fashion scene by launching the brand Hood by Air with Shayne Oliver in 2006 before going on to launch his own brand, LUAR, in 2011.  
• After leaving HBA, Raul spent time living in the Dominican Republic while seeking to connect with his cultural roots beyond being part of the diaspora.  
• Raul has always found sanctuary in visits to his grandmother’s home, where she has an entire room set up as an altar. He still goes there before his shows every season to this day. Spirituality, rather than religion, remains one of the cornerstones of his creative process.  
• Growing up in Brooklyn, Raul’s creative inspirations have been drawn from an array of cultural reference points and figures, ranging from Hasidic Jews to the sex workers he often saw on the streets as a kid.  
• Initially naming his brand LUAR as a strategic move to avoid preconceived notions associated with a Latino name, Raul eventually decided it was time to embrace being Raul—not just LUAR—leaning into the wealth of creativity and culture he grew up in rather than shying away from it.  
• Culture is currency, and learning to live as your true, authentic self becomes currency. Raul has built his brand with this mindset.  
• After spending too much time trying to prove himself—designing despite never having received a formal education—Raul realized he had become depressed and no longer wanted to be in fashion. During this time away, living in the Cayman Islands, he discovered the powerful force of self-love and returned with a renewed perspective.  
• Raul views his brand as a platform—not just for himself but for others—seeing his designs as catalysts that help people discover their own truths.  
• Encouraging his team to step away when needed, Raul emphasizes the importance of learning who you are, loving who you are, and letting go of the fear that taking a break means being forgotten.  

‍Notable Quotes: ‍

• "When I left HBA, I moved to the Dominican Republic and was kind of on unemployment. I was like, 'I'm going to move to the DR and actually work with tailors and really experience my culture—not just as a Dominican diaspora boy.'"
• "I used to paint makeup on, like, baby Jesus."
•  "All the sex workers on the strip, waiting for them to come out with their checks—literally, 3 p.m. They were already there, like, in leather jackets with tassels. It was like a one-piece bodysuit, thigh-highs, the typical stereotype of that era, with the long pocketbook and the hair. I mean, it was just like Glamazons."
• "Culture, to me, is when you live your true, authentic self, and you learn to respect and know how to come into these spaces."
• "I don't care who you are. I don't care if you're a celebrity. I don't care where you come from—if you're from the hood—I treat everyone the same. And I think you can see that at my show."
• "I love people. I love being around people. I love taking the train. I love looking at why people wear things. It's more of a study than fashion itself."
• "I was just like, 'I'm done. I'm done with this whole industry. I'm done with the no helping. I'm done with the way I look, the way I feel, the way I'm acting.' And I just stayed there for like a year, just absorbing the sun, really just kind of giving myself my own time and really loving myself."
• "I feel like from the very beginning of my career, I've always thought of my designs as a catalyst for change, which could inspire people to embrace their truth."
• "Really appreciating who you are and loving who you are is key, and learning to be able to take this break and not be so scared of being forgotten. 'Cause this whole 'out of sight, out of mind' thing sailed away a long time ago."