We sat down with the fashion designer ahead of his SS25 show

Raul Lopez has been tirelessly designing since the age of 12 but over the last ten years, his namesake brand, LUAR (Raul spelled backward), has captured the attention of the fashion and cultural communities. Lopez’s eye-catching designs weave in personal topics—whether that’s religion, his upbringing in New York City or the joyful nature of Dominican heritage. Lopez has become an inspiration to young creatives across the globe, as well, through not just his clothing but also his messaging.

In February of this year, Beyonce graced LUAR’s Bushwick, Brooklyn runway show—and her support only heightened interested in Lopez. This season, in advance of his SS25 show, the designer teamed up with American Express, long known for their patronage of the arts and culture, for a limited edition version of one of his iconic silhouettes, the Ana bag. We sat down with Lopez in anticipation of the show, to chat all things NYC, culture and design.

How does your background and history as a native New Yorker play into your work and collection? 

I love that I’m able to partner with brands to put together amazing runway shows and after parties. I’m always told that there’s such a New York energy at my shows, and I think it’s because my community is so involved in our brand identity. The kids that are a part of our world remind me so much of who I was at their age—the defiance, the boldness. 

What’s your ideal night out in NYC? 

Fine dining with my friends at a restaurant that we know and love.

What do you see at the intersection of food and fashion?

It’s about presentation. There’s creativity in food just like in fashion. The same way you can decorate a plate and be moved by the flavors in a dish, you can be moved by seeing a fab look go down the runway.

What do you hope young kids likely sneaking into your show take away from your work and message? 

Don’t let your circumstances define you. Never lose your resourcefulness, because you can create something really great and be an inspiration for the next generation.

How did this partnership with Amex come about and how did it feel like a natural extension for your brand? 

I had been wanting to make a gold version of the Ana bag for a while, so when American Express approached me, there was no hesitation.

What are the design elements that make the Ana bag so recognizable?

The Ana bag comes from references of my grandmother’s bags from the ’60s. When approaching my collaboration with American Express Gold Card, it made sense for me to highlight the different colors that the card comes in: Signature Gold, Rose Gold and the newly released White Gold. Also, for the first time, we added charms to the bag that also reflect the different benefits of the card including travel and food.