When revered CFDA American accessories designer of the year Raul Lopez, founder of the eponymous New York-based label Luar (his first name spelt backwards), sent his AW23 collection down the runway in February, it swiftly became the pinnacle of New York Fashion Week.
Closing the week, the collection titled ‘Calle Pero Elegante’ (meaning 'street but elegant'), an ode to the hardworking figures he admired growing up in Williamsburg (where he still resides) who commanded respect, comprised 58 sublime looks. Rollicking tailoring paired with his signature looped ‘L’ emblem affixed to belts made an appearance, in addition to ball gowns, feather bonnets, leather windbreakers and a starry runway appearance by model Alva Claire in a roomy beige double-breasted coat and equally blockish sunglasses, all styled by the legendary Kyle Luu. And of course, his CFDA award-winning ‘Ana’ bag (Solange Knowles and Dua Lipa are testament to its virality) was spotted alongside soon-to-be cult bejewelled iterations, which young Brooklynites will be clutching come autumn.
Accompanying the buzzy bags, skewed skirts, laser-cut dresses, and roomy dark-wash denim, were accessories sure to satiate even the most discerning jewellery magpie (I speak from personal experience). Enter: Mejuri x Luar’s accessory collaboration which previewed on the runway. Oversized ‘convertible’ 18k gold earrings, featuring a small detachable hoop with a cream enamel finish captured the essence of Lopez’s homage to NYC, and bite-size reimagined ‘Ana’ hoop charms left editors clamouring for more. Suffice to say, the preview went down a treat. Weeks later, the hotly anticipated collection has arrived and is ready to disrupt your jewellery box.
SHOP MEJURI X LUAR
Mejuri - £250 Mejuri x LUAR Convertible Hoops
Mejuri - £88 Single Mejuri x LUAR Ana Hoop Charm
Mejuri - £250 Mejuri x LUAR Small Ana Bag
Co-founder and CEO of fine jewellery brand Mejuri, Noura Sakkijha, first connected with Lopez as an admirer of the brand and the pair quickly realised how aligned their visions were. ‘We had been watching the brand for a while and when we reached out to open a conversation our teams connected so organically,’ explains Sakkijha. ‘It felt so natural for our brand to intersect, and that the collaboration would be previewed on the runway at NYFW.’ Lopez chimes in to mention that the focal point of the collaboration was centred around timelessness and relics. ‘The vision was to create versatile jewellery staples that could eventually be shared and passed down like heirlooms.’
Expanding to include jewellery was a no-brainer, Lopez asserts – the collection includes three staple pieces: convertible hoops, the ‘Ana’ hoop charm and a modest stark-white ‘Ana’ bag with gold hardware and jewellery pouch – a first for the brand, Sakkijha mentions. ‘Not only is the collection made from the highest quality materials and craftsmanship, but it includes reinvented classic designs that will truly never go out of style.’
Hallmarks of Mejuri’s minimalist yet contemporary style are evident within the line. The creative polymaths settled on hoops as the core silhouette: ‘Hoop earrings are a staple for so many women. It felt like a must to start there,’ says Lopez. The LVMH-semi-finalist waxes lyrical about the importance of inclusion and versatility within the collection, sentiments Sakkijha agrees with. ‘I have always felt a compulsion for inclusivity when designing for Mejuri. Our pieces don’t have any limitations when it comes to who can wear them. The campaign is the projection of our shared vision, eschewing a specific demographic in favour of real individuals and models from numerous backgrounds.’
The campaign – featuring actor José Castelo Branco and artist Michelle Yang – is a stark reminder of how community and authenticity can and should be approached in fashion. The pair cherry-picked 27 people, ranging from professional models to street cast subjects who evoked the message the duo wanted to project: versatility. In a bid to drive the point home, $5 from the sale of each product will be donated to Stonewall Community Foundation: a prolific funder that helps strengthen the LGBTQ+ community.
With sunnier climes approaching, prepare to see taste makers saunter down the cobbled streets of Soho or outside East London haunts in their limited edition Mejuri x Luar pieces – with copious amounts of confidence, Lopez and Sakkijha hope. ‘I always want our community to feel empowered and confident to celebrate themselves. I’m excited to introduce Luar to those who may not be familiar with the brand, so they can recognise that accessible luxury fashion does exist.’ Experimenting and having fun with the pieces are fundamental, Lopez concludes. ‘I want people to see this collaboration and look for more versatility in the things in their closet.’
Mejuri x Luar is available to shop on Mejuri.com and Luar.world, and in Mejuri stores now.
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