Seeing her stunningly outfitted clients glow with exuberant confidence is undoubtedly motivating for Ruthvenezuelana ‘Lana’ Lopez, the owner of Uka Designs. During fittings, Lopez said it is customary for clients to stare stunned at a mirror, their only question being: “How!?” This is, in essence, the intended effect of the Trinidadian fashion line, which inspires women to “fall in love with themselves” – ‘flaws’ and all – and boldly unleash their inner fashionista.
“My motto says, ‘where your confidence is restored,’ and that’s exactly how all my clients must feel when they slip into an Uka Designs [piece], they must feel confident. They must feel as if they are on a red carpet,” she told Glamizine.
Enthralled by its transformative power, Lopez has a fiery passion for fashion design, but this is not her only talent. The creative entrepreneur, who is a certified massage therapist and waxtician, is also the owner of Perfectly You spa, located in Greystone Mall, Chaguanas. Understandably, this unique career path has required her to master many skills, including accounting, packaging and marketing.
A recurring theme of rich heritage pervades Lopez’ life, which has immersed her in different cultural traditions, shaping both her personal and entrepreneurial journey. For instance, the name Uka Designs is rooted in a sacred practice; At age 15, she had received the African name Ukaola, which is a Yoruba word meaning “robe of Ifa” or “God’s clothing”.
“When I was baptised, the name was given to me by my spiritual father… To me, that was a sign because, of all the names I can be given, this name translates into what I do. So, at age 16 Uka Designs emerged,” she said.
The fashion world has had to brace itself for Lopez’ “creative bombs” from the inception, when she incorporated African heritage and Caribbean culture in her designs. Unafraid to be different, and having literally prepared for this her entire life, she embodies the very confidence her brand symbolises. Fortunately for her, the competitiveness of the industry necessities her natural qualities of mental toughness and self-assurance.
“Listen, the industry is a tough one,” she cautioned, adding that her sense of purpose keeps her resilient. “[There is] so much competitive behaviour, but this is what I love and this is what I aspired to become, so I have learnt [that] hard work, sleepless nights and dedication is what keeps me motivated for this.”
Lopez’ core motivation lies in the most pivotal story of all – a childhood memory of how it all began. The trailblazer, who was the youngest of four sisters, was born to a Vincentian mother, Londa Ashton, and a Trinidadian father, Ruthven Lopez. However, while most Caribbean parents nudge their children to become a doctor, lawyer or engineer, Lopez’ experience was atypical. It was her dad who encouraged her to monetise one of her creative gifts. At the time, she loved the arts, drawing, dancing, writing poetry and music, and acting. But on that night, while watching a beauty pageant, clarity ensued.
“My intention at age 10 was to be a graphic designer or a veterinarian. However, at age 11, my dad told me to make my hobby a paying career. That night, Miss Universe was showing on TV and I would have seen these lovely contestants walking the stage in their gowns and I said to myself, ‘That’s it, that’s what I want to do. I want to become a designer.’ And from that age, I have been working tirelessly towards that dream,” she recalled.
Lopez’ creative prowess was bolstered by formal studies as well. She had been raised by her grandmother, Margaret Ashton, in Diego Martin, before moving to Old St Joseph Road in Laventille – a place she called home in adolescence and young adulthood. During this time, she attended Barataria South Secondary School, where she successfully attained several passes, one of which was Visual Arts. Later, she pursued a Diploma in Fashion Design at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, which became an asset to her design career.
At age 17, she showcased her pieces for the first time at the Diamond Vale Community Centre. A thread of successes followed, as she cleverly interweaved design brilliance with cultural influences, history and philosophical enlightenment. By age 25, she officially launched her brand, Uka Designs, which quickly gained popularity due to her distinctive showcases.
“There are so many of us in the industry, so many of us doing the same thing and because fabric in Trinidad and Tobago is so limited, a lot of us make collections using the same prints… For me to stand apart from them, my line tells a story from the beginning to end, each piece created has a piece of me. That’s one of the reasons I build publicity; I often have short skits prior to my showing or I will have my models be themselves on the runway, dance if you want to – be, as I mentioned before, fun and confident!” she said.
To stand out, Lopez asserted, requires innovation and the courage to stay true to oneself; It is better to be authentic from the beginning and announce, “This is who I am.”
While establishing herself in the fashion circuit, Lopez collaborated with numerous events and organisations, such as Red Runway, Mango Chow, Island Fashion Week, Hope Foundation, and Artistix, to name a few. She even dabbled in jouvert costume design for a band called Vice City, well before her brand was officially established. She also styled popular personalities such as TV hosts; commercial actors; and local artistes for interviews, events, performances, and music videos.
Naturally, her stylish creations got noticed by intrigued journalists, leading to coverage in media publications; Her work was featured in newspapers, the international magazine Nubian, and the local Kyd magazine. Her presence was also beckoned beyond the runway, as she has served on the interview board of Stride Modelling Agency, and as a judge for Capes Photography Pageant.
Role of Designers
There is an indelible link between fashion and culture, as it typically reflects the spirit of an age. As Lopez conveyed this sentiment, she said that fashion is an expression of culture, which designers play a crucial role in shaping:
“Fashion has always served as an expression of the people of a land; In many cultures, you can know their identity by their fashion. An example of this is the Maasai people – their elaborate jewellery is unique to their culture. The Indian Sari or the Japanese Kimono [are also examples]. Identity and fashion have always been intertwined into one.
“We designers hold a special place in that; We are the innovators of the outward representation of our ever-growing culture, our past reflects our present and shapes our future. We help that change along through our expression of fashion.”
Socially Conscious Fashion
A single pencil stroke could insight Lopez’ creative flow, during which she metaphorically conceives “a million and one ideas.” Whenever stimuli piques her interest — whether it be a line, a colour, or a vision — it triggers spontaneous creation. While her creative process feels quite natural and whimsical, the resulting work is often complex and explores significant societal themes and historical events. For instance, Lopez released her Empowerment collection in March 2019 with a socially driven motive, i.e., to help change the narrative of the enslaved.
“When I created this collection, it told a story or rather, it reflected history. It told the history of enslaved Africans in the Caribbean. They had their native tongue taken away, they were unable to defend themselves for fear of being beaten or killed – the narrative they created for us, I wanted to change it. I had elements within my design that would have showcased this in addition to the skit that was performed.
“There are societal themes that I explore in my creations. For example…my Jailbreak collection, this was created during Covid, when everyone was on lockdown and couldn’t wait to be free. So, the colours and the patterns showcased that,” she said.
Looking Ahead
While she already receives widespread recognition in her homeland, Lopez is readying to embrace regional and international prospects. In fact, she finds it particularly exciting and rewarding whenever Uka Designs crosses borders:
“A proud achievement would be my brand being worn outside the country, seeing one of my branded tees worn by a past model in Barbados by the Rihanna plaque, as well as the singer Stef Kalloo wearing a piece on her trip to the United States.”
With every design, Lopez embroiders Uka Designs into the fabric of time, mindful that its unfolding legacy could impact generations to come. Evidently, she has maintained that same wonder and vigour she had as a girl, when she first claimed her destiny.
So, remember the name Ruthvenezuelana Estrellita Lopez, a designer on a mission to drape the world in bold prints, love — and hope.
