ABOUT RALU

About me

I’m Raluca Malina Catoiu — or simply Ralu — the heart behind RaluFineArt. It’s a joy to welcome you here.

My story begins in an enchanted land, where the Danube whispers secrets, the Black Sea breathes its timeless song, and the Carpathian forests dance with ancient fairies beneath the sunny hills of Transylvania.

My earliest muse was my grandmother, a creator of haute couture whose hands brought exquisite, unique pieces to life. In her hands, fabric became poetry — and I looked and listened with my heart wide open.

For thirty years, I built a career in banking — structured, demanding, successful. But my inner world longed for beauty, emotion, and creative expression. I reached a point where my outer world needed to mirror my inner world.

RaluFineArt was born from that shift. Ralu is my childhood name — a reminder that this work is deeply personal. Each piece is crafted with care, not manufactured; meant to be felt, not just seen. My intention is for every aspect of RaluFineArt to reflect a genuine human touch—crafted, not mass produced; intimate, not impersonal. Naming my brand Ralu, it reminds me daily that I am building a living extension of my values and my perspective on the world.

I experience love, beauty and charm as powerful forces of life and started to capture them through photography. Soon I began to explore the entire world in search of more inspiration and adventure, from the lowlands' meadows in bloom to the mysterious tropical jungles, from mountains' mystic springs to the smooth waters of the northern beaches, from the fantastic Atlantic islands to the soothing Mediterranean pines' shadow, from the highland's magical nature to the charm of the Roman and Parisian strolls.

I distill my quest's findings through romance, travelling, emotion, fantasy and capture them on pure silk. The love of life, beauty and charm inspires each of my scarves, influencing my choice of fabric, color and print. Each silk scarf captures the feeling of a magic place, a treasured moment of a charming encounter as my gift to you.

About my creations

I believe that the creative process is an outside expression of who we really are inside. Some of my creations start from my own photographs. My creative process is reacting to the beauty around us, to what I see around when taking the photos. From flowers to forests or beaches to historic cities, I respond to light, color, and feeling.

Inspiration often finds me while traveling — visiting castles, old estates, or strolling through timeless landscapes. I step into these places and feel a spark — flashes of how life might have once unfolded there. Majestic Horses was born from one such visit, where the grandeur of Modave Castle, a historic estate stirred my imagination and brought the scene to life on silk. Read the blog here

Sometimes, inspiration arrives in my dreams — vivid, emotional, and unforgettable. I wake up filled with vision and urgency. The Magic Tree came to life this way. Read the blog here. 

My creative process is fluid — a blend of observation, memory, imagination, and feeling. I play with colors, ideas, patterns, and textures until something clicks. Each piece is an intimate translation of a moment, a place, a dream — made tangible. Not just to be worn, but to be remembered.

I follow inspiration as it arrives: in a season, in a dream, in a glance.

Each piece is romantic, refined, and deeply personal. Crafted not to follow fashion trends, but to outlive it.

All pieces are made of natural silk and the manufacturer uses environmental and harmless ink during the printing process.

We have a green process and at the heart of my creations lies a quiet commitment: to craft beauty with care and to build a brand that honors both people and the planet — inspired by the whisper of leaves, the rhythm of old trees, the silence of untouched forests. That is why RaluFineArt stands firmly against deforestation.

Trees are more than resources — they are memory keepers, storytellers, breath-givers. Their silence speaks volumes, and their loss echoes deeply. 

By choosing thoughtful materials and responsible partners, I aim to honor the landscapes that inspire me — to give back to the roots that gave me vision. Every scarf becomes not just a wearable work of art, but a quiet promise: that beauty can thrive without taking too much. That we can create, and still protect.

By partnering with One Tree Planted Organisation, together we do something great for our environment and for each scarf sold, a tree is planted. Read more on my blog HERE and about one of our projects  - planting trees and rebuilding a forest HERE. 

Where My Work Travels?

All my private clients and partners are across different locations around the world: Europe, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Asia. 

My work has been featured in different magazines like Vogue, Tatler, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, L'Officiel, Abode2, Cosmopolitan, Assuré, Elle, Schon, Conde Nast Traveller, I-D Vice, A-List. More photos and details on the Press section. 

Featured as emerging designer on the world's leading designer platform NJAL New York for showcasing pioneers in contemporary luxury fashion. 

Shall a story become part of yours?

Take a quick look at the collector collections for the ladies or for the gents. You can find me as well on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. 

You cannot make up your mind for the piece you want to pick? Do not worry about that, just drop me a message and we will sort it out. 

If you want to get in contact with me, go to the Contact page.