ABOUT RALU – Ralu Fine Art
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About me

Hello! I am Malina Catoiu originally from Romania, born in Bucharest, traveled with my job across Europe for many years and now living in Belgium. The name of my brand comes from my first name Raluca. Until I left my country only my family called me Ralu so it is bringing history and present together.  

Everybody has an addiction and mine is fashion accessories and silk scarves. Before I started to design silk scarves I was already a passionate scarves collector. For me a scarf is special, a timeless accessory, a symbol of femininity and sophistication.

I replicate my scarves designs from my photos and not only by translating the essence of nature and urban impressions into delightful fashion accessories. I believe that any creator, any designer leaves a part of the soul in its own creations.

When I design new models, I imagine the woman wearing my scarves to be full of life, have a rich, vivid and warm look. Discover the scarves collection and find the perfect scarf for yourself or to be offered to your loved ones.

About my creations

I believe that the creative process is an outside expression of who we really are inside. Most of my creations at this moment in time start from my own photographs. My creative process is reacting to the beauty around us, to what I see around when taking the photos. Then I refine and transform them through the digital tools thinking what patterns would look good and the material to be used. Mentally I visualize my photos, places and how they would look on materials. Sometimes I just go through the photos without thinking of something in particular and suddenly I have that sensation that makes me stop and say: hey this would work on that or that. I am playing with ideas, photos, colors, patterns, mockups. 

Before I started to create my own scarves I was already a collector of scarves actually I could open a shop only with those. So one day I said, hey I want to create my own things, to be unique, to say something to me before it says to the rest of the world and have them created in the way I wanted them to be. 

I bring a personal style that belongs to me as individual and it’s my self-expression to how I see the beauty in this world. I prefer a mix of classic and modern and I prefer to keep my artistic independence to create timeless feminine fashion accessories. The designs are original, unique, colorful, and romantic. I don’t necessarily go with the fashion trends; I rather let each season to bring me an opportunity for inspiration. 

What I want to bring with my scarves and my designs is that connection in between nature, our world and people. And creating stylish and timeless fashion accessories allows me to connect on a different level with the people. 

My scarves collection is made of natural materials (silk, modal) and the manufacturer uses environmental and harmless ink during the printing process. Most of my business model is based as much as possible with the social consciousness in mind.

I decided that through my brand to commit to raising awareness about the endangered species and deforestation. By partnering with One Tree Planted Organisation, together we do something great for our environment and for each scarf sold, a tree is planted. You can read more on my blog HERE and about the last project planting trees and rebuilding a forest HERE

How RaluFineArt was born

I have always loved to think outside the box and have no limits and I have been attracted to areas of activity that involved creativity. Rigid structures suffocate me as I need to feel the freedom to create and play conceptually with ideas and then to have the freedom to implement them. Even if I worked in banking system for 27 years I tried to find those jobs that gave me the element of creativity. I changed often the area of activity as I wanted to know more and try things and have that feeling of newness and excitement in my life. So yes I have been all my life a creative but I realized my call in life only late in my career. 

Since childhood I had a passion for music and the field of art and since I was 24 y.o. I wanted to have my own business. Other offers came from banking system and I decided at that time to pursue with my banking career. In 2018 I felt is the time for me to follow my passions, take seriously my ideas and make my dreams become a reality. I have always admired my grandma who almost all her life loved to create clothes and designed new models. I looked at her work for many years on how many beautiful things came out of her creative mind and hands: exquisite wedding dresses, luxury costumes, classy dresses, purses, blouses and so on. I wanted to bring the history and present together and continue with my own story in my own style. 

All my private clients 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. 

Interested in buying my artwork? If you have some time, take a quick look to the scarves collection and the wearable art surprise box. You can find me as well on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. 

You cannot make up your mind for the scarf you want to pick? You have two options:

1) Take the quiz and find the perfect style and get the chance to win it too CLICK HERE

2) 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.