For Fall/Winter 2025-2026, Raul Lopez presented Pato, a collection imbued with both personal and cultural significance. While pato translates to "duck" in Spanish, the term has also been used as a slur in certain Latin American communities. Lopez, known for his ability to merge heritage with subversion, reclaimed the word through fashion as a medium of empowerment and self-expression.

The show opened with El Gran Varón, the 1980s salsa anthem by Willie Colón, setting an evocative tone. The song—narrating the struggles of Simón, a transgender woman rejected by her father—anchored the collection’s exploration of identity, transformation, and defiance. Yet, rather than dwelling in melancholy, Lopez infused his designs with celebration, confidence, and unapologetic glamour.

Drawing from the maximalist legacies of John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Christian Lacroix, the collection balanced dramatic tailoring with playful irreverence. The opening look—a white python-print single-breasted jacket draped to reveal one shoulder, paired with sculpted narrow trousers—set the tone for a lineup defined by bold proportions and exquisite craftsmanship. Throughout, Medici-collared blazers, batwing-sleeved moto jackets, and impeccably tailored wool trousers reinforced a vision of exaggerated elegance.

Menswear emerged as a particular strength, with standout pieces like a putty-hued tech-wool suit featuring asymmetric lapels and fly details, adorned with a statement feather brooch. A Persian lamb hooded coat layered over barrel-leg dark-wash denim captured an avant-garde yet refined sensibility, while Lopez’s status as a Woolmark Prize finalist was evident in his expert approach to wool tailoring—seen in a curved-zip sweater designed to reveal a crisp shirt and tie beneath.

Textures played a central role, with feathers embroidered onto outerwear, encased in plastic for a futuristic après-ski look, and integrated into Persian lamb coats. A distinctive plastic tape-like finish lent an element of improvisation, evoking childhood dress-up and the artistry of self-invention. Some designs even sculpted models' hands into specific gestures, subtly referencing cultural symbolism and digital discourse.

Following last season’s grand-scale presentation at Rockefeller Center, Lopez returned to a more intimate yet deeply impactful approach. By refining wardrobe staples through a deeply personal and conceptual lens, Luar’s latest collection reaffirmed its place at the intersection of luxury, identity, and fearless self-expression.