We recently connected with LuxuRay Raymon-Walker and have shared our conversation below.
LuxuRay, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
I never imagined that I would actually leap into a fashion career, especially as an entrepreneur. Going into the fall of 2022 it seemed like the perfect storm. I was no longer working my six figure corporate job, I loss my eleven year old beagle who was my best friend, I had issues in my relationship, nothing seemed to be going right. I had began the framework for my luxury curation services and for my clothing line in August of 2022. In early September of 2022 I learned that my corporate role was being eliminated. I was devastated! While I knew my calling was within fashion, I did enjoy and excel at my 9-5 profession. Now at this time I turn to panic, I had planned to use my full time job to fund my destiny, the plan had a major hole in it, in fact the plan was gone. There couldn’t have been a worse time for this or so I thought. With new found time on my hands I began to test the waters of full time entrepreneurship, while working with one of my clients I received an invitation to attend an event during NYFW. It was at this time that things took a turn. Without a fully fleshed out plan or even direction, I put on my black two piece wrap suit with white pearl embellishments and hit #nyfw for the first time as LuxuRay- Luxury Curator, Designer, and Stylist. That moment was the pivot I wouldn’t have ever imagined for myself. From one event on a Tuesday I found myself invited to and attending showcases throughout the remainder of the week, I was also extended invitations to attend Milan and Paris Fashion Week. Since then I have been a guest for two seasons at New York, Milan, and Paris Fashion weeks, a guest and keynote speaker for Miami Art Basel, and a host of exclusive fashion and entertainment events and programs. If I had not been pushed out of my corporate seat and waited until I was “ready” I would not be where I am right now along my journey. This has been the most impactful risk within my fashion career thus far.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I often say I never wanted a career in fashion. I realized I have suppressed a lot of my childhood memories due to social conditioning and myths I was told coming up. The truth is I always enjoyed fashion, I always enjoyed design, I just wasn’t encouraged to pursue and explore such a career. On top of my lack of formal exposure to the industry, I also face conflict within myself. With all due respect, I never wanted to be perceived as the stereotypical gay man. Growing up in the 90’s, especially NYC, there was an unwritten rule that all gay men had to be gender queer, flamboyant, work in fashion/retail or do hair. While I am not “knocking” any gay man who fits that description or works within those areas, growing up I refused to find myself following anyone else’s narrative. This lead me to believe that in order be “successful” and to receive “social validation” I had to pursue not only a corporate career but climb the corporate ladder to leadership, so I did. Within a five year time frame (as I planned) I went from an Associate to a Director, from a Director to an Executive. I dedicated over ten years of my life to fitting into a narrative that I didn’t even believe in. All through out my time in corporate fashion remained my muse. The best part of waking up and going into the office for me was getting dressed in the morning and the best part of going home was planning my attire for the next day. It was apparent to everyone around me that fashion was my passion. Not only my clothing, but also my workspace was a reflection of my creativity and enthusiasm for all things fabulous. At least twice a day I someone would tell me “I can’t believe you don’t work in fashion”.
So what do I do? Here I am potentially making my way up the top of the corporate food chain, making great money, living a very luxurious lifestyle all before I had even turned age thirty. I had to begin to ask myself, am I totally happy? While I enjoyed my work, was that enough? Was this my calling. The divine answer I received was yes, but there is always a reason and a season for everything. In the fall of 2022 it was now time for me to step into my new season and begin a brand new chapter.
In the fall of 2022 I began working for myself full time and launched my Luxury Enterprise the LuxuRay Experience Inc. a one stop luxury shop specializing in fashion, lifestyle, events, and entertainment services. Under this umbrella I have service individual, group, and corporate clients as a personal stylist, creative director, image, merchandising, and marketing consultant, project manager, talent personality. Through this venture I officially launched my clothing brand Haus of Flash LLC. a small luxury brand providing luxurious shopping experiences for all. Some of my work includes couture and custom one of a kind pieces and my most recent ready to wear runway collection featured in New York Fashion Week February 2023.
My duty is to provide my clients with bespoke experiences, making their lives easier via my creative and luxurious expertise. Sometimes this is done through personal shopping for the person who just doesn’t have the time or believe they have an eye for it or it’s assisting a brand with the proper execution of storytelling as creative director through the development of visual aids and marketing planning.
What sets me a part from others, honestly, is myself! I have always been told that I am “an experience”. From how I dress to where I choose to hang out, the activities and hobbies I partake in always leave a strong and positive impact on people. All of my life, I have been a “flashy” person. It’s not just my clothing, it’s the way I carry myself, my expectations, and my outlook on life. Once I stopped running from my own truth I found pride in maximizing every moment and opportunity. Through my creativity I have taken my “larger than life” philosophy and I use it to enhance any and everything I am a part of. This innate talent is what I believe draws people to me and what draws me to my craft.
What I am most proud of right now is my commitment to betting on myself. This walk has not been easy, I have thought about quitting multiple times, I question myself and my decisions pretty much every day, but bruises and all I have continued. I would have never acted with this much faith before. Because of my yes within 8 months I have done things that folks haven’t been able to do within 8 years including appearing on my first international magazine cover, designing and producing an entire clothing collection featured in a major city fashion week, and developed an international client base for my services. I honestly couldn’t be more proud.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for me has been using myself as a marketing tool. Everything you see is what you get. I would not perform anything for anyone that I would not perform for myself. I wear my own products, I shop regularly from my brand partners, I visit all the cities and countries I refer clients to, everything from me is first hand. I believe this approach turned strategy has allowed me to connect with clients on a personal level that allows them to feel safe and connected leading to more and more relationships.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Having worked in the field of Human Resources and remaining a “People Consultant” the Society of Human Resources (SHRM) believe it or not remain a guiding light even on this path. Every role I’ve had leading up to this has prepared me to be an entrepreneur. All of the CEO’s and stakeholders I have partnered with and coached, all of the teams I have managed, all of the projects and encounters I have had has imprinted on my business ethic. There are mistakes I’ve avoided, contingencies I’ve put into place, and advantages I’ve experienced by applying my acquired knowledge. 
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Image Credits
Dende Photos Imagine If Photography TLS Shoots Shotsbypat Photography