We were lucky to catch up with Randy Luna recently and have shared our conversation below.
Randy, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
One of the most profound experiences in my career has been my 12-year journey as a Teaching Artist at P138M @ Park West High School in District 75. It has been an absolute whirlwind of love and creativity! District 75, where students face unique challenges like Autism Spectrum Disorders, cognitive delays, emotional disabilities, and sensory impairments, became my vibrant labor of love.
It all started with a simple ask: helping out with West Side Story. Little did I know, I’d be diving headfirst into a sea of creativity and community support! From choreography to stage management, costumes to set design, and everything in between; I poured my heart and soul into making magic happen. Seeing the pure joy on a mother’s face as she watched her son shine onstage, despite his usual challenges at home, fueled my passion like nothing else.
As choreographer and creative director for the annual end-of-year show, I’ve learned more than I could’ve imagined. Patience has become my superpower, and I’ve discovered how a simple touch can bridge worlds and build connections. Each student’s unique way of expressing themselves has taught me invaluable lessons in inclusivity and the power of the arts to uplift spirits.
This journey has shown me the incredible strength of collaboration and the resilience of the human spirit. Above all, it’s taught me to celebrate each person’s talents and abilities with boundless enthusiasm. The diversity in how we all learn and communicate has become a constant source of inspiration, filling my heart with joy and gratitude.
Working with this community has not only enriched my professional journey but has also touched my soul in ways I never thought possible.
Right now, I’m immersed in an exciting project in the fashion world as a designer. Teaming up with an amazing group, we’re creating a rollout for my fresh, new sustainable lifestyle collection using recycled shopping bags. It’s incredible to see this innovative idea blossom into a vibrant reality, driven by our shared passion and dedication. This experience is teaching me the power of collective dedication and creativity in making positive change. #reuse #liveon #takepart
Super excited to share the project during fashion week. Currently a secret but stay tuned!! Here’s to many more years of love, learning, creativity and being yourself…..
Randy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a creative soul who’s joyfully immersed in the world of fashion and performance. My journey into the fashion world has been an exciting adventure full of twists and turns! I’m a creative renaissance soul who started in theater and choreography and continues to thrive in both. Growing up, I immersed myself in acting and dance, balancing my teenage years with performing while pursuing a double major in Business Management and Theater in college.
I began my career as a teaching artist, spreading the joy of hip-hop dance across the tri-state area. Performing with my dance group and acting in plays opened doors to work with independent singers as their choreographer and creative director. As I designed costumes for my dance group and these talented artists, the fashion world just naturally blended into my creative life. The buzz around my designs attracted stylists and photographers, and soon I was melding movement and imagery with jewelry and clothing, pushing boundaries in men’s fashion and championing inclusivity for all genders.
Today, my brand, Randy Luna, is all about transforming fashion and the environment through up-cycling and sustainability. We take items people discard—like violin rests and plastic bags—and turn them into something fabulous and desired. Our philosophy is that fashion knows no gender, no rules, and no boundaries, so every piece is designed with everyone in mind. Plus, with every purchase, we pledge to donate 10% of the proceeds to give back.
One of my proudest moments was being cast as a designer in the E! Series OMG Fashun!, hosted by Law Roach and Julia Fox. It’s been a fantastic affirmation of my journey, and I’m thrilled to continue creating and sharing my passion with the world! 🌟✨
Have you ever had to pivot?
Pivoting by Investing time in myself recently has been incredibly rewarding. Balancing a full-time “9-5” role as a director of education with part-time work as a choreographer, actor and designer was fulfilling, but a shift in management brought challenges. Despite receiving negative feedback that didn’t reflect my actual contributions, I remained dedicated and passionate about my work. Ultimately, I chose to prioritize my self-worth and creative talents, resigning from my “9-5” job to focus fully on my passions.
Just two weeks after leaving, I received an exciting opportunity: I was cast as a designer on the new E! Series OMG Fashun!, hosted by Law Roach and Julia Fox. Tears of Joy! This experience reaffirmed that trusting in myself and my abilities was the right decision. It’s a reminder that taking a leap of faith in yourself leads to incredible new opportunities.
Since stepping away from the traditional 9-5, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to connect with a wonderful community of fashion designers from the series – we call each other #disruptor6. It’s been a true blessing to build a supportive team that believes in my leadership, innovations, and vision. They pour their love, talent, and dedication into our shared dream, truly embodying the spirit of #teamworkmakesthedreamwork. A huge, heartfelt shoutout to my amazing team: Minka Design Studio, Courtney Taylor, Austin Peete, Ben Vargas, Channel Xiii Media, Richard “Parlay” Copier from OneIPhotography, Theo Banzon, Jenny Gonzalez, Justin Caminero, Elizabeth Marmol and so many others. Your support means the world to me! 🌟✨
“Choose you because when you start choosing you, you start attracting everything that is also choosing you.” – @fempowerment.inc
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
HUMANITY!!! EMPATHY!! COLLECTIVE!! COMMUNITY!! LIFE!! BEAUTY!!….
Do you have an agent or someone (or a team) that helps you secure opportunities and compensation for your creative work? How did you meet you, why did you decide to work with them, why do you think they decided to work with you?
I’m thrilled to share that I’m represented by Gina Manfredi at DDO Artists Agency in their On-Camera division! I signed with them in mid-April and have been incredibly grateful for the numerous self-tape requests I’ve received.
The story behind this is quite special! I got an email inviting me to audition with scripts attached for self-taping if I was interested in on-camera commercial representation. Out of the options, I chose to audition with a fashion script—talk about perfect timing, right? As I advanced through the audition process, from submitting a self-tape to having a delightful one-on-one meet-and-greet with Gina, I was overjoyed to receive and accept the offer just three weeks later! 🎉🌟
What’s really exciting is that I had actually written Gina’s name in my notes four months prior, inspired by Irene Cabrera’s glowing recommendation during an alumni master class at Heidi Marshall Studio. I decided to work with Gina because her roster is intentionally small, allowing her to give personalized attention to each Talent. She was accessible, and her responses to my questions matched what I was seeking in a representative. Energy truly speaks volumes! 🌟
I think they chose to work with me because of the vibrant energy I brought to my audition, my creative use of props, and my ability to bring the script to life. Perhaps my communication, which is super important for those last-minute self-tape requests, and they were also drawn to the vibrant personality I brought to the camera! 🌟📹 I’m excited for what’s ahead! I’m eagerly looking forward to booking roles this year and turning a new page in my acting career. I’m also on the lookout for film and TV representation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RandyLuna.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_randyluna_/. Handle: @_RandyL:una_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RandyLunaRL/
- Twitter: @_RandyLuna_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@randylunaRL
- Other: Tik Tok: @_RandyLuna_
Image Credits
Theo Banzon, Randy Luna and Richard “Parlay” Copier from OneIphotography