A Little More Personal with Urivaldo Lopes

This interview continues the exploration of our second edition: IDENTIDAD, looking closely at the creative minds behind the camera. In Urivaldo Lopes, the most rewarding part is reflecting on a career built across multiple angles. Today, he channels that depth into his swimwear line, handling creative direction, design, and everything an independent brand demands.

Talents like him—who have worked worldwide with major figures—choose to celebrate an identity deeply rooted in where he was born. Look at his Instagram profile, and you immediately see a creator focused on personal projects that honor the place and the beauty that surrounded him while growing up.  

This stance is a deliberate act of decentralization. Working globally and returning home to share knowledge, create opportunities, and leave both an economic and cultural impact is a political statement. Urivaldo has reached a stage where his identity is fully solidified—a rare achievement in an industry where keeping your essence intact is extraordinarily difficult. 

Every decision he makes carries intention. Take his 2019 Dubai shoot with Lindsay Lohan for Slimi Magazine—a publication he regularly collaborates with. From capturing iconic cover portraits to designing pieces worn by Beyoncé’s dancers, every project Urivaldo takes on serves a deliberate creative vision.

All of this narrative weight flows naturally into K-VALA, his swimwear collection: edgy, conceptually high-fashion, and driven by campaigns that celebrate his heritage through brilliant color choices. This is why we wanted to interview him—an influential voice paving the way for future generations.

Our desire to keep discovering stories leads us to Cabo Verde. Much like our special feature on Oaxaca, we are on a constant search for new stories across the globe. 

Could you share with us two of the best memories from your career in the fashion industry?

The first one was the moment I knew something special was happening: I got booked to shoot Anitta in Rio de Janeiro. I had been following her career for years and listened to her music almost every day, so being on set with her felt unreal—like being in the right place with the right person at the right time. I see it as a sign from destiny. What stayed with me most was her: she was completely professional, fully committed to getting it right, and at the same time so down to earth. That experience marked me on many levels.

The second was getting the call to create the outfits for Beyoncé's dancers at the opening of the Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai. The show went viral all over social media, and seeing my work up on that stage made me deeply proud.

Tell us about a piece from your collection that is connected to you and explain its significance.

From my K-vala collection, it has to be the white adjustable cut-out bikini. It is high-fashion, yet sensual at the same time, and that balance is very me. I love seeing women feel beautiful. Honestly, it brings me joy, and this piece was created for exactly that.

Who was the figure or mentor who inspired you to pursue a career in fashion and photography?

That is a hard one for me, because I did not have a mentor in the classic sense. I was born on the island of São Vicente, in Cabo Verde, and my only connection to fashion was cheap, outdated magazines I would find on the street or on a friend's table. And television. Our TV at home picked up a French channel through a handmade iron antenna, along with a Portuguese show called 86-60-86. Those programs woke something up in me. I felt that was the world where I belonged, as if God were telling me: this is your world.

On the other side of my reality was my grandmother. She taught me to sew by hand with a needle. I used to repair old bedsheets at home because we did not have the money to buy new ones. And then there was my mother, who lived in France when I was a kid. When she came to visit on holidays, I would spend hours studying her clothes, her looks, and her shoes. Every piece in her suitcase was a source of inspiration. She is where my boldness comes from. Put all of that together, and you get my identity.

What is that non-negotiable routine that keeps you focused and creative?

I would not call it a routine, but there is one thing I always do before a shoot: I talk to the models and artists I am about to photograph. I want to understand their fears, their shyness, and who they are as people. I need to feel their emotions before I pick up the camera. For me, that conversation is where the picture really begins.

Your vision of fashion and visuals is charged with female empowerment—that identity sets you apart. What advice would you give to creative directors who, by following market trends, end up creating generic projects and losing their personal style?

To be honest, I do not like giving creative people advice. Creativity is deeply intimate, and it touches everyone's sensitivity in a different way. So I will just tell you what works for me: I do not start from what is trending; I start from what I love. And what I love is seeing a woman who is authentic and confident in every situation imaginable. My job is to make her feel beautiful and strong, never generic. If the work comes from a real place inside you, it cannot look like anybody else's.

Your next project:

I have several things in the works, but there is one that is really close to my heart: my first photography exhibition in my home country.

Describe what the word identity means to you:

Identity is the "ME," with no filter. It is the foundation of my work. I draw from my story, my roots, and my cultures. I am the son of an emigrant, and I have lived in several countries, so Europe, America, and everywhere I have been have definitely shaped me. But I always manage to bring my true self into it, because what I carry from Cabo Verde is so rich: rich in culture, rich in rhythm, rich in beauty. For an artist, identity is what allows people to step into your universe and understand it.

Tell us about your favorite artist:

There are too many artists I admire to pick just one. I would rather not choose, haha. They all nourish me in different ways.

Cabo Verde is a beautiful place, filled with monumental nature, vibrant colors, and an even more vibrant culture... Do you think your surroundings taught you about beauty?

YES. Cabo Verde defined my photographic style, my design work, everything. It was the main source of inspiration for my brand, K-vala: the bright colors, the extraordinary locations. Even the name comes from there. K-vala comes from the fish I ate almost every day as a kid—it was the cheapest fish you could get back then. Today, I am fortunate enough to use Cabo Verde as my open-air studio, my source of inspiration, and, as of this year, my home again. Cabo Verde is within me.

Another thing your work conveys is freedom and rebellion... Do you consider yourself a rebellious talent?

It is hard for me to answer that directly, because to me "rebel" can sound negative. But it has a positive side too: defending your style and what makes you happy, no matter what. That kind of rebel? Yes, that is me.

Every time I work, there is one sentence in my head, a constant reminder to myself: "Urivaldo, don't forget your atrevido side. Don't forget to give people something to talk about." Haha. That is the honest truth, and I am not ashamed to say it.

This interview marks our first profile published in English, and introducing his brand is thrilling. The colors captivate, the cuts are genuinely flattering, and above all, the history and weight of having Urivaldo design it give it exceptional cachet. Our mission is to propose fashion from our own distinct viewpoint—discovering extraordinary brands not yet on the radar in this part of the world. 

How could we not trust the photographer who shot some of my personal favorite collections—like Carol Lim and Humberto Leon’s Kenzo? It was a different era, driven by real vision and heart, long before everything was dictated by marketing mood boards, forced trends, or fast fashion. Collaborating with someone who came up crafting things with care is a true seal of quality. 

Among the titles he has worked with, L'Officiel stands out for its striking fashion stories. One of my favorite works by this genius is a visual universe he created for Slimi Magazine in Africa: local beauty and vivid sunsets take center stage, honoring ancestral roots with deep respect. Urivaldo understands these codes to perfection, making his swimwear brand a pure compilation of his life and professional experiences.