The Common Thread with Singer-songwriter Raye Zaragoza
Raye Zaragoza is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who challenges traditional expectations placed on women. Her album Hold That Spirit explores themes of self-investment, joy, and the female experience. In addition to her music, Zaragoza is a songwriter for Netflix's animated children's series Spirit Rangers and has just finished touring nationally in the reimagined Broadway production of Peter Pan.
Q: How has second hand or vintage clothing played a role in shaping your personal style?
A: Ever since I was in high school, secondhand stores have been my go to. Growing up as a performing artist, we were always trying to be as original and unique as possible—and thrifting became a form of expression. The best was when someone at school would ask, 'Where did you get that?' and you could respond, 'I thrifted it.' Always felt so cool. I think my earliest memory of thrifting was going to the goodwill near my abuelita's house in Gilroy, California, over the summers growing up and buying a bunch of new outfits with the money I made at our lemonade stands and garage sales.
Q: As someone who travels and performs, how do you incorporate sustainability into your lifestyle on the road?
A: I LOVE to go to thrift stores around the country. It's how I get to know the local style, and new thrifted clothing items are the best tour souvenirs. I try to build show outfits around thrifted pieces—it's add another layer of creativity to the show.
Q: Do you think fashion can be a tool for protest or cultural commentary—and have you used it that way?
A: Absolutely. There were a few years where I only wore protest T-shirts at every show. T-shirts are also walking pieces of art and getting to incorporate someone else's expression of art and protest during my show feels really powerful. Fashion is also a really cool way to incorporate my culture into my art. Recently I've been wearing a vest at a few shows that used to be my great-aunt Jo's. It feels like my ancestors are with me when I wear it.
Q: If you could rewrite one fashion norm or myth, what would it be?
A: I would re-write the norm that we have to have different outfits at every event, show or social media post. It's time that we normalize re-wearing outfits.
Q: How do you balance creativity, self-expression, and ethical consumption in an industry that often prioritizes flash and fast trends?
A: It's definitely a hard balance and it's so easy to want to keep up with fashion influencers who seem to have an endless closet. I try to stay grounded and remember that the music will speak for itself and there's no reason to be spending all of my money on fast fashion and things that I will only wear for one show. I find it very creative to be intentional with what I wear and making sure it's sustainable and authentic to me as an environmentally conscious artist.
Q: Do you think about fast fashion and its environmental footprint when choosing stage outfits or what to wear in public?
A: Absolutely. Recently, I have actually been doing more clothing rentals. So it's second hand but almost third, fourth or fifth hand. It feels good to wear something and then give it back. It feels more sustainable. And then I can try new things and mix it up for different shows.
