Caraa's New Fencing Collection Was Designed by Someone Who's Been on Every Side of the Strip

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by Bryan Wendell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Aaron Luo has always worn a lot of hats at fencing tournaments. He competes as a Vet-40 Men's Epee fencer and member of Fencers Club in New York City. He coaches and cheers on his two fencing sons. And now, at events across the country, he'll be adding a third role: the person behind the bags everyone is carrying.

Luo is the co-founder and CEO of Caraa, a New York-based accessories brand that produces design-forward bags built for active, on-the-go lifestyles — without sacrificing style. He fenced in high school and college, then rediscovered the sport shortly after launching Caraa in 2014, and he has been a fixture in the fencing community ever since, including serving as an executive advisor to USA Fencing's CEO.

That depth of experience means he already knows exactly what fencers are hauling, where they're headed and what their gear needs to do. The Caraa x USA Fencing collection — now available at caraa.co — is his answer.

"Fencing is more than a sport to me — it's a way of life. The lessons I've learned as both a fencer and a coach have shaped how I approach business and leadership every day," says Luo. "When it comes to fashion, fencing has historically left little room for personal expression, with athletes required to wear a standard uniform. Through this collaboration, we hope to show that the sport can be elevated through thoughtful high-end design, bringing a new level of creativity and modern fashion into the space."

The limited-edition collection features three pieces, each crafted from slubbed metallic laminate nylon with Caraa's signature cloud construction and accented with fencing-inspired patches and a custom collaboration lining. All proceeds from the collection will benefit the U.S. Fencing Foundation, supporting the art and sport of fencing and helping to inspire and develop the next generation of fencers.

The Backpack is built for travel, tournament days and everyday school use, featuring a luggage sleeve, exterior bottle pockets and an interior laptop sleeve for organized, effortless carrying. It also includes an odor-resistant lining and is sized to fit a fencing mask — details that go well beyond the average bag.

The Insulated Tote is designed for families navigating long tournament days, keeping snacks and refreshments within easy reach for competing fencers when staying fueled matters most.

The Sling offers a compact silhouette with ample room for essentials, plus a slip pocket on the exterior back designed to keep a phone within easy reach at all times.

All three pieces are available in Steel for the full fencing community. A Pearl version — featuring "OLY" and "PLY" on the straps — is available exclusively for purchase by USA Fencing's Olympians and Paralympians.

The launch campaign, visible now on Caraa's Instagram page (@caraasport), features some of the sport's most recognizable names showing off the collection: Anne Cebula OLY, Ari Simmons, Bryce Louie, Jackie Dubrovich OLY, Maia Chamberlain OLY and Nick Itkin OLY — four of whom represented the United States at the Olympic Games.

The collection is available now at caraa.co and will make its in-person debut at Summer Nationals in Portland, Ore., June 27-July 6, where fans can purchase the bags on-site."Aaron isn't just a partner — he's one of us, and he has been for a long time," says Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing. "Having someone who competes, coaches his kids and now brings a world-class accessories brand to our community is exactly the kind of partnership we've been building toward."