Brown Hands Stained Blue: Stitching An Indigo Seam Between Two Identities.

October 2025 - September 2026

Rene Camarillo will produce a collection of hand made garments intended to highlight the migration of Chicano culture being adopted into various sections of Japan. Being born and raised in East Los Angeles, Camarillo learned about Chicano aesthetic influencing sections of Japan. This cross cultural exchange inspired and motivated him to develop garments which feature both traditional Japanese techniques with classic Chicano elements. The work he will develop for the Fulbright project will be grounded in new experience as he will be an apprentice studying under dye master Kenta Watanabe in Tokushima, Japan. Dedicating time working on Watanabe’s Indigo farm, Rene will study indigo cultivation and Sukumo production from the seed to dye. Furthermore, through Watanabe Farm, he will be granted opportunities to visit collaborative textile, weaving and sewing factories to assist in his studies and extend his apparel project possibilities. It is then, through a second affiliation with Kyoto Seika University that Rene will work with Mitsuhiro Kokita who will mentor him and provide expert advice with the production of an apparel collection. Rene will develop a collection of slowly made garments.

“I want the blue to stain past my wrists.”

More will be developed and exposed soon…