About the Creator...
b. East Los Angeles
Rene Camarillo is an East Los Angeles born and raised creator who produces textiles and handcrafted apparel with themes of immigrant realities, neglected labor, and critique on the social engagement of fast fashion industry practices. Through his work, Rene investigates “privilege pluralism”, a concept in which he questions intersectionality and the blatant distance between consumer and producer for American society. With intention to highlight the disruption of capitalism and the mass commodification of immigrant labor, Camarillo continues to examine the tapestry of East Los Angeles diaspora and produce storytelling artworks which are inspired by his own personal upbringing and realities of underprivileged lives. Camarillo’s conceptual framework is confidently entangled with violence, trauma, and what he curiously describes as “rituals, unseen”. With storytelling collections and wearable art that investigate the prescribed narrative of the Latinx existence, Camarillo established the design label, destacarse., where Rene Camarillo hand weaves cloth, patterns, constructs, and produces each abstract garment with both integrity and curiosity.
Rene James Camarillo
destacarse.designs@gmail.com | (323) 309-0190
Education:
2025 | MFA Textiles, Rhode Island School of Design
2021 | BA Fashion Fiber Materials, California State University of Los Angeles
2019 | AA Fashion Design, Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Residencies:
2021 | Online Residency, American Craft Council
2021 | Fledgling Artist Residency, Crafting the Future, Los Angeles, CA
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2024 | Drinking from a Poison Chalice, Memorial Hall Gallery, Providence, RI
2024 | The Art of Costume, The Los Angeles Makery, Los Angeles, CA
2024 | Coalesce Happenstance, Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, RI
2024 | Intimate Objects, Bowen Gallery, Providence, RI
2024 | The Living Urn, Gellman Gallery, Providence, RI
2023 | RISD Textile Graduate Biennial, Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, RI
2023 | Crafting the Future, Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art, San Bernardino, CA
2021 | Senior Exhibition, Ronald H. Silverman Fine Arts Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Solo Runway Shows:
2018 | Travieso, Civic Center Studios, Los Angeles, CA
2017 | Sinner Man, The Reef, Los Angeles, CA
2015 | The Boy Who Dreamt Of Losing Teeth, The Reef, Los Angeles, CA
Selected Group Runway Shows:
2017 | LA Fashion Week Event, Red Tie Productions, Los Angeles, CA
2015 | The Fit Fashion Show, Maker City, Los Angeles, CA
2014 | Out of the Box Fashion Show, The Vex, Los Angeles, CA
Professional Experience Positions:
2023 - 2024 | Dye Lab Monitor, Textiles Department, RISD, Providence, RI
2023 | Product Developer, S1C, Los Angeles, CA
2020 - 2022 | Senior Fashion Designer, White Label Connection, Los Angeles, CA
2015 | Fashion Design Internship, Rosa Limon, Los Angeles, CA
Publications and Interviews:
2024| "Dissecting Destacarse", The New Absurdist
2024 | “Meet Rene Camarillo, Weaver and Garment Producer”, Shoutout LA
2023 | “Meet Rene Camarillo”, Canvas Rebel
2023 | “Rene Camarillo, Garment and Textile Creative”, Shoutout LA
2022 | “Conversations with Rene Camarillo”, VoyageLA Magazine
2022 | “Rene Camarillo, Apparel Investigator and Creator”, Shoutout LA
2018 | “Interview with Rene Camarillothe Designer Behind Destacarse”, Viste La Calle
2018 | "El Sereno Designer Creates Bold Clothes that Honor LGBT Community”, Boyle Heights Beat
2017 | "Destacarse Fashion Show Pays Tribute to Transgender Community”, Boyle Heights Beat
2015| “New Designers at the Fit Runway Show” California Apparel News
Artist Presentations:
2023 | Fashion Industry Panel Discussion, CSULB x PRSSA
2021 | Emerging Artist Portfolio Talk, Textile Arts LA
Craft School Workshops:
2021 | “Skins, Skeletons, Nets, and Knots”, Penland School of Craft, NC
Notable Honors and Awards:
2023 | Society of Presidential Fellowship Award, Rhode Island School of Design
2021 | Studio Residency and Study Grant Award, Crafting the Future
2021 | Summa Cum Laude, California State University of Los Angeles
2018 | Certificate of Community Appreciation, City of Los Angeles
2014 | Certificate of Recognition, California Legislature Assembly Dist. 14
2014 | Gold Thimble Award, Los Angeles Trade Technical College
2014 | Menswear Design Scholarship, Los Angeles Trade Technical College