Brenda Palomino
Brenda, a native of Talara, Peru, grew up between the desert sand and the ocean. A quiet and curious child, she often preferred solitude, experimenting with whatever materials she could find and constantly imagining new ways to create.
When her family moved to Alabama when she was eleven, everything changed, but art remained her constant. By thirteen, she was already studying art through correspondence courses. After moving to Washington State, Brenda’s curiosity expanded toward STEM, and she immersed herself in high school robotics, forensic science, and volunteer work with the Red Cross. She later studied Biology in college and went on to work in biomedical research.
Over time, however, she realized she missed creating with her hands. Brenda returned to Peru to attend fashion school and launch a children’s clothing company with her mother and sister. It was there that she began experimenting with seaweed and biomaterials, discovering that the scientist and the artist within her could not only coexist, but thrive together. Now back in Seattle, Brenda continues her work as a biomaterial designer and accepts commissions for garments made from sea moss bio-leather.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“I am Onemiddlechild, a Seattle-based textile designer and material researcher. Having grown up between the saltwater, the sun, and the wind, I learned early on that nothing remains untouched; I want my work to embody that exact impermanence. By merging my scientific background with my coastal upbringing, I developed my sea moss bio-leather, a project that challenges the “forced immortality” of the fashion industry by intentionally designing the “exit” of a garment. My goal is to pioneer a future for fashion that is as regenerative as it is beautiful.”
Ten Quick Questions
What is the story behind your name? The name Onemiddlechild is a reflection of my own family (my birth order), but it has grown into the guiding philosophy of my work, and my perspective of our collective place in the world. Being a middle child means living between two worlds. In my practice, I sit in the middle of a laboratory and a fashion atelier: translating nature and biology into the language of fashion design. I also see us all as ‘middle children’ of the earth. We weren’t the first to arrive, and we won’t be the last to stay. We exist in the middle of a continuous cycle. To me, being part of the middle isn’t about being overlooked; it’s about acknowledging that we are a part of something much larger than ourselves.
What is a book you would recommend to a friend? Momo, by Michael Ende. It is a book I read as a child, and a book I would recommend to everyone, no matter their age. It is an easy read, but a story that will stay with you forever.
What is one of your pet peeves? When someone visits a hike, a beach, or any natural space and leaves trash behind. It feels like a total lack of respect for the place.
What is a noise or sound you love/hate? The sound of crashing waves. It reminds me of camping with my father. A night that was cool and windy, but never cold. As the world grew quiet, the ocean seemed to edge closer. It wasn’t that the tide was rising; it was just that the silence of the night gave the water a louder voice.
What is a smell you love/hate? I love the smell of wood and lillies.
Where is a favorite place on Earth? The beach. Any waterfront calms me down; it’s where I go to clear my mind. No matter what country I’m in, the ocean always feels like home.
What is a dream you have? I want to establish a materials lab alongside my fashion brand. My goal is to create work that inspires people to explore new advances in fashion and technology, innovations that actually move in harmony with our ecosystem.
What was an embarrassing moment in your life? Probably when I was ten, and the wind blew my skirt away. My sisters and cousins went sprinting after it while my friends tried to cover me up. It was mortifying then, but now I look back on it as a really fond, funny memory.
When was the last time you cried? Recently, I saw the physical space where we will be opening the Rapozza* store. It’s such a big step, and seeing it in person made me feel like everything was finally falling into place.
What is something most people don’t know about you? I am a dancer. I perform Marinera and Tondero, which are traditional Peruvian dances, and I’ve performed them in theaters and venues in different places.
*Rapozza is the children’s clothing brand started by Brenda, her mom and her sister.
