'Project Runway' winner named chair of fashion design at Idyllwild Arts Academy
New York, Paris and Idyllwild.
The thread that connects these three places is not what it seems, and Kentaro Kameyama, the new chair of fashion design at Idyllwild Arts Academy holds the needle.
Kameyama is a previous winner of the televised fashion competition "Project Runway,” and he quickly garnered the attention of the fashion world after his victory.
"After the show, a lot of people wanted to work with me," Kameyama said. "I had sponsors send me to Paris and New York — I was able to do big fashion shows."
He participated in the Emmy-nominated reality series in 2017 before landing his educational role at the academy, which provides pre-professional training in the arts to gifted teens in a boarding school setting.
"I was more interested in educating and fostering younger talent rather than just creating typical designer work," Kameyama said.
There were many applicants for the position, and Jeanette Louise Yaryan, the assistant head of school at Idyllwild Arts, said she was delighted to interview Kameyama.
“One of the things he brings to every conversation is a curiosity and a very inquisitive approach to things,” Yaryan said. “He's very creative and that's always clear anytime you talk to him.”
Kameyama's department chair position was supposed to start in the fall, but he got an opportunity to join the faculty early due to a shortage of teachers.
In the spring, Kameyama taught intermediate, advanced fashion design classes at Idyllwild Arts before his official start as head of fashion.
“They (students) were very excited because they all knew who he was,” Yaryan said. “He's very clear, communicating ideas and getting them to do the execution that he's looking for.”
“He's a good teacher,” Yaryan said.
Kameyama wants to use his professional expertice to give students real-world opportunities in fashion. He hopes to see the students featured in large fashion shows and wants to connect them with people within the industry, she said.
“He's just a wonderfully positive presence,” Yaryan said. “He's so encouraging of other people and so encouraging of a student's work — it's just wonderful to have him here.”
Kameyama said designers usually produce work that adheres only to their particular style, but working with students allowed him to widen his perspective.
"I do have my aesthetic," Kameyama said. "But working with so many people — students come up with things I would never imagine."
Kameyama wants to see his students create beautiful pieces that could "move people's hearts," but knows that education is a voyage that varies between individuals.
He said every student is different and some students may require hands-on attention while others may want a more hands-off approach.
"I never know," he said. "Thats part of the things I'm excited about the unknown journey."
For more information
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Kentaro Kameyama from 'Project Runway' joins Idyllwild Arts staff
