ABOUT HUGO PINEDA

Hugo Pineda is widely considered the premier tie-dye artist on the scene today.  With each wring and fold, he continues to develop the infinite possibilities of the art of tie-dye.  Whether it’s a tapestry or a t-shirt, each Hugo is a unique creation, a work of art.

Hugo began creating tie-dyes as a teenager in the late ‘60s.  He started out like anyone else, with a bucket and a box of RIT dye. An early and enthusiastic Deadhead, by the ‘80s he was supporting his show habit by selling tie-dyes on Grateful Dead tours. When people began to seek him out for his t-shirts and tapestries, he decided to create tie-dyes full-time.

Hugo’s hobby turned into an aesthetic as he began to draw on Japanese paper dying techniques, origami, and his own technique of folding and wringing out fabrics. By his own account, he’s tied more knots than any sailor on the planet. He’s developed a subtle color palette that’s warm, always organic-feeling, and never garish.

His pieces have graced the stage of many bands including the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Dave Matthews Band to name a few.  

When you wear a Hugo, inevitably someone will recognize it.  If you’re at a show, or walking down the street, or even standing in line at the grocery store, don’t be surprised when a stranger exclaims: “Nice Hugo!” There’s a nod of recognition, a mutual connection. A stranger becomes a friend.

Once you’ve experienced a Hugo, you’ll never look at tie-dye the same way again.