Local Artist Turns Coachella Fashion Into $30K Donation for Farmworker Women

Tonight, one local artist is proving that creativity can go far beyond the canvas—making a meaningful impact in the community.

Eli Rae, a Coachella Valley-based artist with years of experience in the music industry, has combined her artistic talent with festival culture to create a unique line of hand-painted shirts. The designs feature vibrant fruits, symbolizing what she calls the backbone of the Coachella Valley: farmworkers.

The shirts, sold during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, quickly caught attention—not just for their bold, colorful style, but for the message behind them. For Rae, seeing people wear her art in such a high-profile setting was already surreal. But what she did next made the project even more impactful.

Instead of keeping any profits, Rae donated 100% of the proceeds to Líderes Campesinas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women who work in the fields. The cause is deeply personal—Rae says both her mother and grandmother were farmworkers.

She shared that a message from her aunt, saying her grandmother would be proud, meant everything to her. Ray says immigrant families often hope for better opportunities for the next generation, and this project is her way of honoring that legacy.

After both weekends of the festival, the initiative raised roughly $30,000—all of which went directly to the organization. Leaders at Líderes Campesinas say donations like these are critical in helping them expand programs, provide essential services, and ensure farmworker women in the Eastern Coachella Valley have the resources they need to thrive.

Rae’s work is a powerful reminder that art can do more than inspire—it can uplift entire communities. Below is the link if you would like to purchase Rae's shirt.

https://shop.coachella.com/