Shelby Steiner is a contemporary womenswear label inspired by a blend of places, objects, sounds, and experiences. Each piece is mindfully made with fine materials and construction. Shelby Steiner is based in Portland, Oregon.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do. I am a womenswear designer & entrepreneur.

How did your interest in art or fashion begin? It was intuitive from the beginning. I began learning from self then a dressmaker in my hometown. After high school, I sought out a fine arts degree at Columbia College then launched Shelby Steiner LLC in 2012 during my tenure at the Chicago Fashion Incubator.

#1 fashion don’t? Following the trends. It is important to think for yourself.

If you had to explain your work or brand to a stranger, what would you say? Shelby Steiner is a contemporary womenswear label inspired by a blend of places, objects, sounds, and experiences. Each piece is mindfully made with fine materials and construction. Based in Portland, Oregon, USA.

What artists or designers are you interested in right now? Any human being that is or has challenged the status quo. A few favorites are Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Andrea Reynders, and Rei Kawakubo.

What are your thoughts about the fashion scene in Portland? Function over form. Everyone in Portland is simply being him or herself. There aren’t any rules and judgment is very rare. It is refreshing.

What is your snack of choice when working in your studio? Whole milk with cookies.

What are you really excited about right now? West Coast Craft fair in San Francisco Nov 14 & 15. You can find me there both days.

If you hadn’t become a designer what do you think you’d be doing? Working in the tech industry.

What are you listening to right now? Ludovico Einaudi.