M-Horton Clothing
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did you decide to make bike clothing?
It's more of a desire to make comfortable clothing that works in all areas of my life. I learned to ride a bike late in life, around 26 or so, and started bike commuting in San Francisco shortly after. I didn't have the money to buy new clothes to accommodate the range of motion needed to cycle comfortably in wind, rain, traffic, etc while still holding onto my personal style. So I started looking at what I had that worked and how it worked while looking at what was available on the market. I realized that I could incorporate some of the materials, keep production small, make things in house and still compete on price point with the bigger corporations while keeping things local. Once I started telling my friends about this idea everyone suddenly had something they really wanted but couldn't find in a store. Mostly it was a desire for pants and skirts that they could bike to work in and then go right into the workday.
2. What kind of bird is that riding a bike?
I'm pretty sure it's a partridge, maybe a magpie? I really don't know but I am somewhat obsessed with finding out what it's called. It's clipart.
3. Do you do custom orders?
YES! I encourage custom orders! I also teach sewing classes in my studio. Visit the website or give me a call for more information.
4.What kind of sewing classes do you teach?
I generally keep it to beginning level project based classes. It keeps it light and fun and the students leave with something to show off and all the instructions to make more as well as ideas for how to expand the techniques into other projects.
5. So you say you're from Portland, where are you from?
I was born in Portland and raised in outer SE and went to Centennial High School. Since then I've lived in Santa Maria and San Francisco CA, St Louis MO, NYC and Portland Maine (I was always curious about the other Portland)
6. Why did you Leave Portland?
When I was growing up here in the late 80's I didn't feel like there were great opportunities in the arts and I had a huge longing for the big city. Since then I've been to 49 states, lived on both coasts, in the middle and done some minor international travel. I am relieved to be back in Portland and grateful for all of the experiences and people I've met. I'm much more open and precise creatively.
7. How Often do you ride your bike?
Lately I haven't been riding as much, I got in a couple of accidents and I'm having a lot of pain so I'm only taking short rides these days. I've been carpooling lately and keeping a bike in my office for errands around SE. My chiropractor told me the best thing I can do for my alignment is walk, so I've been taking more walks, doing restorative yoga and reminding myself to relax. I'm hoping come spring to trade in my old bikes for a new used one and start taking the 8 mile commute from Milwalkie into work.
8. How many times have you been over your handlebars?
2 times, 5 stitches, 1 broken glasses, 1 black eye. I think I've been real lucky, never a car involved. The second time was the worst, I got caught in the tracks late at night in an industrial area after a night class that I'd been taking and it was totally my fault for being in a hurry and not paying attention. I couldn't call in sick to work because it was crunch time so I powered through with a cane. I'm still healing from that one and it was months ago! I've always been clumsy, I don't ski or skate, I used to tell people I was born to walk. That is until I learned how to ride a bike, I took up snowshoeing too!