With a design aesthetic all her own, Sossity Chiricuzio began Diesel Femme by creating unique clothing in a variety of materials, from vintage slips to everyday hardware. The Portland-based designer offers custom and off-the-rack creations with both feminine and masculine appeal; her growing fanbase inspired Chiricuzio to expand her brand to housewares. “Creating word of mouth, building a client base, learning new skills and improving others, finding the best base materials (especially as mine are almost entirely repurposed), figuring out the market for my products—these things all have a learning curve,” Chiricuzio says. “Without patience I’d have given up in frustration. Passion is the piece that keeps me going, keeps me excited. I have passion for what I’m doing, and who I’m doing it for, and above all, why I’m doing it.”
