WH You started off in graphic design. What made you pivot to textile design?

CS It honestly doesn’t feel like much of a pivot to me. At University I studied illustration. I then pursued a career in Graphic Design believing this was the most viable way to make a living but the jobs I had always traced the border between graphic design and something else and I often sought projects that occupied physical spaces, larger environmental graphics, experiential projects, events and even interior design. It feels very interconnected.

WH What made you decide to open a business in Lisbon?

CS Before I went on maternity leave, whilst I was still living in Los Angeles I knew that I needed to work for myself. That seed was set and my brain was off running wild with what that could look like. I had this very vivid dream, of a space where my Mum and I had designed silk scarves and I considered this an ah-ha moment. The move to Lisbon just gave the dream the opportunity to take shape.

WH Was the process of opening a store in a foreign country daunting?

CS My husband and I are heavily guided by instinct, our life’s pattern is to jump in and figure it out as we go. I am not sure we know another way to do things, we are missing that initial lack of fear but we do often look at each other afterwards and think, wow, what did we just do. With Bryon Studios specifically, It’s still early days, we have the limitations and benefits of funding it ourselves and the fear does creep in, I do have hurdles that are unique to doing business in Portugal, but I really feel like I am doing what I am supposed to do and I have so much I want to acomplish, to dwell on it too long.

“Not only have these women become friends but they have been my sounding board, a place to get advise and they have also been the people that showed up to every event, purchased my first products and shared my business with their friends. ”

WH What were the steps you followed to set up your business in Lisbon?

CS A few years ago I had organized some casual breakfast events to connect other creative business women together, it wasn’t anything very formal but the group that formed through this has been so important to starting my business. Not only have these women become friends but they have been my sounding board, a place to get advise and they have also been the people that showed up to every event, purchased my first products and shared my business with their friends.

WH Your space is so beautiful. Did you do research on locations beforehand?

CS Thank you. I was really lucky with my space. I had been looking for 2 years and I actually came close to signing on two other spaces that would have been a really bad decision in hindsight. I had put on pause looking when this space became available. It needed some love but the architecture had so much originality, personality and light, I could visualize what it could be and it was achievable. I quickly made a presentation to the owner to convince him I was the right business for the space and I am so grateful that it worked. I landed a great contractor a fabulous carpenter and with this little power team we gave the space it’s new life.

My inspiration for the space was the colours from the inside of a honeydew melon and I wanted a gentle and ethereal home for my textiles to be born.

WH What is the greatest challenge of being a working mom?

CS It is a tale as old as time there isn’t enough hours in the day and in a creative role it’s hard to have so many distractions. The flip side of it all is that I’m a lot better with my time and swifter with the decisions I make

WH Do you have a support system to help you juggle motherhood and career?

CS My husband works overseas a lot and so Monday to Friday I have help but this isn’t just regular help. Michele originally started off working for us as a nanny for my youngest when we moved to Lisbon but since then she has become my right-hand person, helping with both my family life and business. She is very smart and resourceful and I am not sure I’d have been able to do any of this without her. I’m horrible at asking for help but I’m lucky to have a lot of people in my orbit who support me, cheer me on, feed me and remind me to pee. (This is a real thing)

WH What is your best advice for combining/balancing work and motherhood?

CS I keep reminding myself of the long game. Motherhood is a series of phases and so the balance of home life and work constantly adjust. The success now mentality can really throw me off course so i remember that building, growing, and learning happens at its own rate.

I think flexibility is important, plans will change and change again. Because I work for myself I have the chance to find ways to blend my family life with work, my children have a den in my studio that I built for them, I ask their opinions on the things I am working on and they have contributed to my business in many big and small ways. A friend of mine recently gave me some great advise for that moment when children inevitably point out that your attention is with work. I had started down the path of explaining why work is important financially but my friend suggested reframing it and telling them how important my work was to me, how I feel I am good at it and enjoy XYZ.

Quickies

Current Projects? I am working on a new collection of textiles and an exhibition at the studio that I will launch during Lisbon Design Week at the end of May.

Favorite Book? Falling cloudberries, it’s a cookbook I’ve had a long time and it reminds me of a childhood friend.

Favorite Kids Book? Elmer, is a book I look at all the time, just to absorb its brilliant colour palette but I’ve just finished reading the BFG to my children and I’d forgotten how brilliant this book is.

Favorite kid friendly spots? I find every restaurant in Lisbon to be kid friendly so I take them everywhere but my ‘secret’ spot for young families is the canteen at the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga because it’s in a lovely garden and the children can eat and play (you can enter through the side door)

Favorite local restaurant? I’m geographically blessed by having Skizzo so close, it’s the new delicious spot but I am also fond of O’Arêgos for a traditional Portuguese neighborhood experience.

On repeat on your playlist? I was blasting Rich Girl, Hall & Oats at the studio last night and it made me smile so I played it again, a bit louder. Also, Hey by We are King is my gentle day starter song at the moment.

Favorite Podcast? Homing In and Talking Gardens, gardening podcasts are so comforting.

Second Act: Chloe Skinner Founder of Bryon Studios

Wunder Mom Alex Schinasi Shares Her 2025 Family & Business Goals