Krista M. West

Biography

Krista West was born in Portland, Oregon and began sewing at the age of 4. Her love of handcrafts as a child and her conversion to Orthodox Christianity in 1993 led into an interest in Orthodox ecclesiastical vesture. She apprenticed with Leslie Schaill of Traditional Cassocks and Vestments from 1994 to 1997 and began Krista West Vestments in 1997. Her focus quickly became on the Greek-style and while the majority of her work is in this arena, she also is interested in maintaining distinct styles of vesture within Orthodox Christianity. To that end, she has sewn for the clergy of many jurisdictions.

In 2002, Krista began to research the origins of Orthodox Christian vestments. In 2004, she travelled to Greece to participate in a museum conservation course hosted by the Greek Ministry of Culture which preventively conserved the ecclesiastical garments of the Gonia monastery in Kolimbari, Crete. Her research and field work led to her podcast "The Opinionated Tailor" which began airing on Ancient Faith Radio in 2008. She has written various articles on ecclesiastical garments and continues to research multiple aspects of this field, including natural dyestuffs and early Byzantine textile history. She has lectured at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, St. Vladimir's School of Theology and St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary as well as at parish retreats.

Kh. Krista is married to Fr. Alban West, pastor of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Portland, Oregon and is mother to three daughters.