Founded by Kimberly Bennefield — maker, modern quilter, and sneaker designer. NW Pepper is where quilting traditions meet footwear culture.
NW Pepper exists to cultivate and share creativity, inspiring others through a positive and supportive environment. Founded by Kimberly Bennefield — an avid sewist, modern quilter, bag maker, and sneaker designer — NW Pepper began in 2015 as a creative outlet that quickly grew into a thriving community.
In 2018, Kimberly was elected President of Portland's Modern Quilt Guild, growing it to a record nearly 400 members. With 20+ years in technology and design at companies like Nike and Intel, Kimberly brings a unique UX design lens to the maker world.
Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
Kimberly won the SRGN Academy Student Lab competition in January 2023 with her custom design “Woman King,” following an intensive sneaker deconstruction and reconstruction workshop with The Shoe Surgeon.
Read more ↗Featured in a December 2025 spotlight interview on Create Whimsy, exploring how a background in UX design shapes an approach to quilted sneakers, garments, and modern quilting.
Read more ↗Teaching at QuiltCon 2026 almost didn’t happen. Here’s the story behind the sessions — and the gospel song that got me there.
Read more ↗NW Pepper workshops are available for quilting guilds, fabric shops, and creative communities. Let's build something together.
