David Chum is a professionally trained artist and self-taught designer from Boston. He holds a B.F.A. from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. At an early age, David enjoyed drawing Disney-inspired ballgowns. In junior high, he took a Home Economics class and learned how to sew a pillow. In high school, he designed costumes for the theater company competitively.

In 2008, he decided to take a chance and pursue his desire to start his own clothing line. He bought some pattern drafting textbooks and got to work. In 2009 David launched his line, Selah D'or.

Selah D'or (sell-lah door) is a play on the phrase "cellar door," a combination of words that J.R.R. Tolkien once characterized as sounding especially beautiful.