Era 2: Stitch by Stitch — Liby Tolm of Elite Knitting and Looking Friday

From Kazakhstan to New York to Austin, Liby Tolm has spent 14 years turning yarn into art and building a fashion house that does things entirely on her own terms.

Lawson and Don sit down with the founder of Elite Knitting Studio and Looking Friday to talk about crochet, couture, community, and why fast fashion is ruining everything. Liby moved to Austin from New York because she wanted to — simple as that — and has spent the time since building a sample-making team, earning a Nest Guild Handcrafted Certified mark, working with designers on film and TV, recreating heirloom pieces for families who lost everything in the California fires, and hosting community gatherings to bring Austin and San Antonio's fashion world together.

We also find out Don crocheted a scarf at age 10 and has never fully recovered from the experience.

We get into why natural fibers are non-negotiable for anyone doing handcraft work in Texas heat, why trends move so fast now that the best strategy is to just make what you love, how Lawson and Liby connected through Fashion Group International during the pandemic while Lawson was wearing a full glam dress and house slippers, and why Liby hopes her pieces end up in a vintage store one day.

Her upcoming couture collection is called Angels and Demons. We are ready.

Real talk. Texas brewed. ☕

Connect with Liby Tolm
🔗 eliteknitting.com
🔗 lookingfriday.com
📸 @eliteknitting
📸 @lookingfriday
📧 [email protected]
📞 347-278-5610

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Libby Tome and Elite Knitting
02:45 The Impact of the Pandemic on Community and Networking
03:58 Ad Break
04:40 Covid Friendships
06:23 Libby's Journey from Kazakhstan to the Fashion Industry
09:18 The Fashion Scene in Texas: Opportunities and Challenges
12:09 Building Community in the Fashion Industry
15:01 Creative Process and Inspiration in Knitting
17:57 Elite Knitting: Custom Creations and Client Stories
20:44 Looking Friday: Couture and Ready-to-Wear Fashion
22:11 The Fast-Paced World of Fashion Design
23:59 Ad Break
24:42 Fast Fashion Continued
28:54 Navigating Trends in Fashion
34:53 The Influence of Local Culture on Design
38:04 Future Aspirations and Upcoming Collections
42:10 Outro

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Real talk. Texas brewed. ☕