About toolly

 

toolly’s founder, Berlin-based textile designer Tomo Pook, was born in 1972 in Japan. She grew up surrounded by sewing materials and tools, as her mother was a dressmaker and a kimono dresser. During a trip to NYC in the 90s, she was fascinated by the city’s magical energy and instantly decided to move there.

She studied textile and surface design at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology). After graduating from FIT, she worked as a textile designer at a renowned fashion house for several years.

Tomo relocated to Berlin, Germany, in 2003 after finding new inspiration in Berlin’s eco lifestyle and witnessing the growth of the ethical fashion scene. She soon became involved in working with organic fabrics, yet quickly realized that the selection of sustainable sewing tools was much more limited than that of organic fabrics and yarns. That’s when Tomo decided to open toolly, an online store where she offers sewing and darning tools that are sustainable, useful, and well designed.

Since 2024, Tomo has been focusing on textile maintenance and repair, especially wool knits, offering darning workshops and mending services. She finds great joy and satisfaction in applying the knowledge and skills she has gained over many years in textiles to help people restore valuable knitwear—or truly one-of-a-kind pieces—so they can be worn longer, while also contributing to the reduction of unnecessary textile waste.

She enjoys her precious free time by taking walks in the woods and cooking, finding moments of rest between the long hours of detailed repair work.