The Story Behind BILY
Meet Lily and Discover the Heart Behind BILY
Meet Lily
Hi, I’m Lily Thomas, the founder of BILY.
I always dreamed of travelling. In 2025, I spent eight months travelling around Asia learning about the craftsmanship in each region. Throughout my journey, I fell in love with the complexity of traditional craft; the way it is intertwined with culture, heritage and identity.
I learnt the connective power of craft, the liberation of travel and the confidence that comes with self expression.
I hope that through BILY, we can create a community of like minded creatives ready to take on new adventures.
Trousers CRAFTED THROUGH EXPERIENCE
BILY Clothing was born from my first hand experience of travelling. The trousers are designed to carry you through every aspect of your day whether than be relaxing, hiking or drinking a sipping an cocktail!
A Journey Through Craft
Throughout my travels, I explored local traditions of making textiles and clothing.
Laotian Weaving
The women in Vientiane, Laos hand weave fabric with intricate patterns, each stitch telling a story of heritage and tradition passed down through generations. These fabrics are used locally to create traditional clothing such as Sinh Skirts.
I spent a week at Houey Hong Vocational Center, learning how to weave (and the therapeutic benefits of it!!)
Indonesian Batik
Indonesian artisans print patterns onto fabric using wax, creating beautiful designs that are deeply rooted in culture and community traditions.
The BILY Mission
Through BILY, I hope to create a community of people who respect craftsmanship and seek to learn more about it. I hope to inspire others to travel and make things with their hands so they can benefit from the power of craft – the connection and community that is inextricable from it.
Join the Journey
I fell in love with these art forms and how they are so deeply rooted in culture, heritage and community. Every BILY piece carries this spirit forward.