About us

Allow us to introduce you to HipStrings. We are a fiber arts company founded by Jill & Nicolas Duarte in 2013 with the purpose of using “new” materials and technology to bring a modern twist to the ancient fiber arts. In addition, one of our core beliefs is that tools should be a joy to use and a delight to behold. This unique combination is an extension of ourselves; we both come with a background in science and engineering, and we are both avid fiber artists, enjoying knitting, crochet, spinning, and weaving.

All of our laser etched tools are made in house and we source our supplies through relationships with wholesalers from around the world.  All of our fiber is sourced from humane and ethical suppliers, and when possible we take care to source environmentally friendly supplies such as Greener Shades dyes, Eurolana Acid Dyes, fibers dyed to meet Oeko - Tex 100 standards, and Organic and Earth Friendly cottons.

Our products are a reflection of who we are, who we have been and who we want to be. Our company values are our personal values. We value fair labor practices and environmental consciousness whenever possible. We source whenever possible from the US and Europe towards this purpose. We dye with heavy metal free dyes and always from pure dyes, creating our own unique colors. We don't do artificial scarcity. We embrace traditions and hope to bring them new life through modern adaptation. We love collaboration. We follow our passions, not trends.

Jill Duarte

Jill is an avid fiber artist, continuing a family tradition of crochet.  Now she knits, spins, dyes, weaves and sometimes felts.  Jill has a Ph.D. in Molecular Evolutionary Biology, but left academia to pursue a family, and now her own business.  She is inordinately fond of short stapled fibers and fast spinning tools.  

Nicolas Duarte

Nik loves to dive into all things soft.  Starting in the fiber arts world with knitting, Nik has expanded into spinning and a bit of weaving.  Nik has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and has used his skills to bring a modern twist to classic fiber arts tools.  He loves learning new skills and teaching them to others.