Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Cauthen.
Hi Emily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Inspired by my Meme’s jewelry box treasures, Bygone Bolos is a way to creatively celebrate pieces from the past by giving them new life in style as a bolo tie, boot bolo or a bag bolo charm!
In addition to filling my wardrobe with my Meme’s sparkles over the years, my Granddaddy would sport jewelry from Santa Fe. Suffice it to say, I had very stylish grandparents from both sides of the family! My mom and I inherited my Granddad’s jewelry collection and among it were several of his bolos. What started out as a walk down memory lane, turned into a small (and growing) business when my husband, Chad said, “You could sell bolos similar to the ones you’ve created out of your own family heirlooms.”
With my background in fashion and cherished memories with grandparents, I craft curated pieces made with love and thoughtful intention. My hope is that each customer finds a piece that might evoke this same nostalgia inside of them!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Owning your own business is never smooth, but I do consider myself so fortunate as my family and friends are all so supportive! With each pop-up or market we learn something new together and stay open to feedback. It’s not always perfect and you might find yourself sayng “could’ve, would’ve, should’ve!” I’m learning to give myself and others grace. There is ALWAYS next time and if I’ve learned anything from this business venture, it is to let the pieces fall into place. With dreams, drive and creativity, what is meant to happen will be!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bygone Bolos doesn’t just design and craft bolos, it’s so much more than that. It’s about paying an homage to pieces from our past. It’s remembering fashion as art and what’s coming back. It’s preserving your heirloom and memories through our custom revival process and creating a momentous experience with a bolo bar at your wedding, a ladies’ night out or a unique team building moment. It’s that feeling you get when your digging through your grandparent’s treasures and knowing your reurposing for the better. Bygone Bolos brings heart to each bolo made for women, men and children.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
We don’t shout “Keep Austin Weird” for nothing! My husband and I have always said Austin is like the New York and L.A of Texas. Austin captures it all from versatile fashion, a diverse music scene and all the food palettes you could ask for. Staying so open minded to all the cultures has created a large pocket for creatives that is exciting to be part of! With more people, comes growth and I would say the expansion of Austin’s population is not always my favorite, but I’d argue that has its pros and cons. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my precious town of Wimberely in all of this. I fully believe we were placed in this town at the right time. This community supports one another through it all. We celebrate wins together and have a strong base of women business owners around every corner. I pinch myself often for feeling so fortunate to be surrounded by that goodness. Both Austin and Wimberley capture the soul of Bygone Bolos, embracing authentic individuality and distinctive style. There is something here for everyone!
Pricing:
- Bolo Ties range from $50-150 based off rareity, natural stones and metal
- Boot Bolos & Bag Bolo Charms range from $38-58
- Custom Revivals range from $40-$50
Contact Info:
- Website: Website Launching Early 2027!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bygonebolos/
