Story & Lesson Highlights with Toni Toomey

We recently had the chance to connect with Toni Toomey and have shared our conversation below.

Toni, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately what’s bringing me the most joy outside of work is raising my daughter. She’s about to turn two, and it feels like every day she’s learning something new. It’s wild to see how quickly her little mind works. She’s starting to talk more, make jokes, and she’s obsessed with playing hide and seek right now. Watching her personality come out more every day has been really special.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Toni, the founder of Hone. I started building Hone after becoming a mom and realizing how limited and synthetic most postpartum clothing options are. I couldn’t find anything that felt like me anymore; everything was either overly “mom” or made from fabrics I didn’t want on my skin, especially while nursing.

Hone was born out of that frustration and a bigger belief that what touches our skin affects how we feel. I’m creating hormone-safe, natural fiber clothing designed for mothers, starting with a capsule of dresses that are as functional as they are beautiful. My goal is to help women feel like themselves again, not like they’ve disappeared into motherhood.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents taught me the most about work. They’ve been entrepreneurs my whole life, running everything from a refrigeration business to a meat market, a BBQ restaurant and catering company, and even a dirt oval race track and motocross track. They’ve always worked for themselves and worked hard. Watching them figure things out, no matter what came their way, taught me that you can always find a way forward if you just keep moving. My mom taught me bookkeeping, and my dad taught me how to drive a backhoe. Everything we did in the businesses was a family effort, and I’m so thankful for all the experiences I was exposed to.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self to keep going. Life will be hard and some things will feel like the end of the world, but they’re not. Things will get better. Every struggle and setback will make you stronger and teach you something you’ll need later. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to building a sustainable, natural-fiber clothing brand that serves the whole family. I believe what we wear every day shouldn’t harm our bodies or the planet. Apparel that’s free from microplastics is better for our health and for the environment, and it doesn’t mean we have to give up style or comfort. I want to prove that clothing can be beautiful, functional, and made responsibly. It’s a long journey, but it’s one that feels worth every step because it’s about changing how we think about what touches our skin and what kind of world we’re leaving behind.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
What would remain is my family and the relationships that mean the most to me. My husband and daughter are my whole world, and I have a very close bond with my niece and nephew, who feel like my brother and sister. I also have a few close friends whom I talk to almost every day, and those connections are what really ground me. At the end of the day, those relationships are what matter most: the people who know me, love me, and with whom I’ve shared real life. That’s what would last.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wearhone.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toni.toomey/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonischach/

Image Credits
Spruce Photos