Elisa Yip was born into fashion—not in the figurative sense, but in the most literal way. Growing up in the heart of Manhattan’s Chinatown, she spent her childhood in the presence of her mother and grandmother, both working long hours in factory sweatshops. The soundtrack of her early years wasn’t cartoons or playground noise, but the steady hum of sewing machines, the rip of fabric bolts, and the quiet conversations of women crafting beauty with their hands. For Elisa, fashion was never a distant fantasy. It was the family’s language, their livelihood, and the thread that would one day guide her own path. 

After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, Elisa launched her career at Liz Claiborne as a knitwear designer. There, she quickly became occupied with the art and science of knits. The job took her all over the world, deepening her understanding of raw materials, supply chain, garment making, and knitting techniques. It was during this time, collecting passport stamps and sketching concepts on long-haul flights, that she met and married her husband. Together, they decided to trade New York’s towering skyline for Seattle’s evergreen calm.  

Elisa and her husband moved to Bellevue to plant their own family somewhere that offered their young daughter the quality of life and outdoor opportunities they dreamed about in New York City. They were drawn to the Eastside community and excited by the opportunity to continue her bilingual education at Jing Mei Elementary School. Now a high schooler thriving in AP Chinese at Newport and playing for the Reign Academy Football Club, their daughter is growing up in a household built on creativity, dedication, and intentional choices.  

Elisa’s next career move was to Nordstrom, where she was hired to lead and grow the company’s private label luxury knitwear division. Grow it she did, taking it from a modest $1 million business to a $24 million powerhouse centered on elevated knits with refined finishes and the kind of attention to quality you don’t usually see at this price point and scale. Elisa became fluent in cashmere, luxury-grade fibers, and timeless design. But when COVID hit and layoffs swept the retail industry, Elisa, like so many, faced a crossroad. Rather than retreat, she took a leap. 

From her Bellevue home, in the quiet solitude of the pandemic, Elisa began SSKEIN, a luxury knitwear label rooted in timeless design, sustainability, and quality. She started small, with a four-piece capsule collection crafted in 100% baby alpaca wool. The idea was to meet the moment: to offer something for women working from home who still wanted to feel confident and look effortless without sacrificing style and comfort. Each piece was thoughtfully designed in versatile silhouettes that looked as good over Zoom as they did curled up on the couch.

Alpaca wool was a deliberate choice. “It’s the definition of luxury,” she explains. “Hypo-allergenic, antimicrobial, durable, water-repellent (ideal for the rainy PNW), incredibly soft, and possessing a unique sheen and drape that traditional knits just can’t match.” Unlike cashmere goats, alpaca grazing actually regenerates the land, making it a more ecologically ethical and sustainable choice. And because knitwear is created from a spool of yarn, there’s no fabric waste. Nothing is cut away and tossed to the landfill. Every stitch matters.  

SSKEIN is celebrating their 5-year anniversary this fall, and their line currently offers ready-to-wear tops, dresses, coats and bottoms, along with a growing collection of handknits designed in partnership with women artisans in Peru. The Handknit Collection is more than just a line. It’s a mission. Each garment is hand-knitted by women who are mostly single mothers earning a living wage, empowering families and reviving local craftsmanship that’s at risk of disappearing in a world increasingly driven by fast fashion. Every piece is one-of-a-kind, wearable art enriched with texture, story, and soul. 

SSKEIN is, at its core, the antidote to fast fashion. Elisa’s pieces are intentionally designed to last: timeless, versatile, and made to be passed down. Her dream is to create clothing with meaning; knitwear that feels personal, garments that tell stories. Clothing you wear, keep, love, and maybe one day, hand to your children. 

And really, that’s what SSKEIN is about. It’s about where intentional living meets effortless style. Elisa isn’t just building a brand. She’s weaving together values, heritage, artistry, and innovation into every piece she makes. You can explore SSKEIN’s collections and upcoming events by visiting their website: