The Sole Cookware Story | Redesigning Kitchen Tools for Home Cooks

From Lily

I created Sole Cookware because I wanted a better tool. What started as a search for a great chef knife became a business built to make cooking more enjoyable. The kitchen holds memory, culture, connection, taste, joy, and confidence — and I wanted to design a tool that brings those elements forward and invites more people into the kitchen.

Make room for cooking.

The right tool should reduce friction, not add to it. We design to make the kitchen feel more confident, more comfortable, and more inviting.

A Lifetime Of Use

We believe the kitchen should feel more graceful, more intuitive, and more supportive of the person using it. Sole is made to bring ease, beauty, and confidence to everyday cooking.

Make room for cooking.

Made for a lifetime of cooking.

From Lily

Our Journey

WHERE IT BEGAN

2019

I walked into culinary school full of confidence, then struggled to learn the pinch grip. My chef told me, “Knives aren’t made for women. You’re going to have to try harder.”So I did. I started designing a chef’s knife.As I learned, I noticed where my technique ended and the knife’s limitations began. What started as a search for a better knife became a mission to make cooking more intuitive, enjoyable, and connected to real kitchens.

The Great Knife Experiment

2019-2020

We tested over 50 knives and found that most weren’t designed by chefs. We assessed balance, weight, and, most importantly, how each handle felt in the hand. Then we separated the blades from the handles to better understand how handle shape affected comfort.There were plenty of functional options, but the chef’s knife was often treated as purely utilitarian. Using one every day, I wanted more: beauty, comfort, customization, and intuitive design. A knife that reflected the person holding it and the kitchen it belonged in.

Set of knives with various handles on a white background

CREATING THE CARDINAL

2021-2023

We started by asking home cooks and chefs about their kitchen habits, how they felt about their knives, and whether anyone had taught them how to hold one. Their answers shaped our approach: one size doesn’t fit all, and the traditional knife block needed an update.We learned to 3D-print handles so we could test different widths, textures, lengths, and curves. Then we ground blades by hand, exploring materials, angles, and shapes. Each version brought us closer to a tool that reflected the standard we wanted to hold: longevity, for both the knife and the person using it. A knife designed with your comfort in mind, so you can enjoy cooking for a lifetime.