Eric Lugo

“Not even 10 minutes after I had just gotten laid off and gotten off of that Zoom meeting, I called my boy that has the warehouse, and I said, 'Dude, I just got laid off. Are you cool with me just going full-send with Stitch Lab?'”

Eric Lugo · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Lugo describes calling a friend immediately after being laid off to ask about going full-time with Stitch Lab.

“I honestly hadn't felt so sure about something like that in a long time, if ever,”

Eric Lugo · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Lugo says he felt a strong sense of certainty about committing fully to his sewing business after being laid off.

“and so I want to put all that back into the community now that I'm in a position to do so.”

Eric Lugo · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Lugo says he wants to reinvest in the community through his Sew It Forward giveaway initiative.

“feel like a home for people.”

Eric Lugo · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Lugo says he aims to build Stitch Lab as a judgment-free creative space that can feel like a home for people.

“I just want to continue to do what I'm doing all around the world,”

Eric Lugo · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Lugo says he wants to expand Stitch Lab's model beyond Austin to other cities and around the world.

“No matter who you are, where you come from, you have a safe space to be around other people, learn the same thing ... and just have fun.”

Eric Lugo · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Lugo emphasizes that Stitch Lab offers a welcoming space for anyone to learn and have fun together.

“this is a safe space for Latinos, for people of color.”

Eric Lugo · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

As an Afro-Latino founder, Lugo describes Stitch Lab as a safe space for Latinos and people of color.

“I'm thankful for the support that I've received,”

Eric Lugo · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Lugo expresses gratitude for the support he has received for Stitch Lab.

“I think I have enough knowledge after you know 14 [or] 15 years to be able to teach other people, and so I went from there.”

Eric Lugo · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Lugo explains that his years of sewing experience gave him the confidence to start teaching others.

“It really made me think: Wow, this is — I think — a pretty important skill that a lot of people don't know how to do,”

Eric Lugo · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Lugo tells CNBC Make It that teaching sewing fills a gap because many people lack the skill.

“I think community is needed, especially today with so much that's happening in the world,”

Eric Lugo · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Lugo says community is especially needed given everything happening in the world.