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11 Jun 2025

From Canton to Couture

In this episode of Let’s Talk Local, we’re taking you on a whirlwind journey—from bargain hunting at the legendary Canton First Monday Trade Days to rubbing elbows with fashion royalty in the Big Apple.

Sarah kicks things off in East Texas, exploring the quirky charm, unbeatable deals, and mouthwatering eats that make Trade Days a monthly must-see. Then it’s wheels up to New York City, where she and her 12-year-old daughter Liliana get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the world of Tory Burch—yes, the Tory Burch.

But that’s not all. From the iconic steps of The Met to the spiraling halls of the Guggenheim, this mother-daughter adventure blends small-town treasures with high fashion and high culture in the most unforgettable way.

You won’t want to miss this episode—it’s Texas grit meets Manhattan glam, and everything in between.

0:00

Sarah Zubiate Bennett

Host

Louis

Guest

Liliana

Guest

Episode Timeline

00:13

Here’s the plan- First Monday Trade Days THEN NYC with Tory Burch!

02:29

Let’s Explore Canton Trade Days!

03:36

Furs, a $16,000 necklace, vintage pictures, and more!

07:56

Tamale, taco, and Jarritos time

10:31

Some insanely great finds in the pavilion

11:47

Louis and Liliana rate their time at First Monday

13:33

Liliana recaps her trip to NYC, meeting Tory Burch, going to The Met, and more

15:19

How was the experience in NYC different from Canton Trade Days?

17:05

Liliana talks about her experience with Tory Burch and team

25:00

Louis rates art at the Guggenheim

Full Transcript

00:13

Speaker 1

So we are at Canton Trade Day's Monday, and I'm just really pumped to be here. I've been here before. I know you haven't, Shannon, the twins haven't, Shay has. But we are here because I love celebrating artisans, just unique, local, curated, created things. I know not all the things here are for everybody, but what I think is super unique is that I have two super different kids.

00:40

Speaker 1

Liliana, she wants to be a fashion and design professional, either interior or fashion or both. And so she actually really loves all of these not all, but several of these different types of creators. Lewis, on the other hand, I think it's he'd rather choose shards of glass versus shop. But he's here again out of support for me and out of support for his sister, because I really want her to understand what it takes to create a lot of these beautiful things. A lot of the the floral that you see at my houses, either in Dallas or the ranch, I actually found the creator here at Canton.

01:22

Speaker 1

So the woman that does all of our different arrangements comes from trade days. And then Lily and I are hopping on a plane on Monday and going to New York. We're gonna be at Torrey Birch corporate with my dear friend Lucinda Castillo Cabazos because she's high up in that chain. So either way, we're gonna be introduced to that more structured high fashion world where that has more of a global influence from that type of creation. Then we're gonna be stopping by the Met where it's truly the pinnacle of artistic creation.

01:56

Speaker 1

I love celebrating all different types of creators. So you guys get to join us for the ride. Okay. And at the end of this, I'm gonna ask Louis for an honest ranking. He loves food.

02:05

Speaker 1

So does Lily. But he's kind of like a unique food lover, especially when it comes to salsa and things like that.

02:12

Speaker 2

But love

02:13

Speaker 1

food. Do.

02:14

Speaker 2

You do. Salsa.

02:15

Speaker 1

And so I'm gonna have him give this an honest ranking so that if you guys have any people in your household who detest shopping or anything kind of remotely close to this, you can understand if they wanna tag along for something like this or not. Hey, do you see these?

02:31

Speaker 2

Oh.

02:32

Speaker 1

We need to ask see, we could sell ours. You know, all of the different wood that we have? At shop? At the shop.

02:40

Speaker 2

Let's take let's take a video of this. Wow.

02:43

Speaker 1

Because we actually have a a wood shop. Yeah. And I want want to show Monty.

02:52

Speaker 2

We did also record this. This is like

02:56

Speaker 1

'30, 45, 60 '5.

02:59

Speaker 2

You guys,

03:00

Speaker 1

the twins need to sell this stuff.

03:05

Speaker 2

I love the smell of, like, cedar.

03:10

Speaker 1

We just used the bathroom, and there were shower curtains to divide the different toilets. And Liliana was like,

03:20

Speaker 2

just it's like privacy is important guys. I

03:26

Speaker 1

think it's funny. She was like

03:27

Speaker 2

she's like, maybe this is

03:28

Speaker 1

what it like it was like before all these things were created. Like like concrete. And I was like, maybe. So you can buy Coyote. I know her face.

03:42

Speaker 1

Look at her face. She's so sad. I know.

03:49

Speaker 2

Oh, look at little fox.

03:50

Speaker 1

A fox is $75.

03:53

Speaker 2

Is that expensive? No. Because,

03:57

Speaker 1

I mean,

03:59

Speaker 2

you see how much these This is a little fun. This is awesome for

04:03

Speaker 1

It's beautiful.

04:04

Speaker 2

This is only 85.

04:05

Speaker 1

I know. It's crazy. I just don't know how it's so

04:10

Speaker 2

What what is this? Wow. What the heck is this? Is this a bunny or a no. With a

04:17

Speaker 1

A jackalope?

04:18

Speaker 2

What do they do, Mai?

04:20

Speaker 1

So they buy them straight from the tannery. So let let me explain that. You can touch the back of the of the hides, and you can tell that they've already been tanned, meaning that they're ready to be used in garments or furniture. Let me explain to you the process. And, Lily, this is actually important for you to know.

04:37

Speaker 1

So a lot of retailers, well, example, Tory Burch, Alice and Olivia, I don't know if they use real leather, but oftentimes, their items are sold for thousands of dollars. Oh, how beautiful.

04:56

Speaker 2

Wow. Oh, the little prints. I love this design like this.

05:02

Speaker 1

It's beautiful. It really is.

05:04

Speaker 2

Wow. It's so pretty.

05:07

Speaker 1

I know. I'm trying to think of where we could use any of this, but we have more than enough china at the houses. Yes. But you know what? Oh, oh, that's lovely too.

05:17

Speaker 2

The plate's design. So cute.

05:22

Speaker 1

It is. It's really lovely. Oh. Oh my gosh. Stop.

05:35

Speaker 1

I think we need actual pictures of her bunnies. Hi. That would be cute.

05:40

Speaker 2

Oh, yeah. But you have to send me the pictures.

05:43

Speaker 1

I love this, you guys. This looks like something that anthropology would sell. Uh-huh. Doesn't it? Like right?

05:51

Speaker 2

I love the design. The design for this is just amazing.

05:55

Speaker 1

It's magnolia magnolia pearl. Lewis's, this is just amazing. I

06:02

Speaker 2

love this. I love this. How much is this? You

06:07

Speaker 1

guys, this is gorgeous. May I get this please? Sure. Thank you.

06:18

Speaker 2

Oh my goodness gracious.

06:24

Speaker 1

Shay. Shannon. Oh my. You guys.

06:31

Speaker 2

Yeah. I'm tired. You think so? How

06:35

Speaker 1

much is something like this? $16,000?

06:45

Speaker 2

Yes, ma'am. Looks pretty cool, ma'am. Pass. This is this is very heavy. That would probably make for medicine man or

06:57

Speaker 1

That is insane.

06:59

Speaker 2

16,000.

07:02

Speaker 1

How much is something like that or this? Oh, it says 87. Okay.

07:12

Speaker 2

I

07:17

Speaker 1

can't believe that is $16,000. $9.85. I do. They're pretty.

07:35

Speaker 2

That is like the most unique piece of your voice.

07:37

Speaker 1

Oh my. This is

07:41

Speaker 2

stunning. I love the blue. I don't like that. Look at these buckles. It's want it.

07:49

Speaker 1

I know. That buckle, that buckle, that buckle. What type of tamales do you have? Chicken and pork. Chicken and pork.

08:00

Speaker 1

Which do you want? Pork. Pork? You don't want any. Right, squid?

08:03

Speaker 1

Okay. May we have 20 tamales, 10 chicken, and 10 pork?

08:11

Speaker 2

Take 10. You gonna have some?

08:12

Speaker 1

And then Yeah. I'm gonna have some, but then we'll have some leftover. And then also may we have two beef tacos and two chicken? Thank you.

08:25

Speaker 2

Thank you. That's the corned dog. And you

08:27

Speaker 1

guys have to try aditos. I think you'd like guava and lime.

08:32

Speaker 2

I'll try the lime. It looks good, The lime. So the lime looks great. And I mean, they they both look good, and it's a good flavor too.

08:38

Speaker 1

Two haritos, please. Lime. Like, Okay.

08:49

Speaker 2

I didn't see the ants until died. Die. It's like any other lime soda. I just tried it. You tried what?

09:04

Speaker 2

Do

09:05

Speaker 1

you like it?

09:06

Speaker 2

It's like any other lime soda. Can I try it? No. It's not. But it tastes like a popsicle.

09:12

Speaker 2

Right, mine? Unfrozen popsicle. Tastes like an unfrozen popsicle. Right? I love it.

09:20

Speaker 1

Isn't it good?

09:21

Speaker 2

It's really good.

09:23

Speaker 1

Okay. Don't know how they're

09:25

Speaker 2

It's like but it's like the sweet it's like that lime popsicle that you like you you you can look at the store that Okay.

09:35

Speaker 1

These are our plates.

09:36

Speaker 2

Popsicle, like, that's flavored with lime, that healthy one, kind of.

09:46

Speaker 1

Why is it so try it on here.

09:48

Speaker 2

Wait. Wait. Did it break? Yeah. Can I try?

09:53

Speaker 1

Oh, That's fine.

09:55

Speaker 2

I want to pull it. I

09:58

Speaker 1

don't have Lily, let me show you pull it.

10:01

Speaker 2

Oh, I wanna pull it. I love pulling things.

10:34

Speaker 1

Cute. It says it's a small. That's cute. That one's super cute. You know what?

10:45

Speaker 1

Looks like Look at Shannon. Shannon's even like Look, I'm getting

10:50

Speaker 2

this. Hold on. Me try this one on. Can you think that's squid? Oh, that's beautiful.

10:59

Speaker 2

You should get that for a gift for somebody even if it doesn't fit you.

11:04

Speaker 1

Well, you'd have to know somebody. I know. I don't know anyone that would wear

11:07

Speaker 2

this stuff except for I

11:09

Speaker 1

know. Darn. I know. I just wonder how much I I could probably get this altered,

11:13

Speaker 2

don't you think? Don't you think

11:15

Speaker 1

I could get this one altered?

11:20

Speaker 2

What size is this? This is so cool. I love that.

11:28

Speaker 1

Think you should get that.

11:31

Speaker 2

This is amazing.

11:33

Speaker 1

I love it. Love it. Love it.

11:34

Speaker 2

I can read them every single time with two AMs. Wait. Look. I wasn't ready. Oh, yeah.

11:39

Speaker 2

Fine. Look. My favorite part of the day. Boyfriend shared husband shared. But I'm my mom's husband, guys.

11:45

Speaker 2

Ready? Copy what we're sending. Ready? Send a picture of that.

11:47

Speaker 1

Okay. So we are wrapping up our time here at Canton Trade Days, and I loved it because I found some really unique, gorgeous pieces. We're gonna get Lily and Lewis' honest opinions as well. What are your thoughts?

12:00

Speaker 2

We'll listen

12:01

Speaker 1

On a scale of one to ten, one being the absolute worst, 10 being the absolute highest.

12:04

Speaker 2

You go. So ladies Probably around 9.5.

12:13

Speaker 1

Oh. That's

12:14

Speaker 2

high. That's pretty high. Because the food was great, and it wasn't very hot, so that was

12:19

Speaker 1

Yeah. That's helpful.

12:20

Speaker 2

Last time.

12:21

Speaker 1

It is. Was

12:23

Speaker 2

Yeah. But, you know. And, I mean, other than that, I love the designs to see everyone's creation and Mhmm. What they do for a living. Yeah.

12:31

Speaker 2

Interesting.

12:32

Speaker 1

Yeah. Because people make their livings out here. It's cool. What about you, Papito? One to 10.

12:41

Speaker 1

Scale of one to 10. One being the worst, 10 being the highest. Honestly. Like a 2.5. Okay.

12:51

Speaker 1

2.5. We'll take it. It's not a one. We'll take it.

12:55

Speaker 2

Well, what's a normal score? Generously generously a four, but like 2.5. Okay. But normal store?

13:04

Speaker 1

One. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So it's better than regular shopping, which is cool.

13:09

Speaker 1

Like, there's more to see, food. It's kind of a vibe out here. How about you, Shay?

13:14

Speaker 2

Like a fair. 10 out of 10. Oh, yeah, miss Shay. 10 out

13:17

Speaker 1

of 10 with Shay Shay.

13:18

Speaker 2

A 100%.

13:20

Speaker 1

I know. I'm with you. I'm with you.

13:22

Speaker 2

Can I find things like this

13:23

Speaker 1

and and not? Alright. We love it. Yep.

13:27

Speaker 2

We'll wrap it up.

13:32

Speaker 1

Bear, so happy you're back here in the studio with me. Yay. And we just landed just a few days ago. Mhmm. Right?

13:39

Speaker 1

You're home from DCATS which I'm pumped about. And I have you here because I want to hear some of your reflections because people like me are the norm. I never grew up with the opportunity afforded to me to go to New York when I was 12 and tour the Met, go to the Guggenheim, look at the exhibits, much less shadow very senior executives at or from an organization and look at what that had to offer. So I want other people to learn from your experience. Like whether that's parents, kids, I think you just have some perspective that's pretty important to share.

14:26

Speaker 1

So we went to the Met and were able to see the current exhibit and then, well what at the Met was your favorite? Was it the Sergeant at the end or was it some of the items in the middle, right pieces from China, Delft China. Know you love those. Or was it the actual fashion exhibit?

14:54

Speaker 2

I loved a lot of it. Mhmm. Because I love to see all the different designs and how much people put thought into it. It's so wonderful. It's inspiring.

15:04

Speaker 2

Very. I really liked all the paintings. Mhmm. All the paintings. It was just little tiny details that make it just so beautiful.

15:15

Speaker 2

And it probably took so much time doing that.

15:18

Speaker 1

It did. And how do you think that's different from some of the artwork that we saw at Canton? Canton trade days? Because we saw a lot of vintage pieces there, right? Is it that different to you?

15:33

Speaker 2

No. I feel like it's kind of all in the same time period.

15:39

Speaker 1

Uh-huh. A lot of it was.

15:41

Speaker 2

Mhmm. But I liked about in New York, it was a lot of fashion

15:47

Speaker 1

Mhmm. Paintings and Oh yes. Sargent. That's right. Because he did have a lot of elegant women and their, yeah, a lot of their clothing that he drew.

16:04

Speaker 2

Yeah.

16:04

Speaker 1

Okay. So you like that particular style. And what stood out to you at the Guggenheim exhibit? Remember where Rashid Johnson had his exhibit in the rotunda? Mhmm.

16:19

Speaker 1

Did you like it? Did you not? If so, why?

16:23

Speaker 2

It was very interesting art. Like modern art. Mhmm. Personally, I am not a huge fan of modern art. Mhmm.

16:33

Speaker 2

But it made it really fun just to see everything that other people create too.

16:39

Speaker 1

Yeah. What about your brother? Do you think he would have liked it? Because he loves, Lewis loves modern art. You don't think he would have liked it?

16:45

Speaker 2

He doesn't like Well he likes some Salvador Dali, right?

16:50

Speaker 1

He loves Dali. That's his favorite artist. So yeah, I think I could argue what you're saying. We'll have to ask him. Have to ask him what he thinks.

16:59

Speaker 1

We'll show him some pieces from that exhibit and see what he says. And then what about your time with Tori Burch? She was so delightful to you. And what I guess did you learn from her?

17:16

Speaker 2

Well, what I learned from her was she was very particular. Mhmm.

17:23

Speaker 1

It's her brand. It's her name.

17:24

Speaker 2

Is. Yep. And she if she would not enjoy something as much, she would tell them. And she would say. Just honest.

17:35

Speaker 2

Honest. Very honest with her people. Mhmm. Because she wants it to be wonderful. Yep.

17:40

Speaker 2

And she wants people to look at it and say, that's Tori's brand. Mhmm. You know?

17:46

Speaker 1

And I have so many different videos of you. Whenever we were walking into the store there and you were just on fire. I saw it in your eyes, in your body language. Were talk about inspiration. You were just overwhelmed with happiness in that store.

18:06

Speaker 2

It was so pretty.

18:08

Speaker 1

It's beautiful, right?

18:09

Speaker 2

It is.

18:10

Speaker 1

And just to see what goes into one part, one itty bitty piece of what is in that store. So whenever we went to the Mercer store in Soho, the new one with the Bon Bon collaboration So pretty. You looked like you were on fire. You were so happy. You were walking around with your phone in awe of so much of it.

18:34

Speaker 1

Tell me what your favorite parts of that particular store were.

18:38

Speaker 2

Probably the shoes

18:39

Speaker 1

are precious. The shoes, yes.

18:42

Speaker 2

Because there are so many cool designs and so much work put into it. And I love to see everyone's enjoy of art.

18:52

Speaker 1

Yeah, because it is art. It absolutely is. And that shoe, I guess it's not a rotunda, but that space where we were trying on shoes, it was unique, right? What types of feelings did you have when we were sitting there looking at the shoes? Because they're displayed like works of art.

19:14

Speaker 2

I felt like this. I want my shoe size to get bigger so I can fit into the shoes. Oh, I want This one looks so pretty. Oh, this one does has

19:23

Speaker 1

a really small foot Shannon. Cute. She's small. Yeah, she has a really small foot. She excitedly was almost able to fit into the size five.

19:33

Speaker 1

She was overjoyed at that thought that she can finally start wearing some cool shoes. And tell me about your thoughts left with Miss Lucinda. Because she is a senior exec at Fossil, right? You see her and you've always known her as more of a mother, right? Well, she is a mother.

19:57

Speaker 1

But you've always seen her in that realm, right? In the business aspects of her life. But you were able to observe her there. Did she seem very different to you? Not really.

20:10

Speaker 1

She's very consistent.

20:12

Speaker 2

Very loving just how she is. Yep. But it's so cool because I didn't really know that she worked on that.

20:20

Speaker 1

She's a boss.

20:21

Speaker 2

And I was just like, you go girl, you know?

20:24

Speaker 1

Yes, yes. She's very capable, very smart and just really gracious to have ever donated that to the auction at St. Rita. And we love our school, we support our school. And then we're gonna be able to show what that looks like whenever her son Luke, she was the one that bid on your poppy's donation to go shadow him for a day at his corporate headquarters.

20:54

Speaker 1

And I think Lewis is gonna be tagging along with Luke at Luke's request, which is cool. Many different successful people in this beautiful city of ours, DFW, do donations of that sort, right, to help raise funds for good causes, whether it's cancer or school or any type of initiative. And Tori Birch was actually leaving that meeting to go to her foundation.

21:25

Speaker 2

Really? I

21:26

Speaker 1

actually Yep, that's why she did not want to be late for that meeting because her foundation work is super important to her. So I think something that I could leave a lot of the viewers and listeners with is that because so many people who have the opportunity to make impact in this world really work to prioritize giving back to a community. And I think that's a really common thread and theme amongst many people that we get to interact with. So we're very fortunate in that respect. What else do you want to leave with any kids who might have the opportunity to listen to this show or watch it?

22:09

Speaker 1

Well If they don't have that opportunity to go to New York or whatever area or space they Uh-huh. And

22:25

Speaker 2

out there are people who love fashion as well or wanna be a designer. I'm just so grateful that I got that opportunity. And I guess I just wanted to say that try your hardest and even if like because there's some like really talented art people. You can always start with a little drawing, know? Mhmm.

22:55

Speaker 1

A little drawing in your home. And what I had to do because I was so I'm basically speaking to kids who were like me. I did not have the luxury of having the best examples up close and personal to me. But I really worked hard to find inspiration from the parents that surrounded my friends. I told my friend Jessica whenever I was in El Paso, your parents were people that I looked to as people like I wanted to become like.

23:31

Speaker 1

Right? So I observed their marriage, I watched what held their family together. So I believe that any person despite where they are in this world can find beauty, inspiration in that orbit. We didn't have access to everyone's life and creativity around the globe like you all do now. So kids, youth now has I think access to a lot more than I ever did.

24:01

Speaker 1

So whether it's books and per your suggestion if someone wants to design, can start by drawing. They can draw beauty and inspiration from many places, right? And I think it's always easiest to start with people who are somewhat close to you. And even though my friend's parents weren't my friends, I still was able to observe and learn. And I learned a lot about what I didn't want to do in my youth.

24:30

Speaker 1

Lillie Bear, thank you so much for coming on here again. Thank I love your energy, I love your positivity, your honesty, especially over there. She was very capable of saying what she enjoyed and didn't enjoy differently herself if given the opportunity. And yeah, so there was just a lot of good insight. Thank you for being here baby.

24:52

Speaker 1

Thank you for adding this depth to the episode and for sharing your Thank you. I love you.

24:57

Speaker 2

I love you so much.

24:59

Speaker 1

Hi buddy. Hi. Hi. Okay, so I have a question for you. So your sister was sitting here, clearly we had planned on her being on

25:06

Speaker 2

the show. Of course, yes.

25:07

Speaker 1

But I wanted to actually gather your insights. So she said, she gave her opinions about what you would think about this Guggenheim exhibit. Rashid Johnson was the exhibit that we went to look at when we were there in New York. Would you mind clicking on that link? Tell the audience your thoughts about the artwork that's being displayed.

25:28

Speaker 2

I think it's a lot it's very different. Mhmm. Unique. Mhmm. I love the ploy ins that are kind of like floating on the rock.

25:37

Speaker 2

Yeah.

25:37

Speaker 1

Yeah. Yeah. Those are cool. Right? But

25:40

Speaker 2

I I definitely

25:42

Speaker 1

Could you imagine having something like that in your home?

25:44

Speaker 2

I definitely could see myself having that.

25:46

Speaker 1

I could too.

25:48

Speaker 2

Sort of like in the center of the like the floating like the not like the connected to the strings. Yeah. The floating of like a Yeah. Plants. Could see that in the center of my house.

25:59

Speaker 1

Okay.

26:00

Speaker 2

I could see that in the center of my house.

26:02

Speaker 1

I love that.

26:02

Speaker 2

And kind of like all the rest of house on the outside.

26:07

Speaker 1

Cool, glad you like Because while I was there and I was walking around I was thinking to myself, I don't know that Lewis would like this, this, this. I think he would really dig this. And there was a plant wall also that I talked I love Yeah, I think that

26:22

Speaker 2

I love nature. I know you do. I love nature in my art.

26:25

Speaker 1

Yeah, well good. Okay so Lily Bear actually said no but you say yes. Cool. I love you baby.

26:35

Speaker 2

Love you.

26:35

Speaker 1

See I love it. You guys have such different taste. She loves a more traditional taste and you are very much more modern in your appreciation. I am. I love you baby.

26:45

Speaker 2

Love you.