We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ellie White. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ellie below.
Hi Ellie, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?
Mill & Habs was first created when I was enjoying an early morning Piestewa Peak hike in the heat of an Arizona summer. As I was making my way up the mountain, I was QUICKLY reminded the importance of shading my face, especially when living in the desert. While finishing my hike with sun kissed skin and a burnt nose, Mill & Habs was born from the 100+ degree idea that hats are more than just an eye catching accessory, but can be a necessity as well!
Our Hats are made out of luxury materials such as 100% fur felts, genuine leather, 100% new & vintage silks, suede, velvet, grass cloth, hemp, etc. all ethically sourced locally and also from around the world to provide a product that will last the tests of time… and extreme environments.
Each hat is made by hand from start to finish and never mass produced. Quality over quantity is and forever will be our philosophy and we hope this shows through each hat’s unique personality!
These unique hats are a work of art, a labor of love and all one of a kind while being perfectly imperfect… just like you!
Ellie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Ellie White and I am the Founder and Designer behind Mill & Habs, the luxury custom hat brand that’s taking the fashion world by storm.. one head at a time.
I’ve always been passionate about art and dabbled in almost every form of art you can imagine but my true calling was found in the world of millinery and custom hat making. There’s just something magical about creating one-of-a-kind wearables that perfectly express the unique personalities of my clients. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a good flashy accessory moment?
Each Mill & Habs hat is handcrafted with the highest quality materials, sourced locally and from around the world, to ensure it stands the test of time. Whether you’re looking for a flat brimmed hat that’s perfect for a day out on the town or a cowboy hat that will make you feel like a true Western hero, I’ve got you covered… literally.
Here at M&H, we have a hat for every person’s unique style and every occasion consisting of “Ready to Wear” collections such as Deluxe, Cowboy, Basics & Straws that you can purchase right off the website — along with our most popular department, our Custom Made. Consultations and communication between the Designer and client is important for the Custom Made process so that your hat is personalized to you and your life experiences all while telling a story of its own.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
As the sole Founder of Mill & Habs, I’ve had my fair share of challenges on my journey to creating this brand. When I was living in Nashville, I was making custom jackets and loving every minute of it. But as life goes, circumstances changed and I found myself living in the scorching heat of Arizona where making jackets was simply not an option.
It was a tough transition, to say the least. I had to figure out a new direction for my passion and my business, and that’s where custom hat making came in. But it wasn’t an easy road. Starting from scratch, I had to learn new techniques, find new suppliers, and navigate a whole new industry.
And let’s not forget about the challenges of being a small business owner. It takes a lot of hard work, determination, and resilience to make it in this game. There were times when I felt like giving up, like it was all too much to handle.
But through it all, I stayed focused on my vision for Mill & Habs. I knew that I had something special to offer the world, and I wasn’t going to let a little thing like a cross-country move or a new industry stand in my way.
I persevered, pushing through the hardships and the setbacks. And now, here we are, creating beautiful custom hats for clients all over the world. It just goes to show that with a little bit of grit and determination, anything is possible.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
At Mill & Habs, our goal is to create truly unique and elevated hats that make a statement. We believe that hats are more than just an accessory – they’re a way to express your individuality and stand out from the crowd.
Our mission is to provide our clients with a truly personalized and elevated experience from start to finish. We work closely with each client to understand their vision and bring it to life through our handmade craftsmanship and high-quality materials.
But our mission doesn’t stop there. We’re also committed to sustainability and ethical production practices which is why each hat is made by hand from start to finish.. quality over quantity without mass production manufacturing.
Ultimately, our creative journey at Mill & Habs is driven by a desire to make a positive impact on the world while also creating something truly special for our clients. We believe that fashion can and should be a force for good and we’re dedicated to making that a reality through every hat we create in the slow vs fast fashion market.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.millandhabs.com
- Instagram: @millandhabs