Meet Ellie White | Founder + Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ellie White and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ellie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When living in Nashville Tennessee, I founded a custom jacket company and fell in love with all things custom designed. I have always had a passion for art in its many forms but nothing set my soul on fire quite like building a unique and one of a kind wearable for a client. The feeling of helping someone reach new and uncharted levels of self expression is a high that I will never come down from.

After moving to Scottsdale, I quickly realized that the desert was not the best market for jackets… stating the obvious here. I felt a little upside down and attempted to continue designing jackets for previous clients but I had lost my inspiration in my new terrain.

One summer day while hiking Piestewa Peak, IT HIT ME. I forgot to wear a hat, the sun was brutal.. and right then and there I realized the importance of shading your face. At the base of that mountain, with sun kissed skin, Mill & Habs was born.

Mill & Habs has a hat for every person and every occasion consisting of “Ready to Wear” collections such as Deluxe, Cowboy, Basics, Straw and Custom Made specifically for you. MH hats are all a work of art, a labor of love and each hat is one of a kind — all while being perfectly imperfect.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Outside of chasing my creative dreams with Mill & Habs, I work remote as the Director of Development for Meridian Wealth Management.

Meridian and all of it’s employees create, without a doubt, the best culture in a company that I have ever been a part of. The family atmosphere and support the company has for each one of its employees and clients is unmatched.

I always laugh with my boss that no matter how successful I am in my own business, he will have to drag me out of Meridian because I will never leave on my own.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
HIKING: Superstitions, Camelback Mountain or Piestewa Peak. EATING in Arcadia: Buck & Rider, Chelseas Kitchen
ACTIVITY: Tubing the Salt River
MUSIC VENUE: Van Buren (I love the intimacy between the show & fan there)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I can without a doubt say that I wouldn’t be where I am today with Mill & Habs without the help of a village. I think it truly is so important to surround yourself with people who move you, inspire you, challenge you and make you realize that no matter how much you think you know… you could always learn more.

I would like to specifically thank:

1. My previous boss, friend and mentor Meghan Andrykowski. She continues to BLOW MY MIND with her knowledge in startups and all things business. I swear she is going to rule the world one of these days.
2. My friend Brittany Keim for her insane knowledge in all things marketing strategy and her love for sticky notes on calendars.
3. My friend Amanda Feller for her excitement and passion for all things E-Commerce and Shopify. Through her guidance and positivity I feel like I could conquer any challenge that the entrepreneurial industry my throw at me.
4. Lastly, my insanely supportive and patient fiancé Chase McNary. He never stops pushing me to be the best version of myself and to never give up on CHASEing my dreams lol

Website: www.millandhabs.com (website will be ready for launch on November 4th)

Instagram: @millandhabs

Other: inquiry email: ellie@millandhabs.com