Shifts from the runway

Philista Marie Mills, designer and CEO of House of Mills, recently joined Verb as a costume designer for Romeo & Juliet. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) program, Philista worked for Abercrombie and Fitch from 2007-2016, where she climbed from an intern to a senior designer. In 2016, with the encouragement of her family, she decided to create her own line of clothing—House of Mills.

How did you start in fashion? Looking back, I realize my passion for fashion came from something much bigger than me. I grew up surrounded by beautiful brown women that walked confidently in their own skin. From my grandmother's style and her incredible sewing skills, to my aunties,cousins, mother, and sisters, I was influenced by it all! My relationship with creativity started as a young child when I imagined and created my own Barbie clothes. I also reworked pieces for my sister and me.My grandmother's sewing box and sewing machine went from tools I used to play with to something I wanted to use to express myself. I'm blessed with the role she played in turning my basement dreams into reality.

Tell us a little about your philosophy as an artist? I realized at an early age that I felt most comfortable telling my story by crafting and creating fabrications into garments that I could not find nor afford. In doing this, I understood that I could also make others feel the confidence I felt when wearing something that fit just me. I was excited to share that energy with anyone that was interested. I feel most comfortable helping women feel like they can tackle the world whether it's through comfort or feeling sexy and confident. When you wear the right garment, you feel like you are unstoppable.

What are your aspirations beyond the runway? My goal as a fashion designer is to have my pure energy pieces to be seen and shared on a larger scale such as a stage, whether it be a ballet, concert, opera, or museum exhibition.