Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Wilhite
Hi MICHELLE, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my career at the Neiman Marcus buying office right out of college as an Assistant Buyer in their Designer handbag office and moved to different divisions throughout my career there. I worked for Neimans, in their executive development program, for over a decade. There I learned the world of luxury retail. I loved it.. From there I spent the next decade of my career working for luxury jewelry designers that wholesaled to stores such as Neiman Marcus and other fine independent jewelry stores throughout the country. It wasn’t until I had a baby that I left the business. I needed more flexibility. I was traveling for work non stop and I just couldn’t do it anymore pregnant or with a baby. Once I had my daughter, Olivia, and she was sleeping through the night etc I found myself missing the creative side of the luxury fashion industry that I was once a part of. I found myself dreaming of creating something of my own. It was in Fall of 2021 that I launched my first jeweled handbag collection. Both handbags and jewelry were such a big part of my background that it was only fitting that my handbags had jeweled hardware embellishments on them. Each jeweled piece on our bags is designed and created like a piece of jewelry and made using real gold or silver and Swarovski crystals. Our bags are all made in New York City using only the finest materials. I definitely knew I wanted my handbag collection to be in the luxury sector since that was my background. And here we are three years later and are now in luxury boutiques throughout the country!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road.. Covid happened as I was about to initially launch and that postponed everything. Looking back I think it was a blessing that it happened the way it did so that we had time to perfect our designs and start slowly.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We specialize in clutches that take you from luncheons to dinners to galas. You don’t want to wear your big everyday bag out to dinner.. you should always switch your bag in the evening to something smaller and more sophisticated. A nice clutch in a color that compliments what you are wearing (I love color!) will really pull your look together and finish your outfit.
I am so proud that all of our bags are made in NYC! A lot of designers make their bags in other countries. We take pride in the fact that our business is based in the USA and our bags are made here too! And, we use only the finest materials on our bags.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think a mentor is so important! I work with a friend that I knew from the industry that has over twenty years of experience in luxury handbags. It is so important to be able to work with someone with valuable knowledge and experience in what you do. Usually you will find a mentor naturally through your business network. Or, like me, it is someone you have worked with in the past that you trust and value.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michellewilhite.com
- Instagram: @michellewilhite_handbags
Image Credits
Jennifer Olson Photography
