Conversation
with Gregory Mills and Coline

Aliyyah Eniath: So you started Millhouse in early ‘97?

CM: We started off in 1997 as Millhouse, but before that we were First Cut Original; just Gregory Mills operating out of a tailor shop on Charlotte Street in Port of Spain. Prior to 1994 we were based south of the island and Gregory was part of a label called Cutting Crew.

GM: Cutting Crew was a group of guys fresh out of school. They were good tailors and I hanged around enough to pick up the skill. I started pushing the borders from there.

When I came to Charlotte Street we were operating in a tiny, sweltering shop, where I would spend many nights. I did not have the ability then that I have now, yet people were swarming in because I would give them that quality – I would examine the construction of good clothing and emulate and improve upon it.

AE: So Gregory, before Coline came on the scene, did you think about branding and creating that fashion niche that is now Millhouse? What strengths did you both bring?

GM: There was this guy named Trevor Cragwell with a store called Cragy’s on Frederick Street back in the 80’s. His was the most prominent male shop in Trinidad (carrying locally made clothing). I wanted to have a shop just like that. So Cragy’s was actually my benchmark coming out of San Fernando.

CM: I started the process of creating an identity for Millhouse when I joined Gregory. I actually named the company Millhouse.

AE: Good name!

GM: Everybody says that! It was really a combination of our surname; it was an easy catch, and a familiar phrase. I felt it represented something like work and diligence and purposeful activity.

AE: Was breaking into the fashion market (in terms of being involved with fashion shows locally and regionally) a challenge?

CM: I think we always saw the link. Making it as a design house and a unique entity began when we started out with Denise Belfon. Denise was the first entertainer that we outfitted. Her career was really jumping at that time and she would always mention us in her interviews, unknown to us too. Other celebrities and local entertainers started coming to us, and we started getting invited to show our collections at different fashion shows and events. That’s when we started to break out…

AE: What is your 2010 collection called?

CM: It’s called Tie Marie to be launched in October at Islands of the World Fashion Week and also in Trinidad at the Carlton Savannah (venue not yet finalized).

AE: Do you think that there’s enough scope for the fashion design business in Trinidad and the Caribbean?

CM: Well the Caribbean and that tourist industry is thirteen million people strong. If we have quarter of that market right now we’d be very happy and I think we’d be very successful. So I do see the Caribbean as a viable option. I think most local designers have been successful because of that regional reach.

AE: So you are available in Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada…

CM: Grenada, Tortola, and Barbados (to some extent). We’ve been having talks with someone in St. Lucia and Guadeloupe as well. The Cloth, Meiling and Heather Jones are already there (in Guadeloupe), funded by the European Union.

AE: What do you think is Millhouse’s design edge?

CM: That tailored, nicely fitting garment. We’re about fit, finish, detail and continuous improvement.

AE: What kind of person do you see wearing Millhouse?

GM: The Millhouse stylist is edgy. We go after the person who does not want to look like everybody else. We don’t want a set of mini-me’s walking around.

AE: What about women?

GM: What about women? (laughs)

CM: We love women! (laughs)

CM: We still cater to the professional female on a customized basis. This year we have formalized that part of it and we’ve started planning and advertising and trying to get women to plan their wardrobe from the September period.

AE: Has design changed much from when you started off in the 90’s to now…?

GM: It has evolved to a more form-fitting type of clothing. What is happening now is catching up with what we’ve always been doing.

AE: If you had to give dressing tips to a regular male, getting dressed for the office, what would you say?

GM: He’d probably require a whole makeover. One piece of garment won’t transform someone. It’s a holistic thing in terms of your shoes, belt, pants, slacks, shirts. We look at the person’s lifestyle and tastes. For instance, some people like the ultra conservative pleats in pants and we can give them that with an urban feel.

AE: Do you have a stylist on hand at the store?

GM: Yes, all clients get a free-of-charge fifteen minute consultation with our stylist.

AE: What is you pricing like?

CM: Very moderate.

AE: Something that the average guy can afford?

CM: Definitely. Once you have a BIR number we can afford you.

CM: We do practice some price differentiation but we don’t compromise on the finish at all. The difference may be in fabric and cut. We offer different packages, such as a total work package, and so on.

AE: What’s a regular day like for you both?

GM: A typical day would start at 5 a.m. in the morning. Our kids would wind down at nine and Coline and I would go till 11. We have very long days. At home Gergory would cut while I discuss strategy and so on.

AE: How does children change the dynamic?

GM: They make us take everything all the more seriously. They demand our success as we now have this much responsibility.