DON'T MISS A THING

When I walked in the spacious, downtown LA, cathedral-like home/warehouse of Meyghan Hill of (wh)ORE HAüs, complete with high ceilings and a workspace reminiscent of the welding scene in the movie, Flashdance, the first thing I noticed upon entering, was a big, black and gold banner hanging from the top of the kitchen. Two large cursive words, an impactful statement piece reading, Bitches rule.

Immediately I knew I was in the right place with one bitchin’ woman welder.

Inside the Home of Meyghan Hill and Her (wh)ORE HAüs Studio

I noted the beautiful pieces of furniture in the living space and admired a huge bookshelf even Ernest Hemingway could be jealous of. I also discovered the welding space that suggested this was a woman who was surely about her business. I glimpsed some impressive heavy-duty machinery, several metal rods, lined up vertically against the wall, and a table filled with power tools I would have to Google search to know what they were and what exactly they did. Walking in all I really knew was that this woman built artistic masterpieces. I would later learn she also built herself up during the process and there’s more where that came from.

Meyghan Hill and the Birth of (wh)ORE HAüs

Meet Meyghan Hill, an ex-model who grew up in the fashion industry and traded in trendy threads for an all-black wardrobe, and a welding helmet to set ablaze fine furniture as the artistic designer who founded (wh)ORE HAüs in 2012. This self-described introverted-nerd, (although I perceive her to be more of a modest warrior who slays in a male-dominated industry) rose up from the ashes once she picked up a welding torch after a breakup to set blow torching history with an unthinkable brand name and furniture business.

And let’s be clear shall we? The power HAüs of Meyghan Hill and the beautiful brand she built wasn’t solely based on the premise of a woman scorned over a severed romance. For the record, Hill says, “Honestly, I was starting over, moved into a place and needed furniture. I didn’t intend to make a business, and I wasn’t bored or anything but it (welding) helped and opened up a creative outlet. I had a hole and filled it”, she says.

And just like that, (wh) ORE HAüs was born and oh baby is it turning heads, getting people talking and business is booming. So much so that Hill says she’s overwhelmed but “I know that’s a good thing and I’m not complaining.”

The Chat

Hill is comfortable keeping it real and taking care of her own narrative as she sits across from me, cozied up in a lovely chair she’s designed herself, of course. Cuddled up next to Hill is her cute, little, shop dog “Wombat“, she sits pretty and wants in on the interview too. Hill politely offers me some water, and places the glass on one of her leather (wh) design coasters and turns on her favorite Pandora playlist Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. A soulful/garage rock and folk music type of mix which sets a chill mood, and echoes throughout the space via surround sound speakers and then it’s go time and we just dig right in like friends spilling all the woman welding tea.

The (wh)ORE HAüs Name

The vibe is genuine, there’s no elephant in the room, no holding back for fear of ruffling feathers nor is there ever any awkward silence as Hill gets honest, personal and transparent in explaining in full detail about the name of her business (wh)ORE HAüs. Which, it’s no secret that people tend to make the word whore, taboo but Hill says, “The name is empowering and I won’t shy away from it.” Neither, are we.

The name is a play on words. The word “ORE” is defined as:

n. A source from which matter (as metal) is extracted.

Infusing the (wh) with ORE, the (wh)ORE HAüs brand becomes provocative and unapologetically feminine. A brand name so sexually stimulating, Hill says “Even full businesses and bankers won’t actually say it during business transactions or when I’m dealing with shipping accounts. No one will say the name on the phone. Ironically enough, men are much more offended than women. Women’s responses are mostly positive in person. Sure, it’s bold and touchy but it’s also furniture that rectifies strong female empowerment. I’m glad the conversation is being had. I want people to be more informed.” Although Hill says when she first started her brand, she didn’t really know that one day she would be defending it to the LA Times after Etsy took up issue with using the name.

Why the Word (wh)ORE

Hill breaks wh(ORE) HAüs down for us some more. “It makes you confront something, there’s essentially a shift in a word where you’re taking it from something that means something derogatory to something different when you use it on yourself and claim it as your own, then it becomes empowering. The thing that’s mystifying is that the word whore didn’t really mean what it meant to a lot of people. Ultimately, I do believe there are sex workers in this world who have a very different relationship with the word but in my experience and community, it’s women being called that in an atmosphere that has nothing to do with the actual context. Men can say during a fight, He’s being a d*ck or call each other **s hole and it’s not a problem or even an issue.”

I feel Hill’s passion as she continues, “As a woman, we’re all really hoping to be accepted in all our many facets. There’s this idea that women can’t be sexual in certain atmospheres. I’m sorry (not sorry) that if you walk in whatever place and whatever it is about your clothing or body that makes a man think you’re being sexual or sexy, that’s on them, not you, you’re not dressing for them.”

At this point, I cosigned pretty sincerely on this, just yes, yes, and yes!

Sexy Designs

Hill’s furnishings are very unique and carry the same in your face artistic persona one might grasp from the brand’s name and design pieces. “Sex is a huge part of my branding, furniture, and work because women should be able to use tools, be feminine and strong at the same time. All those things should be acceptable.” I concur.

With sexy tables, pillows with presence and chairs strapped with buckles, corsetry and lux metals; it’s easy to be drawn into such a dominant artistic design. “My aesthetic is a little bit whips and chains and rock and roll. It’s fun to walk by your own stuff and say, that’s a sexy table”, Hill chuckles slyly.

I vacillate between eye contact with Hill and the several furniture pieces that are truly one of a kind around the room. I easily become mesmerized at all the intricately designed pieces like a unique, marble, Ouija board table, a stunning glass chandelier and end tables with leather incorporated. Wow, I just can’t imagine how time-consuming both the creative and business aspect of Hill’s brand and these fine furnishings must be.

The Business

Fortunately, Hill isn’t just a one-woman show, she may not have a team of employees but she does have one millennial assistant that is hugely involved, who handles her social media and a plethora of other avenues and “she’s not just picking up dry cleaning” says Hill.

Hill is also clear in sharing, “There’s a shit ton of self-loathing when you are your own product and running your own business like Am I doing this the right way? I realized I was feeling like a hamster in a wheel being consumed with the business aspect of invoices or whatever and learned I needed to carve out play days to embrace the creative process and get me time in and just design whatever. Half the time, it’s about shutting up the voices in my head and just doing it and I love just taking time to play with different materials.”

As Hill grows her business, she hopes to expand in the realm of lodging and boutique hotels, which I can definitely see happening. More ideas for the future entail her current research in working on a new collection, which involves Japanese Rope Tying, as she is drawn to images that combine corsetry and furniture. “I get to be an investigative journalist and tap into my nerd. I want to rectify this visual imagery with my brand because it’s just really f*cking fascinating. I would love to bring this idea to life this year.”

(wh)ORE’s Army

What is also really ‘effin fascinating is Hill’s concept of (wh)ORE’S Army. A movement of strength, resilience, and empowerment designed in leather and brass with materials encompassing those ideals. They are offered in pairs with the idea that you keep one and then give one to another badass woman. “This is what we are made of, we are the (wh)ORE’S Army.”

What’s Next for Meyghan and (wh)ORE HAüs

As we wrap up, Hill shares how 2019 has been a time where she’s really decided to slow down, take a step back and re-examine her brand to decide what direction she wants to continue to go in.

“I remember back in 2013 when I was defending the word whore to Etsy, it was a very different conversation compared to now, I feel like the entire world is having it. It’s an amazing time and part of the whole message now is that we need to be looking at other people’s perspectives. My intention is making sure I’m being responsible in my branding, marketing, and the products. I want to really give a lot of thought to and make sure the tone behind the brand respects the growth of what’s happening in our world today. I don’t need to make people comfortable with my company anymore and that’s a BIG difference from where I was several years ago.”

“In 15 years I hope I’ll be able to say to myself ‘look at you now, baby girl!’”

Plot twist, you can say it now, Meyghan!

**Fun fact: When Hill isn’t working on furniture; she’s a true crime junkie and reads bad mystery novels. When she’s in work mode, her process is meditative in listening to Podcasts and books.

Words, Interview and Photography By Jasmín Nelson

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