Our Values

Integritie is the foundation we’ve built Ellie and Shell upon. It is our commitment to honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior in all our actions. Integritie means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. It goes beyond just following rules -- it is about showing respect for others, treating everyone fairly, and fostering a culture of trust. When we act with integritie, we create an environment where our communitie feels valued, supported, and heard.

Authenticitie is at the heart of our designs and our mission. We believe in the power of being real -- embracing who we truly are and encouraging others to do the same. Our passion is to create products that not only reflect our communitie’s genuine spirit but also empower them to feel confident in expressing their true selves.

We know that the world often pressures us to fit into molds, but we are here to help our customers break free from the ordinary and embrace their individualitie. By crafting bags that stand out, we encourage everyone to throw out their "basics" and be bold in their choices, and celebrate what makes them unique. Whether it’s a splash of color or a personalized detail, we design with the belief that everyone deserves to feel confident, authentic, and proud of who they are.

Our communitie is full of like-minded people who are connected by our shared interests and values. Some of us are bookworms, always carrying extra pens in our Bookies for annotating. Others are always on the go and pack their Boxies to the brim with essentials. But all of us bring something unique to the group, creating an environment where everyone can feel their authentic selves shine through.

Not only do we have an online communitie through our social media pages, we're part of the Knoxville, Tennessee communitie! Charlotte is currently a senior at the University of Tennessee, and says she wouldn't have created Ellie & Shell if it wasn't for the supportive entrepreneurial communitie in the city. Before she moves back home to Iowa, Charlotte wants to give back to her friends and connections in Knoxville, so stay tuned for more details on IRL events coming soon!

At Ellie and Shell, we don't just want to create amazing products for our communitie, we want to make a lasting impact on those around us. Toni has worked hard to instill philanthropie and the core value of giving in her children, and Charlotte has embraced that philosophy in her life.

As an avid reader herself, Charlotte understands the impact this skill has on everyday life, and the challenges faced by those with reading deficits. She's also noticing that reading is regaining popularity -- BookTok and Bookish Influencers on social media are bringing back a love for reading to a generation who's grown up with video games and too many screens. Because of this trend and Charlotte's passion for reading and giving to others, we chose to focus our philanthropic efforts on literacy initiatives.

We want to get to work right away. That's why for every Bookie we sell, we will donate $5 to a non-profit focused on literacy initiatives! At the end of the year, we will total the number of Bookies sold and make a lump-sum donation to the charity that wins our communitie vote. This is just the start. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our email below to stay up to date on our latest endeavors!

We started Ellie & Shell to not only bring stylish and highly functional products to the hands of our communitie, but to bring you as much joy as possible. We want you to love your bag as much as we loved designing and making it for you. We hope that by showing off our authentic style by making our bags, you'll feel inspired to show off your authentic style when using our bags. Our goal is to simply make you smile when you use our bags. (Even if it's when you're panic packing because you're gonna miss your flight) ("Trust me, I've been there!" - Char)

When you join our communitie, we hope you find joy in meeting like-minded people, connecting over something you love, and feeling like you can be exactly who you are!