Prickly Thistle Scotland: A sustainable tartan mill

'Fire' was woven by Prickly Thistle Scotland for use in its sustainable clothing line. It represents an unconventional approach to tartan design and manufacturing in the 21st century. Unlike most tartans available in Scotland today, it has been woven using a traditional shuttle loom in a small-batch production model that discourages waste.

In 2021, Prickly Thistle was the first mill in Scotland to become a Certified B Corporation, or ‘B Corp’. This certification is awarded by B Lab, an international non-profit network founded in 2006. B Lab are ‘transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.’ To become a Certified B Corp, a company must demonstrate high standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

An antique weaving shuttle has also been acquired for the collection. It is laser engraved with the Prickly Thistle Scotland logo and the Certified B Corp mark. It is emblematic of the company’s commitment to maintaining the values of ethical, zero waste production within the weaving industry. The shuttle itself dates from the mid-20th century. It was used by Prickly Thistle Scotland between 2018-2021 as part of its mission to refurbish and repurpose four derelict shuttle looms within its Evanton mill.