Edinburgh The state of our planet looms ever larger in our collective conscience and with that Scottish couture fashion just stepped in to make our clothing choices not only sustainable but also breathtaking.

Thistle & Broom today announced the introduction of its first collaborative effort with 21st Century Kilts founder Howie Nicholsby. Nicholsby's efforts for Thistle & Broom will include an extraordinary hand sewn couture kilt (along with a companion jacket and waistcoat) using the world's first certified organic tweeds as woven by Isle of Mull Weavers at Ardalanish Farms. The rich natural palette of the tweeds, distinguished by an incredibly soft hand, are being brought to full their potential with elegant details and hand stitching generally confined to Saville Row. But it's the story behind the couture, one of respect for the planet which sets this effort so far ahead of anything else currently on the market.

Teresa Fritschi, Chief Creative Officer of Thistle & Broom conveyed,
This effort of limited production fabric and bespoke tailoring epitomises sustainable luxury and its all sourced from within Scotland's borders. The Sustainable Couture Kilt (SCK) pays tribute to decades of efforts put forth by Howie in making the kilt a daily choice rather than special occasion wear and to Aeneas and Minty Mackay's recent designation of producing the world's first (and currently only) certified organic tweeds - illustrating their unwavering commitment as stewards of their land. Its
rarity and exquisite quality make it something to be coveted like an Aston Martin, perhaps when James Bond is once again a Scotsman he'll wear this.

We have been working with Teresa on co-marketing efforts since the launch of Thistle & Broom in 2005. She sees the consumer as needing to take responsibility for their purchasing decisions and has provided a heretofore unknown convergence of luxury with social responsibility, said Aeneas Mackay of Ardalanish Farms.

Teresa wanted to develop a range that would set our efforts for her company apart from the rest of the 21st Century Kilt portfolio as well as the efforts of her other kilt making partners. I believe our first collaborative effort succeeds brilliantly on every level, concluded Howie Nicholsby.

About Thistle & Broom, Limited www.thistleandbroom.com Edinburgh-based Thistle & Broom is a sustainable luxury ecommerce initiative. All of the offerings are sourced exclusively from within Scotland's borders, with 2/3's of the retail price on more than 90% of the products going directly to the trading partner. Eight percent of the related pre-tax profits are donated to carefully selected Scottish not-for-profit organizations which serve to preserve, protect or restore elements of Scotland's heritage. Thistle & Broom was legally incorporated in Scotland in April 2004 and commenced trading in May of 2005.

About Thistle & Broom, Ltd. Thistle & Broom is the world's first sustainable luxury brand. Unlike most luxury goods purveyors which source from wherever it is most financially lucrative all of the offerings are sourced exclusively from within Scotland's borders. Designed to positively impact local economies across Scotland, and in contrast to most retail models which embrace up to a 500% markup on products, Thistle & Broom pays 2/3's of the retail price on more than 90% of the products directly to our trading partners. Eight percent of the related pre-tax profits are donated to carefully selected Scottish not-for-profit organizations which serve to preserve, protect or restore elements of Scotland's heritage. Thistle & Broom was legally incorporated in Scotland in April 2004 and commenced trading in May of 2005.