BEHIND THE LABEL

Thistle and Spire was founded in 2015 by a 27 year old with a couple thousand dollars and a dream. Independently owned, we’re not beholden to suits who prioritize profits over values. Our passionate tiny team of 8 works tirelessly to deliver you show-stopping, jaw-dropping luxury lingerie designs that are just as sexy and unique as you.

Why Lingerie

We believe that great lingerie is the perfect way to show yourself self love and set the tone for your day (or night). At Thistle and Spire, we create lingerie for you to wear unapologetically.

We challenge the idea that lingerie is for the male gaze, so we create intimate pieces made to uplift the person wearing the lingerie, not the person viewing it. (They will look twice, but that’s not the point.).

Created with Intention

All of our pieces are designed to lift you up literally and figuratively. We obsess over all the tiny details of our products, often creating custom embroideries, prints, trims and hardware to ensure each piece is a complete showstopper - just like you.

Everything is made in XS-3X and most pieces are designed to be highly adjustable to adapt to your individual shape.

Made to Empower

We like to say “F you” to conventional beauty standards. We don’t photoshop our models’ bodies. Things like body hair, stretch marks, and body rolls are part of what make us individuals and should not be airbrushed away.

All of our products are created in our full size range of XS-3X and are photographed on multiple models. We design for different nude tones and gender expressions. We continue to explore new ways to center inclusion in our design process, like designing products for different nude tones and gender expressions.

Sex Positivity

Curiosity looks good on you, and it’s an honor to celebrate self-expression with you, in all its forms. Explore your sexuality in sultry bondage pieces, crotchless panties, body jewelry, and accessories created by a design team with an untamed imagination.

@maggiesaysgoforit

FROM OUR FOUNDER

"I fell in love with lingerie long before I had anyone to wear it for. For me lingerie has always been something that I wore more for myself and how it made me feel rather than for someone else and how it made them feel. Maybe that sounds a bit selfish but instinctively I’ve always fought the idea of lingerie being for the male gaze."

Lingerie Sets the Tone

Choosing a beautiful first layer has always been the perfect way to show myself love and set the tone for my day (or night). That is why I decided to specialize in Intimate Apparel Design when I studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. I knew from a young age that lingerie was my calling, but was disillusioned when I started working in corporate fashion and realized that talented designers are often asked to knock off other people's work instead of creating anything original. I created Thistle and Spire as a sanctuary where I could create the bold, innovative designs that I wanted to wear.

Self Worth ≠ Dress Size

I grew up during the heroin-chic '90s followed by the early-2000s angel era, and the unachievable beauty standards of the time severely affected my self worth as a young woman. It is so important to me that Thistle and Spire challenges conventional beauty standards, so that the next generation doesn’t feel that way that I did growing up. This has only become more important to me in recent years because I am the mother of two girls, and I want them to live in a world where they don’t equate their self worth with their dress size.

Sex-positive, Pro-LGBTQIA+

I was also raised very catholic, constantly receiving messages that sexuality should be shrouded in shame, especially if it's not in a heteronormative context. Thistle and Spire's sex-positive, pro-LGBTQIA+ ethos is my rebellion against that.

Everything On My Own Terms

I started Thistle and Spire when I was only 27 with a few thousand dollars and a dream. We never had deep pocketed investors which meant we needed to be very scrappy for many years but it also meant that I could create the company that I wanted on my own terms. It wasn’t easy, but I’m so glad that I took the path I did to get here. I'm humbled by how far we’ve come, and I’m so grateful for you, our customers, for your ongoing support.

With awe and gratitude,

Maggie
she/her
Founder and CEO
Thistle and Spire