Clare Campbell is spearheading a unique entrepreneurial journey through Prickly Thistle, the weaving mill she founded in the Highlands, the only one on the mainland, Clare’s venture is not just about weaving and tartan; it’s about identity, sustainability, and creating a blueprint for community-driven change.
From Numbers to Looms
Born and raised in Inverness, Clare initially pursued a career far removed from textiles. A chartered accountant by trade, she spent over a decade solving financial puzzles in industry and practice. But in her mid-30s, a combination of existential questioning and the personal tragedy of the loss of her brother, at a young age, inspired her to pivot. With no prior experience in manufacturing or weaving, she embarked on a bold mission: reviving the lost art of Highland tartan weaving.
Her decision wasn’t just a career change but a personal rebellion against the traditional corporate structures she had worked within. “I wanted to experiment with different business cultures and challenge the status quo,” she explained. She was particularly drawn to tartan, an emblematic fabric of Scotland, and was struck by the absence of mills in the Highland region.
Building a Legacy
Launching Prickly Thistle wasn’t smooth sailing. Early crowdfunding attempts failed, and acquiring century-old looms from the Borders posed logistical and technical challenges. Yet, six years on, the venture boasts a team of 14 and is the first B Corp-certified weaving mill in Scotland. B Corp status aligns with Claire’s ethos of prioritising people and the planet over profit—a principle deeply rooted in her mother’s advice: “The greatest gift in the world is the one that you give.”
In recent years, she has opened ‘Rebel Row’ her own retail outlet in Inverness that has become a magnet for locals and visitors alike due to the quality of offering.
Act of Ambition
Clare’s ambition is about more than business; it’s about a movement. Her next chapter involves lobbying for a Highland Tartan Act, modelled on the Harris Tweed Act of 1993. This legislation would ensure that tartan associated with the Highlands benefits the local community and environment. For Claire, this is about reclaiming cultural identity and creating long-term economic equity for Highlanders.
She said “I just had this kind of epiphany, of thinking, could something that is a global icon be a key to solving some acts of social and environmental justice for the Highlands? Create a blueprint in our little region which is loved. The world over, but it’s a blueprint that is going to be the best free open-source franchise ever.”
She passionately advocates for tartan as a vehicle for social and environmental justice. “This global icon can drive meaningful change locally,” she explained, envisioning a circular economy centred on Highland values and resources.
As Prickly Thistle enters its next phase, Clare has no shortage of ambition for the wider Highlands, her recently launched Highland Caim Dion Trust (HIGHLAND CAIM DION TRUST) aims to champion the ‘Tartan Act’ in order to channel investment, foster innovation and develop long term sustainability.
Kindness at the Core
When asked about her core value, Clare is unequivocal: kindness. It’s a principle she strives to embed in her business and personal life. From supporting her team to engaging with her community, her approach reflects a commitment to ethical practices and a kinder, more equitable world.
Her journey also reminds us of the power of home. She invoked the famous line: “There’s no place like home,” emphasising the importance of local roots in creating global impact.
Clare’s story is a testament to the courage it takes to challenge conventions, embrace failure, and transform a vision into reality. It’s a narrative of resilience, community, and, above all, kindness—a fitting embodiment of growth for good.
Clare spoke in more depth about the principles around the ‘Tartan Act’ and what it could mean in the ‘Growth for Good’ podcast –