Thistle & Clover

Profile

As students in Scotland, friends Camilla Gale and Rand Niederhoffer would spend hours trolling Europe’s outdoor markets for unique regional treasures. They continue to seek out local talent, like Demylee, Rachel Comey, and Snow & Graham, to stock their jointly-owned boutique, opened March 2008 right in the center of Fort Greene’s lively DeKalb Avenue. Leather pocketbooks are displayed like artwork on one of the walls of the pristine, gallery-esque shop, and jewelry from Brooklyn labels Catbird and Bittersweets are showcased with similar reverence in a glass cabinet. Bright dresses cinched by bowed belts, tanks with flirtatious cutout patterns, and loose silk frocks set a tone of whimsical sophistication that’s maintained by a small cache of home goods, including scented candles, soaps, and letterpress stationery. As part of its effort to provide opportunities to young designers, the store hosts trunk shows and meet and greets in its back garden, as well as a quarterly open call, where unrepresented designers can present their wares and, if selected, sell their collections to the store on consignment. — Bree Sposato