'We were so inspired' Brahmin partners with Nashville's Thistle Farms to raise awareness

Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean
Updated ·2 min read

When Brahmin CEO Susan Thacker received a gift from Nashville-based non-profit Thistle Farms, she knew her relationship with the brand would outlast her beautiful, lavender-scented candle.

For 25 years, Thistle Farms has been helping female survivors of trafficking, prostitution and addiction by ensuring access to safe housing, financial independence and a lifelong community of support.

Thacker was immediately inspired — and interested — because she said supporting women, children and underserved communities has always been a foundation of Brahmin, makers of luxury leather handbags and accessories.

The store at Thistle Farms was open for a kick-off event with luxury handbag company Brahmin, held at the Charlotte Ave. space on Thursday, April 13. Brahmin has partnered with the Nashville-based non-profit to help bring awareness and donations to the organization.
The store at Thistle Farms was open for a kick-off event with luxury handbag company Brahmin, held at the Charlotte Ave. space on Thursday, April 13. Brahmin has partnered with the Nashville-based non-profit to help bring awareness and donations to the organization.

"What struck me the most about Thistle Farms is its 360-degree commitment and partnership with these women," Thacker told The Tennessean. "They offer support from job training and lifestyle skills to health and wellness. It's a long-term program which is fully formed. It’s a program. That was the most impressive to me. At Brahmin, we are a luxury handbag company, but it is important that we are part of the conversations going on in the community."

Susan Thacker is the CEO of Brahmin, a luxury handbag company that has partnered with Thistle Farms.
Susan Thacker is the CEO of Brahmin, a luxury handbag company that has partnered with Thistle Farms.

Thacker added that her team then met with Thistle Farms' leadership to learn more.

"We are a community of women supporting each other, so we wanted to figure out a way to support Thistle Farms," she added. "We were so inspired by them and the products they produce."

The result of those conversations is a partnership between Brahmin and Thistle Farms that officially kicked off at an April 13 event held at Thistle Farms Café in Nashville.

Shoppers attended the kick-off event for the partnership between luxury handbag company Brahmin and Thistle Farms. 20% of all Brahmin sales at the event were donated to Thistle Farms. Brahmin also donated 100 clutch bags to be part of a Thistle Farms gift set with proceeds going back to the non-profit.
Shoppers attended the kick-off event for the partnership between luxury handbag company Brahmin and Thistle Farms. 20% of all Brahmin sales at the event were donated to Thistle Farms. Brahmin also donated 100 clutch bags to be part of a Thistle Farms gift set with proceeds going back to the non-profit.

Thistle Farms CEO Tasha Kennard said Brahmin reached out to her with an amazing opportunity and asked how they could help.

"We started brainstorming about a spring campaign, and they came back to us and said they’d like to donate a clutch that we could package in a gift set and use it to promote Thistle Farms," Kennard said.

The partnership didn't stop there. Kennard said the Brahmin team kept bringing more ideas to the table.

"It’s so great to have a partner that is willing to not just invest in your cause, but help raise awareness about what you are trying to do," she said. "They kept asking how they could help us and highlight the work we are doing in our community, and that’s how the event was born."

Luxury leather goods company Brahmin donated 100 white clutch bags to be part of a special gift set with sales going to benefit Thistle Farms.
Luxury leather goods company Brahmin donated 100 white clutch bags to be part of a special gift set with sales going to benefit Thistle Farms.

The initial fruits of the partnership include the limited-release gift set that includes a Brahmin Milk Daisy wristlet, paired with Thistle Farms Lavender Body Butter, Lavender Lip Balm, Calm Essential Oil and a Hyacinth Waterlily Soy Candle. The gift set retails for $150 and is available on the Thistle Farms website. All proceeds go to Thistle Farms.

Luxury leather handbag company Brahmin has partnered with Nashville-based non-profit Thistle Farms. The partnership kicked off Thursday night, April 13 at a shopping event held at the Thistle Farms Cafe. Brahmin goods and Thistle Farms items were for sale and 20% of all Brahmin sales at the event were donated to Thistle Farms.
Luxury leather handbag company Brahmin has partnered with Nashville-based non-profit Thistle Farms. The partnership kicked off Thursday night, April 13 at a shopping event held at the Thistle Farms Cafe. Brahmin goods and Thistle Farms items were for sale and 20% of all Brahmin sales at the event were donated to Thistle Farms.

Thacker said the gift set is just the beginning of what she hopes will be a long-term relationship.

"We are in conversations in many different channels," she said. "Is there an opportunity to work with the products on our own web site or our own retail store? Those are things we are having conversations about."

Melonee Hurt covers growth and development at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee. Reach Melonee at mhurt@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Luxury retailer Brahmin partners with Nashville's Thistle Farms