Dark Thistle
Identity and supporting material
This visual identity was created for Dark Thistle, a boutique accessories brand offering handcrafted hats and hair accessories with a romantic, contemporary aesthetic. The identity reflects both the elegance of the products and the personality of the maker through a clean, memorable mark.
The custom logo combines a stylized lowercase d and uppercase T into a simplified thistle-inspired glyph. The tilted top form serves simultaneously as the flower head of the thistle and a vintage pillbox hat, creating a subtle visual connection to the brand's handmade millinery. The slight tilt introduces a sense of confidence, warmth, and playfulness, preventing the mark from feeling overly rigid or ornamental.
The identity system included primary and secondary logo lockups, product labels, hang tags, business stationery, and additional brand applications, creating a cohesive visual language across printed materials and packaging.
A restrained palette of deep indigo (#1F174E) and muted periwinkle (#5457A6) reinforces the brand's balance of sophistication and creativity. Together, the colours evoke craftsmanship, imagination, and a touch of mystery while allowing the identity to remain approachable.
Product backing card featuring Dark Thistle hair clip
Backing card revealing a hidden message from the maker
