Thistles West

2009 is our 20 year anniversary. Thistles West was started by Meredith Lockhart in 1989 in a tiny farm house on the side of a hill in north eastern Kansas. Meredith designs and makes all the items under the Thistles West and Merezia Custom label. Most of the items are one-of-a-kind and of the highest quality possible. Her beautiful designs have been worn to cattleman's balls and in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. The fashions have also been seen on many major Country Music stars on stage and in videos. Meredith likes creating beautiful things that women feel good about wearing.

In 1995 Merezia Custom was born out of the need to have another label to do custom clothing for rodeo queens to wear in National pageants such as the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. Meredith has had many young ladies finish in the top 10 in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant and the National High School Rodeo Queen contest wearing Merezia fashions. Two young ladies have captured the National title wearing Merezia, both from Kansas, the 2004-2005 National High School Rodeo Queen Emily Aldredge and the 2008 Miss Rodeo America Amy Wilson. both also won the apperance catagory.

When I was a child, I could hardly wait for Christmas too see what kind of clothes my mother had made for my dolls. I think that was the beginning of my interest in sewing and design. I played with an amazing set of paper dolls that my aunt and mother had made when they were teenagers. These were beautifully hand water colored dolls with these wonderful dresses that dated from the late 1800's thru the 30's. When I was in the seventh grade, I made my first dress that I could wear to school, and my teachers complimented me on it and I was hooked! Coming from a family of talented artists and musicians probably sealed my destiny. After many years of work in interior design and art related work, in 1989, I created Thistles West to produce and market high end western and crossover fashions.

In 1997, I decided to give something back to the community and went to work for an arts organization in Kansas City, Missouri that did programs for inner city, at-risk and adjudicated youth. During that time, we continued to make clothing for major country music artists for TV award shows, videos and CD covers. I was drawn back into the fashion business because of so many requests for my fashions, thus the Merezia Custom label was created for the designs made and worn by rodeo queens for state and national pageants.

Inspiration for my designs comes from the love of the western culture. I have had horses since I was a teenager. I married a farmer and live where I am surrounded by horses, cattle and beautiful countryside. Yes, Kansas is not all flat with wheat fields for miles and miles.

Embellishment ideas come from the rodeo queen wear and she adds them to the accessories. I strive to make a high quality product and likes creating things that women feel good about wearing. My love of the western way of life has driven me to design bags, belts and fashions with western flair.