Hello!

Hi, I’m Dr Mairi MacPherson. I’m the designer and maker behind Drathais, and you can find me online as @highlandseedlings. Drathais means 'pants' in Scottish Gaelic (and is pronounced kind of like 'drawers' - dra-ish).

I spent most of my life unhappy with the kinds of pants I could find to buy - in particular with the fact that most commercial ones don't cover my arse! I've been sewing since I was little and eventually learnt to make pants, and now I get to make comfortable pants for everyone! I designed the pattern and make all the pants by hand in my small studio in the Scottish Highlands.

Drathais were tested extensively on bodies in UK size 4-26, and we are adding ever more sizes to our range. We use OEKO-TEX certified cotton jersey fabric (95% cotton, 5% Lycra) designed by a small business in England.

Drathais

It shouldn't be hard to find pants that suit your body - but it is. And that's how Drathais was born!

I've been so fed up with thin, flimsy pants that fall apart in the wash - and that aren't cut to cover your arse. And with pants in 'lady colours' - boring pastels and blacks. So I set about learning how to make sturdy, comfortable pants out of cotton, and I discovered a whole range of bright cheerful fabrics.

Drathais pants have been tested on many bodies of many different shapes and sizes, and with a range of needs and requirements, such as a higher backs for wheelchair users, or a large gusset to support moisture and light incontinence. We have plans to expand to different kinds of waist heights and leg lengths, including 'anti-chafing' shorts, and we're excited to start experimenting with period pants as well. We're also working on 'pouch pants' that accommodate penises or packers. Do you have ideas for other kinds of pants, or does your body have requirements that we're not currently meeting? Talk to us!

Drathais is a queer- and disabled-owned business.

Mairi's story

I live on a micro-smallholding on the edge of a small village in the Scottish Highlands, near Tain. I share my life with my husband, Seamus, our 4-year-old child (who goes by "Kitty" online), and a number of cats, dogs, chickens and ducks. We live a slow, calm and quiet life of routines, community and kindness. I'm a literary historian by training, and used to be an academic. And now I'm a Maker.

Food is at the heart of how we live. We have been growing our food using natural, ‘no dig’ principles since 2013, and we are now mostly self-sufficient in fruit and veg. As well as a walled side-garden where we grow flowers, artichokes and alpine strawberries, we have a large garden that we've spent the last few years slowly turning from lawn-and-shrubs into a permaculture-inspired space. We have several small polytunnels and other growing structures and quite a few mature apple and plum trees. Academics by training, we’re passionate about growing as much food as we can as organically as possible, and to share our knowledge and experience with others.

In 2019, we founded a small community garden in our village, and it has grown from strength to strength. Every year we grow thousands of free veg plants for our neighbours, and we spend a lot of our time teaching others how to live more sustainably. We believe that growing your own fruit and veg is for everyone, no matter your age, abilities, experience, or economic circumstances. We’re committed to teaching folks about living sustainably, within their means, and with consideration of their needs.

Our smallholding operates on principles of solidarity economy / sharing and community. Our guiding principle is that we want to live slowly and intentionally, and we want to help others do the same in order to help them throw off the shackles of consumerism. We see growing your own food as an act of resistance that focuses on making the most of the stuff we have, eating seasonally and mostly plant-based, without the need for more, or better, or stuff. Sow seeds. Grow food. Eat what you’ve grown. Be happy. We will always try to find a way to help you grow your own, and happily accept trades of goods, skills or labour in exchange for our seedlings, veg and expertise. Even if you don’t think you’ve got something worth trading, we’re sure you do. Donate if you can, don’t worry if you can’t.