In 1970's during a flight to the US Johnny Cash found himself in conversation with a Major Michael Crichton Stewart, hereditary Keeper of Falkirk Palace in Fife, they discussed how the family name Cash originated in Scotland. This chance encounter sparked Cash's interest and on his return he consulted a genealogist. It turned out that Cash was indeed of Scottish descent and that his family could be traced back to a clan based in fife around the 12th century. - Cash's daughter in front of a street sign in the town where the family originated from. Family ties as well as the link between Cash's style of country music and Celtic music inspired him to visit Scotland on several occasions. His daughter Rosanne Cash explains "going back into his Celtic past made him realise that this was where he derived his tone of voice, the mournful quality to his music".
Following a vote at the Scottish Parliament last year an official government register was set up at the National Archives of Scotland, was created. The NAC has recently come under attack from weavers and kilt makers. The NAS took over this job from the Scottish Tartans Authority. The idea behind creating a new body was to boost the profile of tartan and to reach out to people around the world who wanted to create their own tartan. So far there are 6,014 tartans on the database. All well and good, however new the ways of doing things has led to negative consequences according to many experts in the field. Whereas the STA required a commercially woven swatch to be submitted in order for the tartan to be registered the NAS only require a digital swatch. Brian Wilton, of the directors of the STA highlights points out the problems this can cause. "Our policy was to request proof of commercial use of any tartan within a reasonable time after it's registration. NAS chose not to go down that route, with the result that many design become where there is no intention of having them woven." Another difference is that the STA was supported by experts within the industry who could provide guidance. Bill Macnaughton, head of Macnaughton Holdings, a highly respected kilt maker and weaver illustrates concerns held by many. "The NAS don't have the skills to determine what is and what isn't a tartan... If there are too many stripes and lines, it no longer becomes a tartan, but a fashion design." - The registering of tartans such as this one, by the NAS, has been called into question by kilt makers and weavers. In it's defence the NAC argues that the changes have made the industry more accessible to global audiences. "as an online resource for people to research, design their own family tartan and have it woven in Scotland" they also point out that each entry is judged against the Scottish Register of Tartans Act 2008. With the wide level of discontent within the industry it seems clear that any difficulties will need to be ironed out before the new register can meet the needs of people around the world as well as protect one of Scotland's most valuable assets.
I spotted this new sgian dubh while showing a customer some of our stock and I think it's one of the best we have. As I'm a girl it's unlikely I'll be wearing it myself, but it would be the one I'd buy for a friend. While being understated and natural looking, it has enough unique touches to make it appealing, and special enough for a full dress outfit. The smooth handle features three complementing woods, inlaid in the handle is a beautiful Celtic motif in polished pewter (I think this is the first time I've seen pewter and wood combined to such effect). The leather sheath in matt black leather has a woven design which echos the criss cross of the inlaid pewter. This piece is eye catching as well as being discerning and classy I couldn't praise it more!
Fashion students at Robert Gordon University's Gray's School of Art, in Aberdeen were invited to enter a competition to design a tartan for Donald Trump's
The wait is over! This Saturday, 3 April the new look Doctor who will appear on our screens for the first time. As well as a new assistant, played by Scot Karen Gillan, from Inverness, the new Doctor has a new look which features a Harris Tweed jacket, bow tie and rolled up trousers. Esquire magazine described his signature look as "a bit of old-school time-traveller meets modern-day adventurer." The course director for fashion at the University of Westminster added. "Mixing vintage pieces with new items has been a fashionable look for men and women for sometime now, and is very much how a large part of the show's audience will approach their wardrobes." Indeed the Harris Tweed Authority has been inundated with enquiries. If like the time lord, you want to add this timeless classic to your wardrobe you might be interested these authentic Harris Tweed jackets. These world famous Harris Tweed jackets, are superbly tailored, hard wearing and warm. When purchasing one of these jackets you are guaranteed exceptional quality - by law Harris Tweed must come from the Outer Hebrides, and be hand woven from local wool. All our tweeds are stamped with the authentic, official gold crossed orb mark of the Harris Tweed Authority.
This summer Apprentice star Alex Wotherspoon wed his childhood sweetheart Hannah Robinson. Showing great flair and business acumen Alex chose The Scotland Kilt Company to deliver outstanding outfits for himself and the rest of the wedding party. The Wotherspoon tartan was especially woven and the outfit custom made for Alex. The rest of the wedding party selected hire outfits in the Grey Spirit tartan, part of our prestige hire range. The wedding was featured in OK! magazine and picked up in the Scottish media. We get a lot of made to measure outfit requests from grooms who want to have an outfit that fits perfectly, and that comes in their family tartan, if this is rare we can have it woven just for them which adds to the specialness of the outfit. All outfits by The Scotland Kilt Company. All Images copyright OK!
The religious diversity and tolerance in Scotland has been celebrated with tartans representing different religions. Jews and Scots have both gained from their encounters of the past two centuries and there exists a tolerance and respect based on shared traditions. In 2008 a Scottish rabbi created the world's first official Jewish tartan. Mendel Jacobs, worked with the Scottish Tartans Authority and religious scholars to design a tartan that would reflect Scotland's Jewish history. He said: "The Jewish people have been an integral part of Scottish culture for more than 300 years, with the first Jew recorded in Edinburgh in 1691. Talking about the colours in the tartan, he added "The blue and white represent the colours of the Scottish and Israeli flags, with the central gold line representing the gold from the Biblical Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant and the many ceremonial vessels." in addition "The silver is from the decorations that adorn the Scroll of Law and the red represents the traditional red Kiddush wine". The Jewish tartan The cloth has been produced by Lochcarron of Scotland tartan, who have seen a global demand for the design from the estimated 15 million Jews around the world. At the time of the last census Scotland had a significant Jewish population of 6400. Many other religions have chosen to mark their close bond with Scotland. According to the Independent newspaper, Buddhism is the fastest-growing religion in Scotland A Samye Ling Buddhist tartan was designed for the Buddhist Centre and Monastery of the same name, situated in Eskdalemuir, South West Scotland. Buddhist tartan The tartan colours represent the five elements in the Tibetan spectrum - Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Space. In addition Abbot Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, designed a simple, dignified red check tartan to line the robes of his monks and nuns He says "we are fortunate to be established as part of the Scottish community and wanted a tartan for our Sangha to show how much appreciation we have for the people, culture and tradition of Scotland". The Clergy tartan has been described as the only occupational tartan. Established as a tartan for clerics since 1850, the Clergy tartan does not represent any particular sect or denomination. While most popular with ministers of the Church of Scotland it is also worn by ministers in the Church of England, the Scottish Episcopal Church, and many other denominations. Clergy tartan The arrival of Sikhism in Scotland is relatively recent, while the first Sikhs settled in Scotland in the early 1920