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Iconic British brand Burberry have signed up My Week with Marilyn star Eddie Redmayne as the face of their new advertising campaign. Working the distinctive tartan for the Burberry fashion house, Redmayne is one of the many film stars that have helped Burberry to become one of the world’s most valuable brands. The 'Burberry Check' was designed in the early 1920s by the Burberry Company and the tartan is recognized by the Scottish Tartans Authority.

Our favourite choir master, Gareth Malone looked dashing in tartan at the International Emmys ceremony in New York. The International Academy of Television Arts & Science awards recognise outstanding achievements so it was only right that Mr Malone picked up an award for Arts Programming for his series ‘Gareth Malone Goes to Glyndebourne’ which was shown in 2010. During this year’s series 'The Choir: Military Wives' the programme led to the release of the charity single Wherever You Are which is battling it out for the Christmas number one. Gareth Malone said the Military Wives have Simon Cowell ‘quaking in his boots’ and we are rooting for the Military wives! Gareth accepting his award    

Following a mild November Scotland has experienced its first bout of wintry weather - get cosy and wrap up against the chill with Harris Tweed or a wool tartan headscarf ! Brrrrrrr...

This Christmas gather you friends and family and raise a toast with a special glass of your favourite malt! Whisky is a spirit that really comes into its own during the cold winter months. Perfect for keeping out the chill whisky is a popular tipple for Christmas and Hogmany and makes a great gift too. If you are gifting friends and family a bottle of whisky a pewter flask or Quiach, a traditional Scottish drinking vessel is a lovely addition. Here are some perfect tipples to sample over the festivities season. Glengoyne has some fine offerings including the Glengoyne 17 years has a well-balanced palate of flavours and a delicate citrus taste. The distillery sits on the right on the so-called ‘Highland Line’ which is a mark on the map created by Parliament in the 18th century to help collect taxes. At the time whisky producers in the highlands paid less that their fellow producers in other parts of Scotland. From Glenmorangie Highland Park 12 Year Old Island Single Malt Whisky is worth its premium price, subtle smooth and fragrant, this is a classic offering from Orkney with notes of honeysuckle and heather. Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky comes from one the oldest family run distillery and their latest offering doesn’t disappoint with toffee and orange flavors coming through nicely. Whisky lovers may have felt understandable concern over reports this week that the popularity of Scottish whisky has peaked to such a level that stocks could be at risk. Export sales this year increased by over 23% in the last nine months – and this is before Christmas and New Year sales are taken into account!- with the surge in sales potentially leading to shortages. The growth of markets in South America and Asia has seen new middle classes emerge who are attracted the prestige and traditional surrounding Scottish whisky. The ten year lag time of production is a further factor. However all would not be lost are these are some alternatives should a shortage happen – Japanese malt whisky is, like it’s Scottish counterparts is double – distilled in pot still. Japanese whisky has come on leaps and bounds over the last ten years and has received lots of positive attention in Europe, particularly when the Nikka Yoichi 10 Year Old Japanese Whisky won the Best of the Year prize in the Whisky Magazine awards. Scottish and Japanese love of whisky came together in a more sombre mood when Scottish distilleries came together to support the relief effort following the devestating Japanese earthquake and Tsumani. Distillers Arran, BenRiach, Bladnoch, GlenDronach, Mitchell's Glengyle, Kilchoman and Springbank created the ‘Spirit of Unity’whisky – over £90,000 has been raised so far thanks to sales and the money has been used to provide urgent supplies and to house over 300 people in temporary accommodation. So this Christmas celebrate unity and enjoy a Scottish or Japanese malt. From midnight mass to the chimes of the New Year there is no better time to enjoy that water of life.

Tweed and tartan are as traditional as mince pies and tinsel. Here is a selection of gifts for her, for him and for little ones that are sure to delight. For Scots and fans of Scottish heritage and beautiful fabrics, Christmas is a great time to make an addition to their wardrobe as there are many fabulous savings to be made. A made to measure outfit makes for a very special present that will be a delight to wear on special occasions for years to come. There are many lovely outfits to choose from depending on your preferred style and budget. Popular for jackets are Prince Charlie’s and Argylle or for something more casual that can be worn at highland games and in warmer climates opt for a Ghillie shirt outfit. Presenting a gift which includes a family, country or university tartan makes this a truly personal gift. Classic accessories featuring beautifully finished, Scottish made items, delicately engraved and using the finest fur add the finishing touches to a prestigious package. An accessory set in a presentation box is a special gift that allows the receiver to give their outfit a whole new look, they usually include a matching sporran, sgain dhub and belt buckle featuring a Celtic or masonic crest. Individual items are also popular; cufflinks featuring a saltire, masonic symbol are popular and with over fifty styles to choose from you’ll be spoilt for choice! Rugby tops come into their own during the Six nations and are great for everyday wear. Individual sporrans for day or evening wear are a good choice. Harris Tweed is one of Scotland’s best loved brands synonymous with quality and a Harris Tweed jacket or hat is sure to be welcome, their soft feel and thick material makes them perfect for the colder months. For ladies you can’t go wrong with Celtic jewellery to add a bit of sparkle to the day! Earrings, brooches and necklaces in pewter catch the light and keep their shine over time. Look out for pretty designs and colourful stones. Friends abroad will also appreciate a little taste or the romance and history embodied in Celtic inspired jewellery. A ladies wool kilt in a family or country tartan are popular this time of year , from cute tartan mini-kilts and bodices popular on both the catwalk and the high street to more traditional hostess kilts there are many styles to choose from. Tartan is a design that is perpetually popular so these lovely skirts can be worn each year. A tartan scarf is a lovely gift adding a cosy layer and cheer to any outfit. For younger members of the party a kids kilt or tartan dress which start at very small sizes is a fantastic gift which little ones will wear with pride and excitement with having their own tartan item. A traditional Scottish gift is a lovely present for people outside of Scotland too, particularly those who have enjoyed a visit to Scotland , have Scottish roots or have married a Scot. If you’re looking for something a bit different and steeped in tradition a Quaich presented alongside a bottle of fine Scottish whisky makes for a superbe gift. Quaichs are traditional Scottish drinking vessel perfect for New Year’s Eve toasts and ideal if buying a present for a couple to be married in the coming year. Quaichs also look great as ornaments when not in use.                    

Two Panda’s will be arriving at Edinburgh zoo this weekend – there is much excitement as they will be the first time these iconic animals have lived in the UK for seventeen years. The Pandas are being flow in on a Boeing 777 Freighter which has been chartered for the occasion. Pandas are by nature solitary, so the two will be living in separate £250,000 enclosures which feature caves, climbing structures made of tree trunks, and a water feature. Hugh Roberts the Head of Edinburgh Zoo commented that ‘The arrival of Tian Tian and Yang Guang is a historic occasion for the zoo, for Scotland, and for the UK as a whole … our newest additions will offer visitors a once in a lifetime to view these extraordinary animals’ looking to the future he added ‘we are hopeful that the female, Tian Tian, will give birth to cubs – the first to be born in Scotland.’ As well as a great attraction for visitors to the zoo, as Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK explained the Panda’s arrival in the UK is ‘part of a joint 10-year research programme to find out hoe human-bred pandas can survive in the wild.’ Young people will also be given the opportunity to learn more about the Panda’s during their ten year stay as an exciting learning programme has been developed. The generous loan of the pandas from China is also an opportunity to strengthen the business and cultural links between Scotland and China. Chinese Scottish tartan forges also helps to develop the social and political ties between China and Scotland. The The colours chosen for the Chinese Scottish tartan represent the bond between the two countries, the design includes the blue and white of the Saltire combined with the red and yellow of the Chinese flag, green was also included in the design as it is a traditional colour in tartans and references the links between the botanical communities of both China and Edinburgh - indeed the botanic gardens in Edinburgh holds the largest number of Chinese plants outside of China. China’s association with Scotland goes back 1000’s of years when explorers in China found a burial place of Caucasian travellers wearing perfectly preserved tartans. The Chinese Scottish tartan was unveiled on the 6th of April which is National Tartan Day and it was designed jointly by the Scottish Tartan’s Authority and the Strathmore Woollen Company. The new tartan has proved very popular with the local Chinese community, Chinese students studying in Edinburgh and tourists from China – bought for wedding, graduations and as a gift to take back home. Chinese women in particular are attracted to tartan as a high fashion garment. The creation of a Chinese tartan and the arrival of the Pandas are both symbols of co-operation and harmony between China and Scotland.              

This Thursday the 1st of December the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh opens its doors after being re-furbished. A visit to the re-vamped gallery is sure to delight all the family and be a highlight for tourists visiting the Capital. The opening exhibition 'Blazing with Crimson' explores what tartan meant to six people who had their portraits painted between 1680 and 1780. Outwith the exhibition tartan is sure to feature in many of the portraits on show from the traditional to the contemporary. The gallery is open daily from 10am -5pm.

Rihanna performed her new single on the X Factor on the 19th November. Sporting a red tartan checked mini dress. Designed by the late Alexander McQueen the dress showed off plaids fashion credentials and complemented Rihanna's bold style. Check out these cute tartan skirts, tartan meets denim and tartan bubble skirts

Did you know it is possible to find out about each individual piece of Harris Tweed cloth woven? Thanks to records kept by the Harris Tweed Authority, based on the Isle of Lewis, details are recorded for each piece woven including the date of weaving, and who it was woven by! Another key role of The Harris Tweed Authority is to and protect the Harris Tweed brand at home and abroad.

From the islanders of the Hebrides to the tailors of Savile Row, Harris Tweed, the world’s most iconic cloth is known for its beautiful vibrant colours, hard wearing properties and rich history. Hand crafted by weavers in the Outer Hebrides for generations and loved by designers including Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Margaret Howell it is a fabric that is both traditional and modern. Harris Tweed’s mark of certification is the instantly recognisable Orb which is branded onto the cloth itself. The Orb is one hundred years old this year and provides Harris Tweed lovers with the knowledge that they are buying genuine Harris Tweed that has been hand-woven by the islanders of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra in their homes, using pure virgin wool that has been dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides