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Tartan
News Story
Tartan is one of the most recognisable symbols of Scotland. With historical roots in the display culture of medieval Gaelic society, this living tradition has constantly evolved to suit the social and cultural landscapes of the moment.
The Jacobites and tartan
Jacobites and tartan: Symbolism and style
Since the Act of Union in 1707, tartan had become a symbol of anti-Union and pro-Jacobite sentiment. Learn more about these connections.
A tartan suit owned by an English Jacobite
Not all supporters of the Jacobite cause were Scottish. Find out more about a magnificent tartan suit that belonged to Sir John Hynde Cotton.
Tartan trends in Georgian Britain
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Highland Style: tartan trends in Georgian Britain
Highland dress is among the most recognisable symbols of Scotland. It has historical roots in the display culture of medieval Gaelic society. During the 18th and 19th centuries this living tradition was reinvented to suit the social,… - Discover
Six kilt suits from Georgian Scotland
Our collections contain a rich array of Highland dress costume and tartan fashion from the Georgian era. Discover a range of kilt suits from 1790 to 1830. - Discover
Regional Highlands wear for women in the 18th century
An arisaid was a popular form of regional dress for women in the Scottish Highlands during the 18th century. They were seldom brightly coloured, often combining a plain white or cream ground with alternating bars of red, yellow, blue, and… - Discover
Tartan cloaks from the Georgian period
Beyond the realms of Highland dress tailoring, Scottish tartan emerged as a popular fashion fabric in Georgian Britain. The cloth found its way into a variety of everyday and occasional garments, such as women’s cloaks, gowns and… - Discover
Three tartan coats from the Georgian period
From military style jackets to informal housecoats, three tartan coats in our collection demonstrate the range of styles and uses of these garments in Georgian Britain.
Tartan on film
Cloth of identity: designing tartan
Tartan has always been a cloth of identity. Its grid can be used to tell all manner of stories. How are today’s designers crafting these stories?
The art of weaving tartan
Textiles are a major industry in Scotland. From small batch producers to large commercial mills, how do different mills approach the production of the nation’s most recognisable cloth?
The evolving craft of kilt making
In contemporary Scotland, kiltmaking remains a rich and varied industry. How are different makers bringing their own styles, methods, and meanings to the craft?
Contemporary tartan
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Prickly Thistle Scotland: A sustainable tartan mill
'Fire' was woven by Prickly Thistle Scotland for use in its sustainable clothing line. It represents an unconventional approach to tartan design and manufacturing in the 21st century. Unlike most tartans available in Scotland today, it has… - Discover
Acme Atelier: innovating women’s Highland wear
The ‘Bumble Kilt’ is named for its distinctive yellow and black colourway. It is made from vintage and deadstock fashion fabrics,creatively combined by kiltmaker Andrea Chappell of Acme Atelier to create a single garment. This sustainable… - Discover
Traditional Highland wear: a formal kilt suit
The kilt suit collected from Chisholms Highland Dress epitomises the traditional approach to Highland wear, familiar to many both within and outside Scotland. This formal silhouette is a popular choice among consumers. It is often… - Discover
For hire: making Highland dress more accessible
The suit of Highland dress acquired from Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers, Edinburgh, captures the company’s distinct approach to Highland wear for hire. The hire package centres on the ‘John Muir Way’ tartan. This pattern was designed by, and… - Discover
A kilt outfit for the 21st Century
This casual kilt outfit from 21st Century Kilts illustrates a change in the Highland wear industry. Pushing the traditional boundaries, the kilt is repositioned as an accessible form of everyday dress for men.Kilts are traditionally made… - Discover
Charitable by design: trews outfit of ‘Homeless’ tartan
The ‘Homeless’ tartan was designed by Brian Halley of Highland dress company Slanj, Glasgow in 2018. It was developed to raise funds for the charity Shelter Scotland. The pattern gained national recognition during the Covid-19 pandemic,… - Discover
From computer screen to finished fabric: ‘Hame’ tartan
National Museums Scotland holds an extensive collection of 19th and 20th century tartan swatches and design ephemera. In the past, it was usual for tartan manufacturers to design patterns using gridded paper, coloured pencils, inks,…
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Formal trews outfit from one of Scotland’s oldest Highland dress outfitters
This trews outfit from Kinloch Anderson, Edinburgh, is an example of formal wear popular among Scottish groomsmen. The peacock feather plume brooch and black leather Chelsea boots give a contemporary edge to what is considered a… - Discover
The Old Pretender: An introduction to James ‘VIII’
Raised in exile, James Francis Edward Stuart (10 June 1688 – 1 January 1766) was the son of King James VII and II and his second wife, Mary of Modena. Who was James ‘VIII’?When the exiled King James VII and II died in 1701, his son James… - Discover
Gifts for a Prince: Bonnie Prince Charlie's targe and backsword
The targe and backsword described in this film were presented to Bonnie Prince Charlie before the Battle of Culloden, but abandoned when he fled the field after the Jacobites were defeated.