The earliest known example of tartan in Scotland is a small piece of fabric called the Falkirk Tartan. The piece of cloth was found in a pot alongside 2,000 silver coins and was named the Falkirk Tartan due to its discovery location at Bell’s Meadow, near Falkirk. The cloth is estimated to be roughly 1,700 years old which for reference was during the time of Roman occupation in Britain.
The discovery of the Falkirk Tartan in 1993 underpins Scotland's relationship with tartan throughout history. Tartan isn’t just some novelty pattern that Scotland uses for tourism marketing purposes, it’s deeply seeded in Scottish culture and identity. As a result, there are estimated to be up to 7,000 tartan designs in existence. The vast majority of those are traditional Clan tartans with restricted use and universal tartans accounting for the rest. According to data from the Scottish Registry of Tartans, there are roughly 150 new tartan designs submitted each year and at the end of 2022, we added to that number.
For the past few months, we have been keeping something very exciting a secret. That’s right, we have a new Mist tartan for you. Ever since we introduced our Silver Mist tartan back in 2009 our exclusive range of Mist tartans has grown and with each new tartan, has become more popular. We are confident that this time will be no different.
The Harris Mist tartan features a mix of warm and cool shades of greys, blues and greens with a touch of orange and white to accentuate the design. As the name suggests the tartan was inspired by the incredibly picturesque Isle of Harris and each colour found in the tartan represents a quality from the island. The greys are representative of the rocky and rugged cliffs and hills found across the Harris. The green pays homage to the flora that feeds the Islands cattle and wildlife. The blue and white in the tartan have been added to the design to symbolise the iconic crystal clear blue sea and white sandy beaches that Harris has become famous for. The orange is there to complete the design and reflect the warmth you feel from the locals when you visit the Outer Hebrides.
While the tartan will match many of our tweed and traditional kilt jackets, our Tarbert Tweed Kilt Jacket is a perfect match for it. The green Tarbert Tweed jacket not only matches the green in Harris Mist but it manages to complement each colour of the tartan. The Tarbert Tweed Jacket and Harris Mist tartan are currently available as individual purchases or you can choose them both as a full outfit. We also have Harris Mist available in all of our tartan accessories which include flashes, ties, bow ties, hip flasks and so much more. Just remember, all of our tartan products are made-to-order, so if you're thinking about wearing a Harris Mist outfit for an upcoming event, make sure you get your order in as early as possible.
While Harris Mist and Our Tarbert Tweed Jacket are only available to purchase at the moment, we haven’t forgotten about our kilt hire range. We are pleased to announce that these items will be available to hire from the 1st of June this year, online and at our Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick stores as well as our fitting services. You’ll be able to hire a Harris Mist Kilt on its own, a Tarbert Tweed Kilt Jacket and Waistcoat only or a Full Tarbert Tweed Kilt Outfit, all in time for all those summer celebrations.
To celebrate the launch of our new Harris Mist tartan, we will be hosting a fitting service on the island it was named after. On the 18th of March, we will be at Number 4, Bunavoneader, Harris where we will offer locals and visitors the Kings of Kilts experience. From full kilt outfits to tartan trews to highlandwear accessories, our expert stylists will be there to walk each customer through our extensive range of highlandwear. Be sure to check out our Harris Fitting Service page to get all the information you need to get booked in to come and see us while we are in the Outer Hebrides. Also, make sure you check out our Instagram account as we are running a Harris Mist competition where you could win a very special prize.
It’s safe to say we are very excited to share Harris Mist with the world. We think the tartan is stunning and the perfect tartan for so many different settings or occasions. If you have any questions about Harris Mist or our new Tarbert Tweed Kilt Jacket, feel free to email us at info@macgregorandmacduff.co.uk.
