Glen Affric

During forestry work in the 1980s, an odd piece of wool was uncovered. Preserved in the peaty soil of Glen Affric, this humble artifact was clearly from a day long gone. It was indeed the tartan plaid of a Highlander. The specimen was dispatched to the local experts who duly cataloged it's existence, not fully understanding it's age or importance at the time.

It was not until 2023 that the world would learn what this cloth really was – the OLDEST extant sample of Scottish tartan in the world. It was rediscovered languishing in the archives in 2022. Recognizing the potential importance, the Scottish Tartans Authority (STA) in conjunction with the V&A Dundee Museum, commissioned new scientific dye analysis and carbon dating of the specimen. What they discovered was truly breathtaking – this tartan was woven in the 16th century!

It’s amazing to contemplate. Someone wore this cloth in the time of King James V, Mary Queen of Scots or James VI. A time before the War of the Three Kingdoms…before the Uprisings…before Culloden. Not to mention before the establishment of clan tartans.

Of course everyone was anxious to see this tartan live again. We are proud to offer the official reconstruction based on the results of the STA’s color analysis. Peel away the layers of time…the staining of the peat…the weathering…and what is revealed is a rich, earthy sett composed of umber-red, wheat-gold, meadow grass greens and ruddy brown. A lovely example of the shades our ancestors would derive from local natural dyes. At the same time, the reconstructed tartan feels remarkably contemporary, lushly beautiful and an ideal match for your favorite tweeds.