Nostalgia: Fashion woven into the fabric of a country - with slideshow

Published on Saturday 4 April 2009 10:31

IT is Scotland's national dress – and celebrities embraced it this week when they strolled down the New York catwalk for the seventh Dressed to Kilt Tartan Week celebrations.

Mike Myers, Andie MacDowell, Dario Franchitti and Leon Jackson were all clad in the colourful plaid recognised the world over as Scotland's own.

It was a chance for Scots across the Atlantic – such as Sir Sean Connery – to fly the flag for their homeland, celebrating our nation's contribution to the globe.

Love it or loathe it, tartan is woven into the fabric of Scottish life – from the Royal Mile tourist shops selling cheap kilts, and the smart traditional Highland outfit complete with sgian dubh and brogues to the Tartan Army's casual kilts and clumpy boots.

In February, the Scottish Government unveiled the world's first official Register of Tartans, to be maintained by the Keeper of Records in Scotland and housed in the National Archives in Edinburgh.

That was a modern development for a weave rooted in Celtic history, adopted by clans and military regiments and finally celebrated by 19th century Britain thanks to Sir Walter Scott's tartan pageant in 1822 for King George IV.

In more recent times, boxing champion Ken Buchanan's tartan trunks were as distinctive as his ability to flatten opponents. Royals paraded in it, led by the Queen Mother, Scotland rugby supporter Princess Anne and the young Gordonstoun pupil, Prince Charles.

Scores of locals made their living from it – The Tartan Tailors in Morrison Street was, among other outlets, a hive of industry for its seamstresses and kiltmakers, and Market Street greengrocer William Ure went to work in it. And who could forget the Bay City Rollers – as famous for their tartan trimmed trews as their songs?

Then, as now, special weaves were made for celebrities and to mark special events. Hercules the bear – who became a star of films such as James Bond flick Octopussy – had a 22ft long kilt made for him by the Edinburgh Woollen Mill, while the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh had its own tartan.

These days, designers like Vivienne Westwood are known for their clever use of tartan, which, it seems, is here to stay.