Have we got trews for you? No, Boris, it's a London kilt

Published on Friday 27 November 2009 21:39

LONDON mayor Boris Johnson certainly has the stature to carry off wearing a kilt.

And hopes are high that he could be one of the first to don a new tartan being specifically designed for London and Londoners.

A competition to design the tartan will be officially launched on Monday, St Andrew's Day, by the Scottish Tartans Authority and Kings Place, an arts venue in the capital. Organisers are not just looking for exiled Scots but anyone who lives and works in the city to come up with ideas

And Mr Johnson, who used to be a regular on the BBC's Have I Got News For You?, could be asked to wear the winning design.

New York already has its own tartan, as do the FBI and 34 US states. But, until now, not one English town or city has had a tartan specifically crafted in its honour.

The competition will be launched at Kings Place, during an evening of poetry and songs celebrating Robert Burns. Two famous Scots – actor Robbie Coltrane and the poet Jackie Kay – are set to help judge the entries.

Benjamin Webb, a spokesmen for Kings Place, said: "The idea for the competition came after we all sat down and thought how we could up with something that links London and the many Scots who live in London."

The competition will be open to all Londoners and the tartans authority will be placing a template on its website for would-be designers to use.

Mr Webb said: "There has never been a people-powered tartan design competition of this nature before – using the internet in this way and open to English people."

He added: "Who knows, Mayor Johnson might fancy having a kilt made."

Brian Wilton, operations director of the tartans authority, said: "It is fantastic that tartan is getting recognised beyond the borders of Scotland."

Tartans are normally limited to six colours, and Mr Wilton said: "Red for London buses is obvious. There might be a muddy brown for the Thames. And they might choose one of the colours for the London Underground. There are too many to include them all.

"What we are hoping is that some official body will accept the tartan and they might have to trot it round to dear old Boris. He is up for most things and he definitely has the build for a kilt. He is quite stocky and I think he would walk with quite a swagger in the kilt."

Mr Johnson was not available for comment but a spokesman said: "We will be flying a flag outside City Hall on Monday to mark St Andrew's Day."