Gigha’s designs on tartan

Published on Saturday 22 June 2002 01:00

THEY have won control of their land, now they have designs on the fashion world. The residents of Gigha will next week mark the £4 million community-led buy out of the island by launching their own tartan.

The Isle of Gigha design has been registered with the Scottish Tartan Authority and will be unveiled formally on Thursday.

The tartan has been designed by Janette Ker, originally from Gigha but now living near Elgin, and her colleague, John Gillespie, a fabric designer at clothing manufacturers Johnstons of Elgin, and has been inspired by the island and its spectacular environment. Blues and greens reflect the west-coast scenery, gold represents the Gigha primrose and purple the island’s new beginning under community ownership.

Islanders chose the design from three patterns produced by the pair and it will now be used to make scarves, rugs and kilts to be sold around the world.

The Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust, the island owners, are also examining the possibility of producing their own brand products - from milk to shellfish and bottled water - using the tartan and a logo in the shape of the island to help market the goods. The money raised will help the community repay the 1 million due to the Scottish Land Fund as part of the buy-out deal, the biggest community buy-out in the UK.

The heritage trust bought the island last October and formally took control of the land in March.