Regimental Tartans
23 variationsEach tartan can have multiple variations, the most common of which are Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress
About tartan variations
- Ancient
- Modern
- Weathered
- Hunting
- Dress
Ancient Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans, mossy greens and sky blues, a more orangey red and some would say showing off the pattern to much greater effect as as the contrasts are much brighter than the Modern tartans. The pattern or sett remains the same across all variations of a single tartan, and only the shades or tones vary.
Helpful Advice
Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Modern Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans. Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Helpful Advice
The Modern tartans are often the more subtle combinations such as the classic Black Watch Modern
Weathered Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer, more earthy colours typical of the Weathered tartans, reminiscent of bolder colours subjected to wind, rain and sunshine producing beautiful faded tones, olive greens and browns, and very light blues with reds that are more pink than red.
Helpful Advice
Some mills refer to the Weathered tartans as Muted.
Hunting Tartan
The Hunting Tartans are the camouflage tartans and some clans don't have these variations because they are already predominantly green or brown and don't need amendment to blend in with nature's colours. The Black Watch or Gunn tartans are examples of these, whereas a tartan such as the Fraser is predominantly red and would not provide much cover for men out hunting.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
Dress Tartan
The Dress Tartans were designed as the name suggests for celebrations and highland dance. The sett or pattern of the tartan remains the same and the main colour is changed to white, or extra white is added to the pattern to give it a brighter, more "fancy" appearance. The Scots do like to bend the rules and occasionally instead of white thread, yellow is used and this is where the rather wild MacLeod Dress Modern and Barclay Dress Modern came from.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
From the start
Regimental Tartans Tartan Origins & History
The Black Watch
In 1725 following the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, General George Wade was asked to put together six 'watch' companies to patrol the Scottish Highlands. Three companies were formed by members of Clan Campbell, one of Clan Fraser of Lovat, one of Clan Grant and one of Clan Munro. The soldiers in the Black Watch originally wore a 12 yard kilt made out of a dark coloured tartan, now known as the Black Watch Tartan.Regimental Tartans
205 Field Hospital (Scottish) | Graham of Montrose |
71 Engineer Regiment (Scotland) | MacDonald of Keppoch |
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders | Black Watch / Campbell of Cawdor |
Argyll Fencibles | Campbell of Cawdor |
Argyll Highlanders (Old 74th) | Lamont |
Argyllshire Highlanders, 91st | Black Watch |
Atholl Highlanders | Murray of Atholl |
Black Watch Pipers | Stewart Royal |
Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regt) | Black Watch |
Breadalbane Fencibles | Campbell of Breadalbane |
Cameron Highlanders 79th of Foot | Cameron of Erracht |
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) | Douglas |
Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders | Stewart Prince Charles Edward |
Glasgow Highlanders | Black Watch / MacKenzie |
Highland Light Infantry | MacKenzie |
Highlanders | MacKenzie / Cameron Erracht / Gordon |
Kimberley Scottish | MacKenzie |
King's Own Scottish Borderers (TA) | Erskine Red/Green / Buccleuch |
King's Own Scottish Borderers (Pipers) | Buccleuch |
King's Own Scottish Borderers | Leslie / Stewart Royal |
Liverpool Scottish (TA) | Forbes |
London Irish Rifles (TA) | Saffron |
London Scottish (TA) | Hodden Grey |
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders | Cameron of Erracht |
Queen's Own Highlanders | Cameron of Erracht / MacKenzie |
Ross-shire Buffs (78th) | MacKenzie |
Royal Artillery, 19th Regiment | Robertson Hunting |
Highland Gunners | Robertson Hunting |
Royal Auxillary Air Force 602 Sqn | Douglas Grey |
Royal Auxillary Air Force 603 Sqn | Douglas Grey |
Royal Highland Fusiliers | MacKenzie |
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Pipers) | Stewart Royal |
Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) | Stewart Hunting |
Royal Scots Fusiliers | Erskine Hunting |
Royal Scots Fusiliers (Pipers) | Erskine red & black |
Royal Scots (Pipers) | Stewart Royal |
Royal Scots Greys (Pipers) | Dalziel |
Royal Tank Regiment | Rose Hunting |
Scots Guards (Pipers) | Stewart Royal |
Scottish Horse | Fraser Hunting |
Seaforth Highlanders | MacKenzie |
Tyneside Scottish | Black Watch |
