Designed by ScotlandShop
Autism Acceptance Tartans & Clan
Designed by ScotlandShop in partnership with the Autism Acceptance Clan, the Autism Acceptance tartan celebrates the diversity, strength, and unity of the neurodivergent community. Designed during National Autism Acceptance Month, the tartan stands as a symbol of inclusion and pride, with 10% of every sale supporting ongoing efforts to promote autism acceptance.
Autism Acceptance Tartans
1 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
Autism Acceptance Clan Origins & History
The story behind the
Autism Acceptance Tartan
The tartan was designed by ScotlandShop in partnership with the Autism Acceptance Clan, blending creative vision with community collaboration. Created during National Autism Acceptance Month 2025, the design process included a public survey to gather input from the neurodivergent community and their supporters, ensuring the colours and symbolism authentically reflected those it represents. The tartan features 20 white threads, marking the 20th Anniversary of Number 6 – One Stop Shop for Autistic Adults, a vital service provided by Autism Initiatives Scotland, while a yellow stripe symbolises ‘Au’ (gold), the autism community’s shorthand for autism. Every element of the design honours the diversity, strength, and unity of the neurodivergent community, creating a tartan that is both meaningful and distinctly Scottish.
Autism Acceptance Tartan at
Edinburgh's Inaugural Tartan Parade
In May 2025, a banner featuring the Autism Acceptance tartan was proudly carried in Edinburgh’s inaugural Tartan Parade. Its presence at this landmark event celebrated inclusion, creativity, and Scottish identity, marking a moment of pride for the neurodivergent community and everyone involved in bringing the design to life.
Image Credit: Tommy Slack @0405photography
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