Canadian
Official Ottawa City Tartan
Canada’s capital city, Ottawa sits gracefully along the banks of the Ottawa River where the provinces of Ontario and Québec meet. Known for its grand Gothic-revival Parliament buildings, historic waterways and vibrant cultural scene, Ottawa blends political significance with natural beauty. From the UNESCO-recognised Rideau Canal to its world-class museums and festivals, the city celebrates both Canada’s heritage and its diverse communities.
Ottawa 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
Ottawa Clan Origins & History
The Story Behind The
Ottawa Tartan
The Ottawa Tartan was created in 1966 to mark Canada’s centennial celebrations, commissioned by the City of Ottawa’s Centennial Committee. Designed by award-winning textile designer and weaver Jean Docton, the tartan features an unusual asymmetric sett that sets it apart from many traditional tartans. Its design is built around two contrasting colour blocks, including deep navy tones alongside lighter blues, gold and white, creating a striking pattern that reflects the city’s civic identity. The design was formally recognised as the Official Tartan of Ottawa when it was accepted by City Council on 21 November 1966, securing its place as a symbol of pride for Canada’s capital.
Canada's Capital
Ottawa
As Canada’s capital, Ottawa sits at the centre of the nation’s political and cultural life, with Parliament Hill overlooking the Ottawa River and shaping the skyline of this historic city. Scottish influence runs deeply through Ottawa’s story, from the Scottish settlers who helped establish the early community of Bytown to the many Canadians of Scottish descent who have played leading roles in the country’s history. Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, was born in Scotland, and that connection continues to be celebrated today through events such as Tartan Day gatherings on Parliament Hill and lively Scottish cultural festivals, where pipe bands, kilts and ceilidhs keep Scottish traditions thriving in the heart of Canada’s capital.
Proud to Partner with
The Scottish Society of Ottawa
Founded in 2012, the Scottish Society of Ottawa is dedicated to celebrating and sharing Scotland’s culture across Canada’s capital region. Run by a passionate team of volunteers, the Society brings Scottish traditions to life through a vibrant programme of events throughout the year, including the much-loved Hogman-eh! New Year’s Eve celebration, the Great Canadian Kilt Skate along the Rideau Canal and traditional Burns Suppers honouring Scotland’s national poet. Through our partnership with the Scottish Society of Ottawa, we are proud to support their work in keeping Scottish culture visible and vibrant in the city, while helping connect their community with tartan, heritage and traditions from Scotland.
Bring the Ottawa Tartan Back to the Loom
pre-order a product in the Official Tartan of Ottawa
We are delighted to now feature the Ottawa tartan on our website as a printed tartan, available in small range of products, and in partnership with the Scottish Society of Ottawa we would love to take the next step and bring it back into production as an authentic 100% wool fabric, woven in Scotland. To do this we need to understand the level of interest and estimate how much cloth to weave. Although once produced commercially, the tartan has not been widely woven since the 1980s and in 2026, the City of Ottawa commemorates the 200th Anniversary of the founding of Bytown, so what better time to revive it.
If you would like to pre-order products made in the Ottawa tartan, please complete the form below by 1st July. At that point we will confirm orders and begin the weaving process. Measurements are not required at this stage, we will follow up with any additional details once we receive your form.
If you have any questions or special requests, please let us know and we will do our best to help.
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