District
Strathclyde Tartans Page
Strathclyde is a historic region in western Scotland, named after the ancient kingdom and including Glasgow and its surrounding areas. The Strathclyde Blue tartan was created in 1993 as part of a series of district tartans, designed to reflect the region’s identity through a modern, inclusive pattern.
Strathclyde 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
Strathclyde Tartan Origins & History
From Ancient Kingdom to Modern Region
Strathclyde
Strathclyde is a historic region in western Scotland, taking its name from the “strath” or valley of the River Clyde. The area was once part of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde, a Brittonic realm that existed from around the 5th to the 11th century and played a key role in early Scottish history. In modern times, Strathclyde became an important administrative region, centred around Glasgow and encompassing both urban and rural communities. It is also home to the University of Strathclyde, renowned for its world-class business school, engineering excellence, and strong emphasis on innovation and applied learning.
The Strathclyde Blue Tartan
The Strathclyde Blue tartan was produced in 1993 as part of a broader initiative to celebrate Scotland’s regional identities through tartan. It was one of several district tartans included in the influential publication District Tartans by Dr. Gordon Teall of Teallach and Dr. Philip D. Smith Jr., which sought to recognise areas not traditionally associated with clan tartans. Designed to represent the historic and cultural region of Strathclyde, the tartan features a bold and contemporary palette, with shades of blue reflecting the River Clyde and the coastal waters of western Scotland.
A Name with Ancient Roots
Wallace of Strathclyde
Clan Wallace has strong historic ties to the Strathclyde region. The name “Wallace” is derived from the Old French Waleis, meaning “Welshman” but in the Scottish context it specifically refers to a Briton of the old Kingdom of Strathclyde. This ancient kingdom, once centred around Dumbarton, was inhabited by a people of Brittonic origin culturally distinct from the Gaels, Picts, and later Norse settlers. Early records show that the name Wallace was especially common in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire, regions once part of or adjacent to Strathclyde territory.
Image Credit:
Image of Strathclyde Country Park - VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
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