American
United States St Andrews Tartans & Clan
The United States St Andrews Tartan, also known as the American St Andrews Societies Tartan, was originally created to mark the American Bicentennial, commemorating 200 years of independence from 1776 to 1976. Since then, it has come to be recognised as the tartan representing St Andrews Societies across the United States, symbolising the enduring Scottish connections within American communities.
United States St Andrews 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.
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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.
Explore the history
How it all started
The United States St Andrews Tartan, often referred to as the American St Andrews Societies Tartan, was designed in the mid-1970s to commemorate the American Bicentennial, marking 200 years since the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Rooted in this landmark moment in American history, the tartan has since been adopted as a unifying symbol for St Andrews Societies throughout the United States, reflecting the long-standing Scottish presence and shared heritage that has shaped communities across the country.
What is a St Andrews Society?
As mentioned above, the United States St Andrews Tartan is also known as the tartan representing St Andrews Societies. You may therefore be wondering what these societies are and where they originate. A St Andrews Society is an independent organisation dedicated to celebrating Scottish heritage. Found across the world, these societies provide a way for Scots and those with Scottish ancestry to come together and honour shared traditions, from hosting ceilidhs to observing time-honoured customs such as the toast to the haggis. While some societies remain very traditional in their structure and membership, others have evolved over time. Each is unique in character, yet they are collectively recognised by their shared name and, in many cases, by a distinctive tartan that represents their identity.
St Andrews Societies
Discover the St. Andrews Society of Albany
One of the St Andrews Societies represented by this tartan is the St Andrew’s Society of the City of Albany, based in Albany, the capital of New York State and home to our US store. Founded in 1803, the Society is one of the oldest of its kind in America and remains proudly traditional in its outlook. Established by Scots who settled in the United States and by Americans of Scottish heritage, the Society continues to play an active role in supporting the local community while preserving Scottish culture and customs. Its long-standing presence in Albany reflects the city’s deep and enduring Scottish connections.
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