People are always curious about our African Tartans – Where did the notion come from? Why Tartans for Africa? And who would wear these tartans? 

The journey began with the Scotland Malawi Millennium Project. David McGill, Tartan Designer, philanthropist, eccentric and all-round good guy, was determined to use tartan in a way that fostered multi-culturalism and interculturalism around the globe. Africa held a special place in his heart. 

“Cradle of civilization Hazel- deserves to be revered” was his opening gambit to me when I posed the same question that repeatedly gets asked of us “Why Africa?”.

David’s vision for tartan was to promote an outward-looking, modern Scotland that applied soft power in its international relations across trade, culture and humanity. After the warm reception and success of the Malawi and Kenya Tartans, he saw the potential to design more African Tartans.

David set about bringing people together – Scottish diaspora in Africa, African-Scots, Embassies, Consulates and Community Groups to explore colours, designs, symbolism and meaning in the creation of a range of African Tartans. He did it for 25 out of 54 African Countries as well as designing a pan-African Tartan (Karibu), for those of multi-African heritage and for those like himself, who held Africa in high esteem. 

Four of these African Tartans that have left lasting legacies. The Malawi and Zambia Tartans were used as a catalyst for creating textiles-based community enterprise. The Sudan Tartan secured EU funding, leading to the development of school uniform projects. We like to think that somewhere in Sudan hundreds of ‘bairns’ are still running around in their Sudan Tartan skirts and shorts. The Zimbabwe Tartan was also printed onto cotton and used by women’s textile groups to make tartan crafts and clothes that were then sold for community benefit. 

Aside from the tartan actually being used in Africa, David secured sponsorship to run a series of fashion shows between 2006-2009 with Strathclyde University and Heriot-Watt. Both Universities hosted ‘Tartans for Africa Fashion Shows’ with students creating and showcasing their own designs in the tartans. Those fashion shows raised over £50K that was subsequently donated to projects in Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as providing vital funding for refugee and asylum seeker initiatives in Scotland. We want to resurrect that legacy. 

We want these tartans to be worn around the world, on catwalks, on high streets – we want fabulous men and women of African heritage on the front of magazines rocking tartan, we want young people from Glasgow to Lagos in  African Tartan Trousers or Nigerian Tartan dresses. We want the profits from the sale of that tartan do be applied for the good of all. 

We at International Tartans invite you to join us and help us make it happen.

 

Yours for Africa and Scotland, 

Hazel Smith 

Director

International Tartans