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Scottish National Tartan

Here at Kiltsforhire we are proud to offer the largest tartan selection available for kilt hire in Scotland. With such a Large array of choice its sometimes hard to choose, our blogs spotlight different tartans & their background so you can decide which is the right one for you.


Todays tartan focus is: Scottish National.

Scottish national tartan kilt

About the Scottish National-

The scottish national tartan is a very recognisable and famous tartan, only designed in recent years. This tartan has no clan connections but rather was designed to represent Scotland as a whole.

Hire scottish national

This tartan is perfect for those wanting to rock some tartan that isn't connected to a name, it is the perfect universal tartan for those wanting to celebrate their scottish heritage.


The tartan features shades of navy, dark green, black, white & red. The colours were inspired by Scotland's environment.


  • The Green represents Scotland's lush landscapes and rolling hills.

  • The Blue symbolizes the sky and waters, including Scotland's lochs and coastline.

  • The Black provides a bold contrast and adds depth to the pattern.

  • The white and red offer accents that make the design bright and versatile.


This is a popular tartan for Scotland orientated events like Burns Night, St. Andrew's Day, and Hogmanay.




Other Variants-

Scottish National Black


A variation of Scotland's National tartan was designed more recently called Scottish National Black which is much darker and features grey tones with a flash of purple.


scottish national tartan kilt
Scottish National Black

The lack of vibrant colours often found in traditional tartans emphasizes its neutral and inclusive nature. It serves as a more contemporary expression of Scottish identity, appealing to modern tastes while maintaining cultural significance.



Designed in 1993 by Michael King of Phillip King's kiltmakers in Aberdeen in honour of St Andrew’s Day and is based on a combination of Black Watch and Campbell tartans.



The scottish national tartan does also have some other variations including dress, hunting & weathered tartan variations.




Tartan History-

The tartan was only designed in recent years, so there isn't too much exact tartan history but lots of events in history leading to its design and success.


Tartan revival was immanent as during the 18th and 19th century as there was a shift in tartans, with the introduction of more general, universal tartans all designed to embrace Scotland but without clan affiliation. This expanded the range of tartans at the time and started a movement of tartan representing Scotland itself celebrating its culture & heritage and shifting away slightly from strict clan affiliation.

This shift was heavily influenced by the Romantic movement, which idealized Highland traditions and promoted tartans as national symbols.

Scottish national tartan
17th century portrait of a Kilt outfit

Alongside this as tartans became increasing popular, there was demand for universal tartans so more people could feel included or for mixed families less of a divide. The scottish national tartan is a product of this and through the shift in tartan , led to its creation & popularity.


The Scottish National Tartan was created as part of the 20th-century push to establish tartans that represented larger groups or themes, such as regions, professions, or countries, rather than just clans. Although it lacks the deep historical lineage of some clan tartans, the Scottish National Tartan has become a cherished and meaningful symbol of Scotland's collective pride and cultural heritage. Over time, variations of the Scottish National Tartan (like the Dress and Hunting versions) were introduced, broadening its appeal for different occasions and preferences.





Hire this Tartan-

The examples showcased above are all available for hire. We proudly offer the largest selection of tartans for hire in Scotland, giving you an unmatched range of options to choose from.

scottish national kilt hire

What’s included in your hire?

Our kilt hire includes everything you need for a complete kilt outfit, down to the finest details. With our premium kilt hire service, no detail is overlooked. Each outfit is crafted from the finest Highland wear Scotland has to offer, ensuring exceptional quality and authenticity.


Styling-

This tartan looks best styled with a charcoal or navy tweed jacket for semi formal occasions. Styled with matching socks, black brogues, a tartan/plain tie, seal skin sporran, tartan flashes.

For formal occasions this tartan looks great with a black Argyll Braemar or Prince Charlie jacket. Styled with black socks, brogues, tartan/plain rushe tie, black seal skin sporran & tartan flashes.


We have a wide range of tartans, jackets & accessories to allow you to completely customise your kilt hire outfit. We have a wide range of blog posts covering a range of topics if you are interested in hiring a kilt you can find these here.

Alternatively our FAQ page is here to answer questions you may have.




If you have any questions on kilt hire, bookings, or anything, we would love to welcome you in store or alternatively you can reach out to us at Shop@kiltmakers.com or call us on 0141 889 4879.

You can browse the Scottish National tartan hire here.
You can shop our full hire range here.
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