Scottish Weaving

The instantly recognisable woven pattern of Tartan has become the brand signifying all things Scottish. Recorded mentions of Tartan date back to the 16th century where highland weavers used the naturally coarse wool to spin and dye using organic locally found minerals, plant and vegetable dyes. Various Clans of Scotland each have their own particular tartan, of which depends on where in Scotland the family originates, determines the colours of the tartan due to the natural sources for dyeing that were around them. Red was a particular colour believed to have been only worn by the wealthy or for ceremonial and special occasions due to the rarity of natural red dyes, whereas on the contrary today red tartans are the most significant and popular.


Wallace Tartan


Black Watch


Rob Roy, one of the simplest of all tartans, which consists of weaving red and black yarns to create a checkboard pattern of three colour changes.

Traditional Scottish Tartan is created by weaving 100% wool yarn using a loom. However nowadays, the renowned pattern is often printed onto fabrics as it is less time consuming. Tartans are often also designed using digital methods, as the ability to explore the variety of colour and check combinations before choosing the desired design can be more time and cost effective.

The most common and well-known use for tartan fabric is for them to be pleated and made into the kilt, traditional Scottish clothing which forms an iconic unisex skirt, the word kilt  meaning to tuck clothes around the body as originally the tartan plaid was a blanket worn by Scotsmen by pleating it into a belt and wrapping the excess fabric around the shoulders.

Chloe pre-Autumn/Winter 2010

Traditional Kente Weaving

Kente Cloth is a traditional fabric most popularly woven in Ghana by the Akan people. It was known as the "Cloth of Kings" and only ever worn for extreme importance. Kente Cloth has now become more widespread, although still remains a sacred, royal cloth. It is made unique by the idea that every pattern has a very specific relation to a person, historical event or proverb. Original Kente cloths were black and white with perhaps red or gold, as they were created using locally grown and spun cotton and the available natural dyes. Nowadays, dyes are more accessible and so a wide variety of brightly coloured yarns are used in the weaves.

Weaving in Fashion- Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2012

Burberry Prorsum's Spring/summer 2012 collection confidently showed a theme of traditional inspired weaving, using natural yarns and a rich, warm colour palette to take a twist on the original Burberry check weave. An African influence is noticeable throughout the collection from the choice of wooden beads, orange and brown colours, raffia-like woven fabrics and embellished woven belts tied around the waist. 

The art of weaving

Mimi Jung's weaves are constructed with colourful yarns to create these unique, organic wall hangings. The stripes and earthy colours resemble landscapes and the combination of textures give an outstanding tactile quality.

Palm tree bark was also used with yarns in the weaving below to add an intriguing texture whilst attaining that organic appearance.