Three years ago, I stumbled upon something that would change my creative journey forever—Scottish tartan. From the moment I discovered it, my love for tartan has only grown stronger, deepening with each passing day.
In today’s fast-moving world of technological progress, we often overlook the classics—those timeless staples that once defined elegance and craftsmanship. Scottish tartan is one such treasure. While it has been overshadowed by futuristic fabrics and modern materials, it is far from obsolete. My mission? To bring it back into the spotlight through digital visualization.
Why Scottish Tartan?
As a trained tailor, I get shivers when I see a high-quality fabric. And Scottish tartan? It’s a masterpiece. But what makes it so special?
- The Fabric
Authentic Scottish tartan is pure wool, woven and worsted in a classic 2×2 twill weave. Its weight ranges from 10 oz (ideal for dresses) to 16 oz (perfect for jackets and seasonal coats). The moment I touched it for the first time, my hands instinctively knew how to shape a structured lapel. For any tailor, working with such fabric is a dream. - The Colors
Tartan blends colors in a way that shouldn’t work—but does. Greens, blues, deep reds, oranges, browns—all harmonizing in a single design. As my artist friend once said, “It combines colors that are normally incompatible, yet somehow transforms them into a stunning work of art.” - The Heritage
For centuries, Scottish clans wore tartan that reflected their identity and geography. Blue signified proximity to the sea, green to forests, brown and grey to mountains. With around 700 Scottish clans, each having multiple tartan variations, the diversity of designs is astonishing. Some patterns mark hunting seasons, others signify spring, while some are reserved for weddings and christenings. Every tartan tells a story.
The more I learned, the deeper I fell in love—not just with the look of tartan, but with its history, its meaning, its soul.
How Clo3D Helps Reimagine Tartan
No, I’m not Scottish. My surname is Gaelic, but my DNA holds no trace of Gaelic roots. So, why am I so passionate about Scottish tartan?
One winter afternoon, as a whisky lover, I was enjoying a dram and mindlessly scrolling through Etsy when I stumbled upon a store selling Scottish tartan. It was love at first sight. The color combinations fascinated me, and I immediately bought a few cuts. When the fabrics arrived, I was blown away by the quality of the worsted wool. As a tailor who loves working with fine textiles, I could instantly tell it was something special.
Curious and inspired, I explored tartan’s rich history. At one point, I even considered opening a tartan fabric store—but living in Switzerland, I knew the demand wasn’t there. So, I set the idea aside. Or so I thought.
For the past three years, my passion for tartan never faded. I designed tartan garments for myself, my husband and my clients, studied its legacy, and explored new possibilities. Then I discovered Clo3D—a game-changer. With it, I could bring tartan into the digital realm, recreating lifelike garments with intricate weaves and textures.
Recently, I started visualizing some Minerva Patterns designs in Scottish tartan, exploring how digital tools can breathe new life into traditional textiles. This project, Royals Incognito, is still unfolding, but seeing tartan take shape in a fresh, modern way excites me.
