Designing a Tartan

[JohntheBiker]

Does anyone have any experience designing and producing their own tartan? What is the most affordable way of going about this? Ive been to Scotweb and used their designer. If I want some other company to produce the kilt, is my only option to buy the fabric from Scotweb and send it to another company? Do you know of any other companies that create custom weaves at reasonable prices?

Any help or insight would be appreciated.

I'm looking for a tartan that matches my school colours. Purple, Grey and White. I cant find anything I like in other databases, so Ive designed my own.



Thanks,

Alan

Alan,

Out of curiosity, what school do the colours go with?

[adempsey10]

Alan,

Out of curiosity, what school do the colours go with?

University of Western Ontario. I've looked into whether they have their own tartan, Ive even contacted their graphics standards branch to find out but have come up with nothing. Eventually, I'd like to have tartans done up in the colours of my Alma Mater, Carleton University, as well. For now, I'd like the colour of the school I will be attending this fall.

[JohntheBiker]

University of Western Ontario. I've looked into whether they have their own tartan, Ive even contacted their graphics standards branch to find out but have come up with nothing. Eventually, I'd like to have tartans done up in the colours of my Alma Mater, Carleton University, as well. For now, I'd like the colour of the school I will be attending this fall.

Also a Carleton alumnus - Class of '73. Good luck at Western.

[artificer]

I've got a little experience with designing and ordering a tartan. One, but we are in the process of placing our second order now.

The First Round

Second Round (ongoing)

The first time we ended up ordering almost 130yd double width from DC Dalgliesh (2011) and, apart from the slow communications on their end, had a lovely experience with a fantastic end product.
I handled all the official paperwork, samples, and billing.

On this round we decided to go with Marton Mills after a somewhat chilly start with Dalgliesh's ordering team. All of the new fees (£414 in set-up and custom dyeing) made them much, MUCH less
attractive an option. We're currently up around 90yd DW with two weeks to go.

Rocky from USAKilts is actually handling the administrative end this round, and as such is offering to make kilts from the material as well (they don't normally do COM - customer's own material).



I can say with ALL certainty that if you have a decent amount of volume that you'll get a much better price from Marton Mills or several other mills besides Dalgliesh.
If you're only looking for a short run your only option may be Dalgliesh.

One other bit of advice is to consider the cost of shipping and tariffs into the equation. I don't know what/if the Canadian tariff structure is on fabric, but in the US you can expect to potentially pay a fair bit in fees on a large order.
There is also the material handling issue. Unless you've got someone in mind that will be breaking the order (cutting and reshipping fabric) you can have a full-time job on your hands just doing that (with the inherent risk and potential expense of mis-cutting).

IF you could get your university to authorize the tartan as official, you/they/an alumni-group might be able to cut (no pun intended) a deal with a local/regional kiltmaker to be the school's official 'tartan tailor' to produce kilts, scarves, and shawls in the material.

Good Luck!

ith:

[The Wizard of BC]

I'm going to second Artificers comments.

In my experience, unless my customer absolutely, and positively says that they want only an 8yard single width piece of fabric, I will go with Marton Mills.

Their minimum to the public is 14 yards double width or 3 kilts worth.

In the end when all is said and done, including shipping, duty, and taxes I have found that I can get 14yards D/W from Marton Mills for just about the same cost as 8yards S/W from Dalgliesh. 3 kilts worth v.s. 1 kilts worth for the same cost. You do the math.

I have designed four Tartans now and each time my go-to weaver is Marton Mills.

For those who are designing Tartans, or just thinking about it, there is a movement to find an alternate weaver who is willing and capable of weaving fabrics in non-stock Tartans. A few of us have approached three weavers who are known to produce quality fabrics in short runs. Tartan fabric for kilts is not their usual business but they have woven kilt fabrics before so know how to do it. We just need to be confident that the quality is there first.

[adempsey10]

An interesting anecdote about this thread:

I sent an email to UWO's graphics standards department to see if there were actually an official tartan. The response I received, just now, was that while there is no official tartan, there is an unofficial tartan on Scotweb's database. The link to it was provided in the email. Ironically, the link was to the tartan that I myself designed, the one you can see in the OP. I've opened a dialogue with the head of the department to see about designating an official tartan for the school.

Thanks for everyone who offered advice. I'm hoping to have this kilt made up towards the end of summer.

[sydnie7]

[snip] I sent an email to UWO's graphics standards department to see if there were actually an official tartan. The response I received, just now, was that while there is no official tartan, there is an unofficial tartan on Scotweb's database. The link to it was provided in the email. Ironically, the link was to the tartan that I myself designed, the one you can see in the OP. [snip]

That is just classic and too funny!