As a Scottish Border clan and family like all others of that ilk Carruthers never had a tartan of their own. In fact, family tartans rather than regional/district tartans or military tartans in the main only came into being in the early part of the 19th century and only really after the visit of King George IV in 1822. This induced the Scottish culture and all that went with it, to become in vogue.
However, as borderers, tartan was never really the attire of choice, as such our clothing was historically far more suited to riding and reiving than wearing a tartan kilt and although a district check may have been used in some forms of attire, it definitely did not lead to a Carruthers clan tartan.
As times changed and Scots and those descended from the same wished to celebrate their culture by wearing their ‘national dress’, kilts and in some cases trews in the tartan of one’s own clan or family, can be often seen at cutural events as well as celebrations such as weddings and hogmaney.
CARRUTHERS TARTAN
This has led to tartan becoming synonymous with Scottish culture and heritage and a defined visual signature associated with a specific clan or family. As Carruthers had no tartan of their own, two tartans were registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans in 2017 by Dr George Carruthers of Fife, an armiger of the clan.
One, the red was gifted to the Clan Chief on his confirmation and through him the clan. This was adopted by the Chief, with a change in categorisation of its registration reflecting it as the official Clan/family tartan of Carruthers.
It carries the following restrictions: Recognised by the Clan Chief, Dr Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains, Chief of The Name & Arms of Carruthers and is intended for members of Clan Carruthers & other spellings of the Name. The other was kept as a private tartan for Dr Carruthers own family.
The tartan was designed for us, taking into account our Border history, by a renowned Scottish tartan designer Mr Brian Wilton MBE, and is woven from 100% Scottish wool by our Scottish weavers, the House of Edgar in Perth. Scotland. The House of Edgar is one of the oldest independent family weavers still in existence in Scotland having begun in 1783.
This ensures that Carruthers, as a Scottish clan and family is anchored firmly to Scotland and retains its own visual identity and individuality, rather than using the tartan of another clan or family.
Carruthers Tartan itself was designed to offer a visual story of our family, depicting just who and what we are.
THE TARTAN DESIGN AND ITS MEANINGS
The tartan was designed by Brian Wilton MBE, FSA Scot of Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland. Brian is a former Director of the Scottish Tartans Authority (1995-2015) and is both a tartan historian and tartan designer of renown. He was commissioned by Dr George Carruthers FSA Scot, to design a Carruthers tartan that would reflect our family and its rich history.
- The green, purple and lilac in the tartan, represents the lands of our family’s origins in Annandale, Dumfriesshire, South West Scotland.
- The red represents the blood we spilt throughout history for our country, our lands and our family at home and abroad.
- Finally, but no less important, the subtle white stripe is in recognition of our family’s support as Jacobites for the Royal House of Stuart.
It is therefore with the full consent and agreement of the Chief that the Carruthers Red (STR 11700) is the official Clan Carruthers tartan. Although all kiltmakers can make you a kilt or trews to order, they would have to order stock directly from our weavers.
WEAVERS OF CARRUTHERS TARTAN
Weavers of Carruthers Tartan: the House of Edgar
Video here: https://vimeo.com/464955628
The tartan has been woven by the House of Edgar, in Perth, Scotland since 2017, but until now suppliers and the public had to go through the Society. However, although their may be a lag time for this to be reflected on their website, this has just changed and the weavers have kindly agreed to list our tartan and as wholesalers, to hold a supply of it for sale directly to kiltmakers and tartan outlets.
The House of Edgar is one of the oldest remaining family run and independent weavers in Scotland. They have been weaving the finest tartan since 1783, 37 years after the Battle of Culloden.
They are recognised as the world leader in the Highland and Celtic Wear markets offering an excellent value for money service. To provide the speedy delivery for which they are renowned, they stock over 1000 Clan, District and Irish County tartans in a variety of weights and compositions, together with a range of supporting products. These include a wide selection of highland dress items such as jackets, ties and scarves.
Their tartans are made from 100% Scottish wool, using in-house design expertise, traditional and bespoke manufacturing techniques and all to provide the finest quality Scottish fabrics to their customers.
CLAN CARRUTHERS PREFERRED KILTMAKER LIST
So you want a kilt, dress or trews?
- Firstly, Carruthers tartan can only be purchased through the House of Edgar, Perth Scotland.
- Find a kiltmaker of repute and your choice.
- Have them measure you for your chosen piece, remembering that if a kilt, Carruthers flashes can be lovely accessory for the socks.
- Have the makers contact the House of Edgar to buy the required length of material.
- Await the manufacture of the garment and attend a fitting.
- Wear with pride.
Although, the tartan is available directly from the House of Edgar in Scotland to all of our name and derivations of the same through any kiltmaker, listed below are our preferred kiltmakers:-
SCOTLAND
*Anderson Kilts
5 Church Crescent, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, DG1 1DF
Tel: 01387 250250
Email: info@andersonkilts.co.uk
*Geoffrey (Tailor) Kiltmaker
59 High Street, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
Tel: 0131 557 0256
Email: office@geoffreykilts.co.uk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
*USA Kilts
3389 Schuylkill Rd, spring City PA 19475
Tel: 601-948-4110 800-368-8633
email: sales@USA kilts.com
*Atlanta Kilts
1275 Buford Hwt, Unit 105, Sawanee, GA 30024, USA
Tel: (678) 652-3559/373-337 Toll Free: (877) 411-KLT(5458)
email: kiltrent@gmail.com
CANADA
*McPhails Kiltmakers,
103-1475 Fairview Road, Penticton, British Columbia, V2A7W5, Canada.
Tel: 250-462-2998
Email: mcphailkilts@hotmail.com
*Tartantown
#4-555 Clarke Road, Coquitlam, British Columbia. Canada V3J 3X4
Tel: (604) 936-8548
Toll Free: 1-(877) 800-5458
Email: info@tartantown.com
* Highland Kilt Maker
107-770 Hugh Allan Drive, Kamloops, BC Canada V1S 0C4. British Columbia
Tel: 1-250-318-5161
AUSTRALIA
*Scottish Highland Kilts and Costumes
28 Comstock Way, Woodvale, Perth, WA 6026, AU
Tel: 0412 511 639
Email: bev4highland@gmail.com
166 Glebe Road, Booval, QLD 4304, Australia
Tel: 0457787715/0732-820031
Email: sales@stkildaretail.com.au
