Collaborate with our in-house design team to bring your own exclusive tartan to life.

Whether you are creating a design for personal, family or clan use, a business, society, school, team, or a commemorative purpose, McCalls Highlandwear is here to guide you through the process of crafting your unique piece of Scottish heritage.Did you know there are an estimated 15,000 tartans in existence worldwide? Creating something original may seem daunting — but with our expert support, you can design a tartan that is truly distinctive and meaningful to you or your organisation.

Inspired by your brief, thoughts and ideas, our in-house design team will develop tartan concepts using our CAD system. These initial designs will be shared with you electronically or as printed proofs, accompanied by yarn samples for your consideration and approval.

We will also manage the registration process with the Scottish Register of Tartans, ensuring your design becomes part of Scotland’s enduring tartan legacy.

Your finished tartan can be used for traditional kilts, trews, accessories, scarves, blankets, serapes, and more.

The First Steps

To begin your creative journey, we will arrange a Tartan Design Consultation — either in-store at one of our seven locations across Scotland or via video call (Zoom). This consultation allows us to better understand your vision and objectives for the project.

During this session, we will explore your ideas, define the design brief, and walk you through the tartan registration process.

Inspiration may be drawn from personal or organisational elements — such as a significant date, a family crest, or wedding colours. For businesses, we can incorporate brand colours, logo motifs, or event palettes. We will also look at ways to integrate meaningful numbers, colour combinations, or other symbolic details into your final design.

The Design Process

The design phase begins with the selection of yarns and colours — with a maximum of six colours permitted in each tartan. Based on this palette, our experienced team will develop several design options using our CAD software.

At this stage, we ask that you confirm the intended use of your tartan — for example, whether it is for a kilt, scarf, or blanket. This allows us to tailor your design to the appropriate fabric type.

We will provide 4–6 tartan concepts, which can be shared electronically or sent in print format by post. Once a final design is chosen, we will arrange for yarn samples to be delivered to you, enabling you to see the colour combinations exactly as they will appear in the woven fabric.

Registering Your Tartan

When your tartan design is complete, we will submit it on your behalf to The Scottish Register of Tartans. This official registration provides provenance and ensures your design is preserved in the national archive. A certificate of authenticity can also be provided.

Weaving Your Tartan

With your tartan now registered, we can proceed with weaving your fabric.

Whether you choose to have your tartan made into kilts, accessories, or homewares, we will advise you on production timelines and take any necessary measurements at the point of order.

Please note, there is no obligation to have fabric woven following registration — the choice is entirely yours.