Students from Robert Gordon University's Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen have been asked to come up with a new corporate tartan for Trump International Scotland. The design will be used throughout Donald Trump's proposed new golf resort on the Menie Estate just north of Aberdeen in the North-east of Scotland.
Design Basis For New Trump Tartan
The Gray's students have been asked to take inspiration from "Donald Trump's golf vision and passion for Scotland, using colours that reflect the North-east coastline, Trump's worldwide portfolio and 500 years of golfing heritage."
The new tartan should also complement one of Scotland's traditional tartans, that of the MacLeod clan. Donald Trump's Scottish mother, a MacLeod, emigrated to the United States from Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides.
Menie House, on the estate where the golf resort is planned, has also been renamed MacLeod House in her honour.
Scottish Tartan, Traditional & Modern
Scotland's tartans are usually thought of as pertaining to clans and families. However, from time to time the distinctive checked fabric becomes high fashion.
New tartans can also be designed and woven for a group, organization, business or major sporting event. The official national repository of all of Scotland's thousands of different tartans is the Scottish Register of Tartans, run by the National Archives of Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.
MacLeod Tartan
Scots and others who know their tartans may think of MacLeod as the bright yellow pattern or sett sometimes known as "Loud MacLeod". However, in common with almost all clan tartans, those who choose to wear MacLeod tartan will find a number of variations in sett and colours.
Gray's School of Art's Expertise in Working with Tartan
The fashion department of Gray's School of Art has particular expertise in working with tartan. Last year they designed a range of Japanese tartans for a Scottish-Japanese company, Sakura Scotland. They have also worked on projects with The Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen and Kinloch Anderson Textiles.
Gray's School of Art have shown off their designs at many prestigious events including Dressed to Kilt in New York and London Fashion Week.
Gray's School of Art Fashion Design Students Excited by Trump Tartan Commission
Three of the young Scottish students involved in the Trump tartan project – Daniel Crozier, Sarah Struthers and Jacqueline Cooper – have visited MacLeod House with their models – Emma Cummings, Roisin O'Regan and Lena Leontyeva – to show off some preliminary designs, where they met with Sarah Malone of Trump International Scotland.
Twenty-one year old Daniel Crozier from Aberdeen. said: 'When we found out which organisation we were going to be working with next we were definitely in a state of awe! I think that it is fantastic that we have been given the opportunity to work with an international company and that they see the value in working with local students. They obviously want to give something back to the community."
Trump Tartan Commission Good News for Scottish Textile Industry & Tourism
So says Kim Eason, Programme Leader for Fashion and Textiles at Gray's. "There is a growing emphasis on the demand for tartan around the globe and we are delighted to be working with such a prominent worldwide brand. Bringing this fabric to the attention of the next generation of designers is an excellent investment for the future of both the Scottish textile and tourism industries, and I thoroughly enjoy being part of it."
The new Trump tartan will be produced in collaboration with leading Scottish manufacturers and local mills, as the students designing it will be working closely with industry experts such as International Tartans.
Read more about Donald Trump's plan to create the "best golf course in the world."
