Why can’t I get ribbon in my Tartan? With around 10 000 tartan designs out there, this has been a frustrating problem for years. Simply because of impractical minimum order requirements. But with manufacturers imposing minimums of 5000m per colour, per width, it is hardly surprising tartan ribbon in polyester is commercially stocked in barely 50 tartans.

Considering only 33 of those are actually Clan Tartans, it’s lucky for very few! What’s the Alternative? The tartan industry solved part of the problem by cutting, then sewing a range of 500 wool tartans into 1.4m lengths of lightweight Ribbon Strips. This has been great if your tartan is readily available and more importantly available in the particular variant you are matching to i.e. Modern, Ancient, Hunting, Muted, Weathered, or Reproduction colour versions. But even this didn’t help everyone else on the planet source ribbon to match the other 9,500 odd tartans on (or off) world tartan registers. Not to mention the ongoing challenge of matching new tartans announced by the Scottish Register every week.

So, whats the solution? We now offer Custom made-to-order ribbon in beautiful Sateen Polyester to match ANY tartan. Before production, each tartan design is miniaturised, re-digitised and then printed to achieve best match and representation. The process is non-continuous and requires ribbon to be manufactured in 28m packs of pre-selected widths. Each mini-production batch consists of pre-cut ribbon lengths of 1.4m (55in). And these cut lengths are assorted over four popular widths starting at 15mm (5/8in), or the whole batch can be made in one of the four widths.

Custom ribbon is not yet available in continuous roll. The Tartan Ribbon ‘Events Pack’ is a premium product. Made To Order only, but made to order to match the tartan you specify. Including any Modern, Ancient, Muted or Weathered or personal tartan variant. Allow 4-6 weeks for production.

Miniaturising Tartan? Kilt tartan patterns are usually about 6 or 7inches square. (160 mm). But ribbon is only between 5/8th inch and 2 inches wide (15mm - 50mm). In reducing the scale of a tartan by up to 600%, sections of its pattern (sett) can become indistinct. This is because adjacent colours or areas merge and become too dark. Or pattern repeats become so small they become meaningless smudges, and can no longer convey any sense of the tartan the ribbon is being matched to.

This problem is most common in predominantly dark green and navy or navy and black patterns. Or for example, when two red threads, which were never prominent even at original size, simply disappear into a darker surround when miniaturised, so has to be compensated for. When this happens, our designers spend considerable time modifying each pattern in each width to bring out the key colour elements to preserve the sense of the parent tartan. Although it probably has to be said the method used here does seem to produce a ribbon with more of the tartan sett discernable than ordinarily achieved when weaving tartan ribbon the traditional way. You be the judge.

This custom-made Events Pack is an all-purpose Tartan Ribbon solution. Developed specifically to enable consumers match tartans bought, hired for weddings, events, or trimmings & tributes; and for those who can't otherwise find the Right Thing.

8 x lengths 15mm x 1.4m (5/8th in x 55in)
6 x lengths 25mm x 1.4m (1 in x 55in)
4 x lengths 35mm x 1.4m (1 3/8th in x 55in)
2 x lengths 50mm x 1.4m (2 inch x 55in)
(Pack Total, Made to Order = approx 28 m, 30 yds)

And an Important Note on Tartan Copyright Please be aware Events Pack orders will not be accepted for tartans for which copyright restrictions exist, unless, of course, you are the designer or have the permission of the designer. Orders for ribbons that are already commercially available will be advised, and we will be pleased to supply them from stock.

Russell, Hunter Mitchell, Galbraith. This tartan belongs equally
to all 4 Clans but is not available as a ribbon - till now

The Tartan Ribbon 'Events Pack' is a premium product, unique in that it is made to order to match the tartan you specify. Including any Modern, Ancient, Hunting, Muted, Weathered or personal versions. This is an all-purpose Tartan Ribbon Solution to enable consumers to match tartans they have had woven, have bought or hired, need as finishing touches to tartan weddings, events, invitations, favours, flowers, trimmings & Tributes, etc. A tidy solution for those who simply need the RIGHT THING. Allow 4-6 weeks for production.

Ribbon in Any Tartan Phone +44 (0) 1764 679 000 or e-mail any queries here