There’s no question that there is more to tartan than meets the eye. For the well dressed Scottish lad or lassie a simple ready made gentlman’s tie or scarf just isnae enough. There are trousers and trews, skirts and shoes, dresses and kilts, caps and cummerbunds, jackets and waistcoats, and all in a variety of tartans from which to choose…
A tailor made tartan outfit is as timeless a classic as Bonnie Prince Charlie and when it comes to made in Scotland tailored tartan clothing, one of the names to know is Scotland Shop. Headquartered in the Scottish borders town of Duns, Scotland Shop is best known for its tailored clothing, and while offering a choice of over 500 tartans, they also deal in tweeds, cashmere’s and more. Besides clothing you can also buy your own fabric for sewing, crafting or upholstery, you can order rugs and throws, curtains and blinds, gifts for him and her, as well as the kids, interior and table decorations and more. In short, they strive to offer your tartan in your style.
In addition to tartan fashion for men and women, ScotlandShop has over 500 tartan fabrics to select from for your own sewing, crafting, or upholstery as well as gifts and interior accessories and decoration.
Anna White is the founder of Scotland Shop – one of three daughters, she grew up on a farm in the Scottish Borders. Initially she was offering Scottish crafts, gifts, food and textiles from the region. It only took a couple of years for White to shift the business to textiles exclusively and to move into what remains the company’s borders headquarters, a renovated granary in the town of Duns. Today the company has a second location just off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, has experimented with a pop up shop in New York City during Tartan Week, operates multiple international websites, and can (in non pandemic years) be found exhibiting at a variety of Highlands Games and Scottish festivals. Next year, 2022, will mark the company’s 20th anniversary – and White has accomplished all of this while raising a family and, true to her original mission, promoting products of what is arguably one of Scotland’s lesser appreciated regions – the Borders.
Anna White is founder and owner of ScotlandShop
KEY POINTS:
• 04:15 White on the beauty of the Scottish Borders
• 06:20 Growing up on the family farm prepared White for running her own business
• 09:20 Were there challenges in forming your own business as a woman almost 20 years ago?
• 14:10 What prompted the change from the original gifts, craft, food, and textiles focus to exclusively textiles?
• 16:35 White on creating international websites early in the business
• 19:50 Why focus on tailored made-to-order fashion?
• 22:15 What role has the US market played in your success?
• 28:45 How has the pandemic forced changes in your business?
• 35:45 500 Tartans! Is that sometimes overwhelming for customers?
• 43:00 Is international competition, knockoff products becoming an industry issue?
• 45:00 White on why Scottish textiles are so respected around the world
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
•SCOTLANDSHOP (website)
•500 Tartan Fashion Ideas (pinterest site)
•The Birth of Tartan (Scottish Tartans Authority)