RJ Macready
There are few things more recognisably Scottish than tartan – and a wedding is the perfect occasion to indulge your traditional nature. With a heritage dating back to 1892, Lochcarron of Scotland is the world’s leading manufacturer of authentic tartans. Proudly made in Scotland by skilled craftspeople who design, dye, weave and tailor Scottish tartans and textiles.
Lochcarron doesn’t just weave and stock more than 500 classic tartans, it also offers a design service where families can create their own unique tartan and have it made into a fabric, which can then be worn at their wedding – something memorable and special for their big day, handcrafted with love. They can also guide you through registering your design with the Scottish Tartan Registry, ensuring its place in history if you so wish.
All of Lochcarron’s fabrics are produced in the Scottish Borders town of Selkirk, which has a long and rich tradition within the textile industry.
Locharron is the largest remaining textile mill in the area – and is also a five-star Visitscotland tourist attraction, offering tours of the site which take you through the process of creating tartan fabrics which are sold across the world.
The company also has a visitor centre and shop in a particularly scenic location – in Wester Ross on the banks of Loch Carron, which gave the company its name. Here are stocked hundreds of kilts, along with tweed and luxury knitwear items made from fine natural fibres including cashmere, mohair and lambswool, all of which are made in the Selkirk mill.
Customers can order fabrics and clothes for all aspects their wedding, from full kilt outfits with accessories to tartan for wedding dresses or wraps to be worn by the bridal party to items for table displays and gifts for the groomsmen and bridesmaids. Lochcarron offers a full service from helping to measure and fit a kilt outfit to choosing the right accessories.
Lochcarron’s website offers a range of off-the-peg options however, if you make an appointment, the company can discuss in detail your requirements for the special day – such as what tartan would work and how to co-ordinate it with other aspects of the wedding.
Lochcarron produces fabrics for leading fashion houses including Chanel, Alexander Mcqueen and Comme des Garçons. They can also provide your wedding with traditional kilts, sporrans, sgian dubhs, kilt pins and tartan accessories, plus fabric for ring cushions or sashes, adding a personal touch to a very special day.