The ‘peek’ of tartan fashion

Designing the Sherlock Holmes tartan started as a desire to highlight the Scottish roots of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and, as a descendant, use my own expertise in fashion to create something that fans across the world would be proud to wear.

I wanted the tartan to be attractive and adaptable but also to contain within its pattern references to the character of Sherlock Holmes and to those of his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle. So our tartan is mainly blue and green to reflect Sir Arthur’s Scottish and Irish ancestry, and Sherlock is specifically represented by the blue line for the Reichenbach Falls and the bright yellow line standing for the brilliance of Sherlock’s deductive abilities.

A tartan cannot simply be drawn up and produced, it must be registered and meet certain criteria. As well as the specific pattern, it must be recognisably different to any other tartan and have its own distinguishing name. In calling ours after Sherlock Holmes, he became the first literary character to ever have a design registered in his name.

Obviously tartan’s fashion appeal sees it being used successfully on a vast variety of items, but of all the items we think of, it is most associated with the kilt. So we are delighted to now be able to offer handmade Sherlock kilts. There is nothing quite as self-assured as the sway of a well-made kilt and our skilled tailors are able to highlight with either the blue or yellow colours depending on how they pleat the cloth.

For the whodunnit enthusiast who loves the look and swagger of a kilt, but who feels they don’t have a clan connection, it is a great option to be able to wear the Sherlock Holmes tartan in its most impressive and Scottish of incarnations.

Once you have a kilt, the question of what to wear on any formal occasion is totally removed. And they are forgiving, with people often keeping the same kilt through many years and adjusting for a maturing waistline through the leather straps and buckles that are an essential part of the design. Add a belt, sporran, tie and waistcoat or jacket and the look is complete. The formal outfit requires hose and dress shoes but the kilt looks just as fine teamed with hiking boots and a jersey for less formal occasions. It’s a common sight in Edinburgh, especially when international sporting events take place such as the Six Nations, or if a ceilidh is on the cards.

As we embrace the shorter days of winter, Scotland is spoilt for opportunites to celebrate good friends and good company. From the high spirits of Hogmanay (where festivities are so frenetic that we Scots uniquely allow two public holidays) to perhaps our most Scottish of celebrations – Burns Night – which takes place on January 25, anyone wearing a kilt is sure of a warm and enduring welcome.