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design was chosen and taken back to the Board where the final choice was approved.
The next stage was to select yarn colours to correspond to the paper printout. It was agreed that the colours should be subtle, suitable for both men and women. The chosen blue was not too pale so as to have a subtle contrast with the navy. The colour green was to work well with both colours of blue. White was to become ecru, gold to be soft to go with the blue, and the silver not to contrast too strongly against the blue. ‘A medium-weight wool worsted cloth, 13oz weight was selected as being the most suitable and flexible for all clothing such as kilts, trousers, skirts and waistcoats. To complement the wool cloth the tartan will also be woven into silk in order to have silk ties, silk scarves, perhaps some backed with cashmere, and/or beautifully lined with velvet. The final choice of merchandise will be made when the wool and silk fabrics have been woven.
‘It was agreed that Kinloch Anderson register the STGA tartan with the Scottish Register of Tartans on your behalf. All the items will carry a Kinloch Anderson label with the Royal Warrants, but to give added status to this merchandise, woven labels will be produced showing the name of the tartan and stating that it has been exclusively designed in Scotland by Kinloch Anderson. Another interesting addition will be swing tickets showing the STGA name and logo, accompanied by the design story of the tartan.’
The year 2009 turned out to be a very busy year for Maggie and Toni. It was also designated as the Year of the Homecoming by the Scottish Government and the biggest ever Clan Gathering was being planned. ‘We realised this was a great opportunity for STGA,” said Maggie. ‘Fortunately, the way in was via Event Scotland and a man named McLeod. He was a very busy man but I had an idea and his secretary mistakenly thought I was a relative. A meeting was arranged. The main event was the Gathering which would be held in Holyrood Park with many stall holders. Needless to say, STGA had no budget so I offered Guide services providing Hospitality and Information in return for a stall. He agreed and we were in! We arranged a rota of guides to man the stall, and I got busy with networking. Some 30,000 visitors attended The Gathering in Holyrood Park at the end of July where the Association had a stylish, eye-catching stand in a prime position, from which much promotional material was given out.
‘Around the same time, a TV programme was being made about tourism in the UK, ‘How Foreigners View Us’ and I was asked to help.
The final colours agreed reflect the Blue Badge and feature the Saltire, the purple and green of the thistle and a gold thread for the STGA’s 50th anniversary.
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