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National tartan for Estonia launched
Iain Lawson, the Honorary Consul for Estonia in Scotland, presenting the first tartan to the Estonian Foreign Minister, Urmas Paet. Iain is wearing a kilt made from the Estonian tartan.
A national tartan for Estonia has been created and the first bale of cloth officially presented to the Estonian Foreign Minister, Urmas Paet, by the Honorary Consul in Scotland for the Republic of Estonia, Iain Lawson.
The tartan was produced as a symbolic gift from the people of Scotland to the people of Estonia and marks both the historic and the new links between the two countries. Designed by Perth-based House of Edgar, the tartan uses the blue, black and white of the Estonian flag plus gold and red from the Lion Rampant to emphasise the strong Estonian-Scottish relationship. The final tartan was selected by the Estonian Foreign Ministry from a selection of designs, all using this theme.
The hand-over of the tartan took place on the opening day of the Estonian Days in Scotland festival (www.estoniandaysscotland.com) - a mix of cultural, business, and related events which runs from 1-9 November to foster links between the countries.
Urmas Paet, the Estonian Foreign Minister, said: “We are delighted with this gesture from Scotland and with the design of our new national tartan, which I am confident Estonians will find interesting.”
“We value the growing relationship with Scotland, in particular the rebuilding of the trading relationship between our two countries, and we are looking forward to the Estonian Days in Scotland festival. This follows last year’s Scottish Week, which was such a success in Estonia.”
Wearing a kilt made from the new Estonian tartan, Iain Lawson, the Honorary Consul in Scotland, also commented on the growing relationship between the two countries. “The historic links continue to be re-established at pace following Estonia’s emergence from the Soviet occupation and this is a very visible way to mark the relationship.
“Whether or not the tartan will be used for kilts remains to be seen - especially given Estonia’s Baltic location and its winter temperatures of minus 40 degrees - but I’m sure the fashion houses there will be extremely enthusiastic and who knows, Estonia may yet produce its own Tartan Army!”
For the designers, House of Edgar, managing director Blair Macnaughton commented: “We were very pleased to contribute to this project by creating the new Estonian national tartan, which draws on and re-emphasises the links between the two countries. We believe that the final design is elegant and stylish, but also very flexible - we see it being used not only by the fashion houses but through a wide range of other applications.”