About the Havel tartan

According to PEN International, the global writers' association, “Writers in prison should have been a phrase entering extinction after the death of fascism at the end of World War II. Instead, there are more incarcerated writers in the world today than at perhaps any time since WWII”.The Havel tartan portrays an endless succession of prison cell windows struck through in red, protesting the persecution of writers of conscience in the knowledge that free expression is essential to any healthy society. It is named in honour of the late Václav Havel, the playwright and co-author of Charter 77, a landmark human rights declaration for which he was imprisoned for several years—only to later lead theVelvet Revolution, which peacefully overthrew communism and made him the first president of a free Czechoslovakia. Permission to adopt the Havel name was graciously granted by his wife, Dagmar Havlová Veškrnová, with support from the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97 and PEN International.

About the Disturbing the Peace Award

The Václav Havel Center's annual Disturbing the Peace Award recognizes writers who share President Vaclav Havel’s passionate commitment to human rights and have suffered unjust persecution for their beliefs. The award is given each year to a writer of a distinguished work of fiction, literary nonfiction, biography, memoire, drama, or poetry, who is courageous in dissent and has been punished for challenging an oppressive regime. The award, which includes a $5,000 cash prize, supports talented individuals who embody Havel’s legacy while drawing attention to the many writers worldwide who bravely fight human rights violations.

Though eventually captured and exiled, Loftus escaped and disappeared into legend—only to re-emerge at the dawn of the 21st century, when he and I joined forces to revive the Company and confront the injustices of our time.

Before our serendipitous meeting at the climate protest, I dismissed immortality as pure fantasy—the stuff of books and films. Turns out, Great Granny was right: there be immortals among us.

A Seed is Planted

Inspired by McLeod’s example, a group of us were arrested on Capitol Hill for barricading a congressman’s office in protest against his pro-coal policies.

Sitting in a DC jail, I realised that McLeod was on to something. The fractured climate movement would surely benefit from a unifying symbol—its own clan tartan.

And so together, we set about designing the Keeling tartan in honour of Dr Charles Keeling, the climate scientist behind the iconic Keeling Curve.

Making its debut at COP26, the Keeling tartan was worn by the World Wildlife Fund delegation, including Eliud Kipchoge, the world-champion marathon runner. Greta Thunberg is the proud owner of a Keeling-clad WWF panda—one of hundreds scattered across the globe.

Inspired, we set about designing tartans for a wider range of causes.

The Tartan Collection

Keeling Tartan: Symbolises a wholesale shift in the energy basis of civilisation, from fossil fuels to renewable energy—without which, we're all toast!

Havel Tartan: Protests the persecution and imprisonment of writers of conscience who speak truth to power. 

Yamaguchi Tartan: Transforms the stark nuclear hazard sign into a radiant symbol of hope for a nuclear-free future.

Blueheart Tartan: Symbolises the collective heartbeat of millions of victims of human trafficking.

Liberty Square Tartan: Embodies the golden rule of crony capitalism: those with the gold make the rules.

Tahrir Tartan: Symbolises the enduring fight for democracy in the face of rising authoritarianism.

Agua Tartan: Represents the fight for water as a source of life and the cornerstone of a sustainable future.

Learn more about the tartans

More designs are in the works—including a tartan against pernicious caste systems.

The Rebel Tartan Project

Founded in 2015, the Rebel Tartan Project is a consortium of leading fashion and design programs where art and fashion students creatively confront global issues, drawing on our tartans for inspiration. Under the leadership of Juliana Sissons and with support from Arts Thread, UN House Scotland, and other partners, the Rebel Tartan Project is fast becoming a global phenomenon. Browse the portfolios of students from the UK, Japan, China, and India!

What Drives Us

Fashion feeds what the writer Iris Murdoch called "the fat relentless ego." We're shifting the focus outward, recasting fashion as a catalyst for social change. Take, for example, our recent collaboration with the Václav Havel Center, which commissioned us to weave 12 Havel tartan scarves for the 2024 Disturbing the Peace Award. These scarves were crafted to honour individuals whose courage knows no bounds, including Indian writer Arundhati Roy, jailed Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, and Peter Gabriel, the renowned songwriter, musician, and human rights advocate.

Online Store Launch

With years of art and activism behind us, we’re thrilled to launch our online store.

Ben Nevis Collection: Whether scaling icy peaks or dancing the Highland Fling, the barmy Ben Nevis proves that anything's possible in a kilt—calamities included!: Products: t-shirts and greeting cards.

Flower Power Collection: Inspired by the thistle–an ancient symbol of resilience–the Flower Power collection scatters seeds of hope in an illiberal world. Products: t-shirts, greeting cards. Coming soon: blazer badges and signet rings.

Slated for an early 2026 launch, our Tartan Collection is the crowning jewel of our product range. It will feature kilts, tartan scarves, and throws—woven with purpose, and rich in symbolism.

The Kilties Club

With your first purchase you will receive a welcome email inviting you to join the Kilties Club, our budding global community. Membership is free, and you can opt out at any time.

As a Kiltie, you’ll enjoy VIP perks like:

✅ Early access to new collections
✅ Opportunities to share ideas and test new products
✅ A chance to connect with fellow Kilties — and more!

You’ll also receive a free, personalised, frameable membership certificate signed by Loftus McLeod, our fearless founder. Be part of something extraordinary!

Doing Things Right

The gold standard for responsible business is Patagonia, the iconic outdoor brand. Following their lead, we're committed to minimizing harm, making considered choices at every stage, and continuously improving our practices, knowing that sustainability is a moving target.

From GOTS-certified organic cotton T-shirts produced to Fair Wear® standards, to greeting cards made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and printed with biodegradable inks, we prioritise materials that are kind to people and planet. Our packaging supports a circular economy, and every order ships carbon-neutral—at no extra cost to you. 

Destination Retail

Looking ahead, we envision a physical space where fashion meets activism—a vibrant hub for workshops, performances, bespoke tailoring, and more. It's also people can browse our collections, and try on different identities! 

Every piece we create tells a story. We hope you find one that speaks to you. 

Giles & Loftus

Liberation Kilt Company