About
"I wore a kilt to a climate protest—just for the hell of it—and it changed my life." — Giles, Co-founder, Liberation Kilt Company
A kilted Scotsman stopped me in my tracks and said, “Aye, that’s what our movement needs—its own clan tartan!” Introducing himself as Loftus McLeod of Skye, he invited me for a pint and shared his remarkable story.
Long ago, Loftus lived the quiet life of a Highland crofter—until one fateful day in 1779, when feudal overlords cast him out to make way for industrial-scale sheep farming.
Refusing to “take the King’s shilling” and fight in far-flung wars of empire, he founded the Liberation Kilt Company to stand against injustice at home—rallying hundreds of kindred spirits to his cause.
Though eventually captured and exiled, Loftus escaped and disappeared into legend—only to re-emerge at the dawn of the 21st century.
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.
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 could benefit from a unifying symbol—its own clan tartan.
And so together, Loftus and I revived the Liberation Kilt Company and set about designing a tartan that people could wear in support of climate action.
We named it the Keeling tartan, in honour of Dr Charles Keeling, the climate scientist behind the iconic Keeling Curve. With the gracious permission of the Keeling family, this design pays tribute to his legacy—and the urgent need for climate action.
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. It’s said she keeps it close, even as she sleeps!
Feeling inspired, we designed tartans for a wider range of causes.
Our Tartan Collection
Keeling Tartan: Symbolises a wholesale shift in the energy basis of civilisation, from fossil fuels to renewable energy—without which, we're 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 and modern slavery.
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.
More designs are in the works—including a tartan against pernicious caste systems.
Rebel Tartan Project
Founded in 2015, the Rebel Tartan Project is a consortium of leading art, textile and fashion programs in the UK, Japan, India and China, in which students creatively confront contemporary global issues, using our tartans as inspiration. RTP is directed by Juliana Sissons, former Fashion Designer-in-Residence at the V&A Museum, London. Browse these extraordinary portfolios.
What Drives Us
Fashion feeds what the writer Iris Murdoch called "the fat relentless ego." We're out to break this cycle by 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 borders, including Indian writer Arundhati Roy, jailed Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, and Peter Gabriel, the renowned songwriter, musician, and human rights advocate.
Online Store
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 a 2026 launch, our Tartan Collection is the crowning jewel of our product range—and well worth the wait. It will feature kilts, tartan scarves, and throws—woven with purpose, and rich in symbolism.
The Kilties Club
After your first purchase, you will receive a welcome email inviting you to join the Kilties Club! Membership is free and you can opt out at any time. Enjoy exclusive VIP perks, early access to new collections, and a framable, personalised membership certificate signed by Loftus McLeod himself. 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.
See our Sustainability Scorecard for more details.
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
