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 lateVáclav Havel, the playwright and co-author ofCharter 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 theDagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97 andPEN International.

Once upon a time—

Spring of 1779, to be exact—McLeod was a humble crofter and Highland bathing enthusiast. But his peaceful life was shattered by an eviction notice from his feudal overlord—one of countless issued during the infamous Highland Clearances to make way for industrial-scale sheep farming.

Refusing to take the King’s shilling and fight in a far-flung war of Empire, McLeod founded the Liberation Kilt Company to stand against injustice at home, rallying hundreds of kindred spirits to his cause. Though eventually captured and exiled, he escaped and went into hiding—only to re-emerge at the dawn of the 21st century.

Read the origin story in full!

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

A Seed is Planted

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

And so together, we revived Ye Olde Liberation Kilt Company and 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. It’s said she keeps it close, even as she sleeps.

The Tartan Collection

Keeling Tartan: Symbolises a wholesale shift in the energy basis of civilisation, from fossil fuels to renewables.

Havel Tartan: Protests the persecution and imprisonment of writers of conscience around the world.

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

Blueheart Tartan: Represents 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.

Learn more about the tartans

More designs are in the works—including a tartan against caste systems of every kind.

Rebel Tartan Project

Founded in 2015, the Rebel Tartan Project is a creative crucible where art and fashion students draw inspiration from our tartans to confront global issues in their own unique ways. 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 extraordinary 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." The industry takes itself too bloody seriously, while paying lip service to the existential issues staring us in the face. It's a missed opportunity to leverage fashion's unique role as the most personal and immediate form of self-expression. 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 Launch

With fifteen years of art and activism behind us, we’re thrilled to launch our online store with three debut collections—Ben Nevis, Flower Power, and Loftus McLeod.

• Ben Nevis Collection: The bold and barmy Ben Nevis Collection is definitive proof that wearing a kilt gives you superpowers! Whether scaling peaks or dancing the fling, the indomitable Ben Nevis reminds us to live life on our own crazy terms. Products: t-shirts and greeting cards.
• Flower Power Collection: Inspired by the thistle, an ancient symbol of resilience, this collection offers a glimmer of hope in the face of rising illiberalism. Thistles pair with the Latin inscription, Floreas si supersis. What looks like botanical jargon holds a hidden meaning: If you can survive, you can thrive. And it’s true! Products: t-shirts, greeting cards, blazer badges and signet rings.
• Loftus McLeod Collection: This collection brings the spirit of adventure to your table with its captivating range of jigsaw puzzles. The Vintage McLeod series features six dramatic scenes from the Liberation Kilt Company’s 18th-century founding. Later this spring, Modern McLeod takes centre stage, chronicling fireside chats with indigenous tribes on a recent world tour—from Mongolian nomads to the reclusive Mentawai of Indonesia!

Slated for an early 2026 launch, our Tartan Collection is the crowning jewel of our product range—and well worth the wait.

The Kilties Club

Your first purchase enrols you in the Kilties Club, our global community. Membership is free (and you can opt out at any time). You’ll receive a personalised A3-size membership certificate, signed by Loftus McLeod himself!

Doing Things Right

Our role model is Patagonia, the iconic outfitter. Following their example, we’ve taken great care to do things properly—treating people and the planet with dignity and respect. This commitment is reflected in our choice of organic, recycled, and fair-trade materials. It also extends to shipping, where we offset emissions by donating a portion of each sale to carbon removal start-ups and reinvesting profits into the Rebel Tartan Project, as well as partner charities.

Destination Retail

Looking ahead, we envision a physical space where fashion meets activism—a vibrant hub for workshops, performances, bespoke tailoring, single malts, and more. It’s also where people can browse our collections. Stay tuned as this vision takes shape!

Giles & Loftus, Founders
Liberation Kilt Company