About
"I wore a kilt to a climate protest—just for the hell of it—and it changed my life". — Giles, Co-founder
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 unbelievable story.
Once upon a time—spring of 1779, to be exact—McLeod was a humble crofter, living a quiet life far from the madding crowd. 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 sheep farming on an industrial scale.
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 captured and exiled, he escaped and went into hiding—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 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 might benefit from a unifying symbol—its own clan tartan.
And so together, we revived the 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!
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 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 Launch
With fifteen years of art and activism behind us, we’re thrilled to launch our online store with three debut collections.
- 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 motif is a quiet act of defiance in an increasingly illiberal world. The Latin inscription, floreas si supersis, isn’t a botanical name, but a hidden message: “If you can survive, you can thrive”. Products: t-shirts, greeting cards. Coming soon: blazer badges and signet rings.
- Loftus McLeod Collection: Piece together the thrilling adventures of Loftus McLeod of Skye, our 18th-century founder, in this one-of-a-kind jigsaw puzzle collection!
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
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
When it comes to sustainability, 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 extends to shipping, where we offset emissions by donating a portion of each sale to carbon removal start-ups. We support 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, and more. It's also people can browse our collections, and try on different identities!
Every piece we create tells a story. We’re glad you’ve found us and hope something here speaks to you.
Liberation Kilt Company
