Our talented young pipers and drummers are about to look the part — and their new look is deeply, proudly Highland.
The High Life Highland Youth Pipe Band will soon be marching out in a brand-new tartan: the design created by Prickly Thistle for The Inverness Castle Experience, our award-winning attraction at the heart of Inverness. It's a partnership that feels as natural as the sound of the pipes themselves.
From kilt-less to kilted
The band has been without kilts for the past six months, after previously wearing the Edinburgh Military Tattoo tartan — a design they used with permission for 12 years. When that arrangement came to an end, rather than see it as a setback, we saw an opportunity.
"Having found ourselves in a position where we could no longer use it, it was a big disappointment, but it presented us with the most wonderful opportunity to create an identity that is relevant to us, uses local suppliers and celebrates the Highlands' rich cultural heritage," said Norman Bolton, Head of Music Development at High Life Highland.
Woven in the Highlands, worn by Highland young people
The tartan has been designed by Clare Campbell of Prickly Thistle, whose mill in Evanton is the only weaving mill on the Scottish mainland north of the Great Glen. Clare has scaled the design to create the perfect pattern repeat for kilt-making, and once 200 metres of cloth is complete, it will go to Glen Isla Kilts Ltd to be finished by hand.
That makes our young band members unique in the world. As Clare explained: "When you think about the thousands of pipe bands around the globe, we are weaving kilts for the only band in the whole world who will be performing in cloth that is woven in the Highland Region."
We are weaving kilts for the only band in the whole world who will be performing in cloth that is woven in the Highland Region.
Prickly Thistle
A visit to the mill
Three of our Youth Pipe Band drummers — Ollie, Megan and Cameron — visited Prickly Thistle's mill last week alongside tutors to see the tartan being created on the looms. All three agreed they loved the design and are looking forward to wearing the finished kilts later this year.
It's a connection that clearly means a great deal to Clare and her team too.
"These kilts and our association with the High Life Highland Youth Pipe Band feels particularly special because they're going to be worn by all these local kids," she said. "We love being the maker of cloth and clothes to be worn by the people we live alongside."
Carrying Highland culture forward
Amy MacLeod, Head of The Inverness Castle Experience, summed up what makes this collaboration so fitting: "The Inverness Castle Experience is about telling the story of the Highlands — past, present and future. This partnership brings that to life in the most powerful way, with a tartan made in the Highlands and worn by the next generation who will carry our culture forward."
The new kilts are expected to be ready for an event at the end of June, ahead of the band's trip to Schots Weekend in Belgium in September. We're also hoping to mark the occasion with an exclusive performance by the newly kilted band outside The Inverness Castle Experience over the summer — watch this space.
Help us get them kilted out
We're fundraising to cover the cost of the new attire — around £7,000 to £8,000 in total. It's a significant investment, but one that will kit out our young musicians for generations to come. If you'd like to help make it happen, we'd love your support.
Support our pipe band
Help us fund brand-new kilts for our talented young Highland musicians.
