TARTAN generates more than £350 million every year for the Scottish economy and supports more than 4,000 jobs, according to a new report.
An independent report commissioned by Scottish Enterprise's Scottish textiles team said that the country has nearly 200 tartan-related enterprises, from famous textile manufacturers to smaller merchants, weavers and kiltmakers.
The industry also
supports jobs across a range of other sectors, such as the retail and business service sectors, and contributes significantly to Scottish exports overseas.
The report states that, as one of Scotland's most famous products, tartan helps to promote Scotland internationally and boost the country's tourism industry.
Tartan is synonymous with everything Scottish, from shortbread tins to designer fashion accessories. But it is also recognised as a vital and valuable part of the economy.
Events such as Tartan Week in the United States and Canada have also capitalised on the image of tartan as a contemporary fashion item and feeds the growing genealogical tourism market for those with Scottish ancestors looking to buy and adopt their family's tartan.
Jim Mather, the enterprise minister who yesterday confirmed plans to set up a national tartan register, welcomed the report's findings during a visit to the Lochcarron of Scotland mill in Selkirk.
He said: "Today's report provides solid evidence that the tartan industry makes a significant contribution to the Scottish economy.
"It is only right that the Scottish government protects, promotes and preserves one of our most valuable assets for generations to come."
Kirsty Scott, head of the Scottish textiles team at Scottish Enterprise, said: "Tartan is synonymous with Scotland and it is vitally important we continue to support the sector to capitalise on its popularity around the world. The tartan industry, in line with the wider textile sector, has invested in innovation and a focus on design to build on its iconic image and develop new markets and new audiences, especially among young people.
"Another key challenge is marketing and promotion of tartan, particularly to overseas markets."
Ms Scott said a meeting would be held this week of the key players in the industry to discuss plans for the national tartan register, adding: "We want to see how this can be taken forward and look at how the industry can collectively market tartan to an international audience."
The report states there are currently 450 textiles companies in Scotland, directly employing more than 17,000 people.
These are mainly clustered around the Scottish Borders, East Ayrshire, Angus and Renfrewshire.
This sector has an annual turnover of £1.08 billion and export sales of £390 million.
