Introducing...
Xbox Tartan
Designed by Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers for Xbox
We are exceptionally proud to introduce the Xbox Tartan - celebrating 20 years since the official launch of Xbox in Scotland.
The concept - create a tartan that perfectly captures the forward thinking technology of Xbox and the community from around the world it brings together, giving it a place within the traditional world of tartan.
& that is what we did!
A Tartan Tale: Xbox
This was by far one of the most complex tartans we have designed - the intricacy of the criss-crossing single yarns captured the complex lines of code that drive this kind of technology as well as the tight-knit global community Xbox has brought, and continues to bring, together. As with all of the tartans we design, whether for a family marking a special occassion or a globally renowed company, we put the highest level of thought and detail into creating a design that would be enternalised on the Scottish Register of Tartans.
The colours reflect the Xbox brand and the harmoniously brings together old and new design - on a canvas of black, varying shades of green with flashes of white.
Lochcarron of Scotland took on this challenging tartan with us, expertly weaving the Xbox tartan. To warp a tartan as intricate in sett as this one is no easy matter and takes a skilled eye to do perfectly.
The next challenge - cover controllers but ensure they could still be used to play...
Helen, one of our very talented in-house kiltmakers got to work developing a way to beautifully cover the ultra-limited controllers in the Xbox tartan. Her determination and creativity were more than up to the task! Critically, we want the tartan to be enjoyed by the lucky winners and recipients of the ultra-limited edition controllers, so ensuring they were still useable was important to us - tartan should always be enjoyed after all!
In creating this tartan and developing the ulta-limited controllers, we have brought heritage, passionate communities from both gaming and and highlandwear together with forward thinking technology. Worlds apart in theory but merged seamlessly within the Xbox tartan.
We consider ourselves pioneers of the highlandwear world - we stay true Scottish craftsmanship and kiltmaking traditions while always looking forward into the future and challenging what's been done before...while always asking "what's next?". This is something GNK and Xbox share in droves and made bringing this tartan to life a hugely proud moment for the GNK Family.
Again we prove tartan need not be dated or "shortbread tin" twee. It's not a stereotype or outdated. It's cool, it's now, it's always adapting with the right people at the helm.
To be in with a chance of winning one of the Xbox Tartan limited edition controllers, head over to @Xbox and @Xboxuk on Twitter from Thursday 28th April 2022!
Captured by Greg Chalmers - Ashton Haig Photography