The Story behind the GNK x Xbox Tartan
When Xbox marked 20 years since their launch, we were invited to help tell their story, the GNK way, through creating the Xbox tartan.
It was a collaboration that blended craftsmanship with creativity, honouring both Scotland’s heritage and its world-renowned role in gaming design.
Scotland has long shaped global gaming culture. Rockstar North, creators of Grand Theft Auto, began in Dundee and is now based in Edinburgh. Their journey is just one example of the innovation and imagination that runs through this country’s creative industries. So, when Xbox approached us to celebrate that connection, we knew that creating an Xbox tartan would serve as the perfect bridge between tradition and technology.
Read on to discover how the Xbox tartan collection came to life!
Designing the Xbox Tartan
Every tartan begins with colour and story. For the Xbox tartan, we started with the brand's iconic green and bold, modern tones - then translated them into a woven design that would feel both timeless and futuristic.
The challenge was to create an Xbox tartan that was instantly recognisable, technically unique, and distinctly Scottish. We wanted a pattern that would look just as striking wrapped around a controller as it would across a kilt or scarf.
Working closely with Lochcarron of Scotland in Selkirk, we developed a micro-sett tartan pattern with a subtle pixelated effect - a quiet nod to the visual world of gaming. The Xbox tartan is the only tartan ever woven with a single thread of colour in such a fine scale, a process that demanded remarkable precision to set up the loom.
The resulting Xbox tartan design feels modern yet rooted in tradition, bridging the craftsmanship of Scottish weaving with the digital artistry of game design. Each metre of our Xbox tartan fabric represents hours of patience, testing, and care - proof that even in a fast-moving digital world, slow craft still has power.
The Limited-Edition Controller
Once the Xbox tartan fabric was ready, the real challenge began: fitting it to an Xbox controller. Each piece was carefully disassembled, measured, and hand-covered in the Xbox tartan by Helen McDermott - an Edinburgh Kiltmakers Academy tutor, alumni, and kiltmaker.
This wasn’t mass production. Every detail was done by hand, ensuring that the Xbox tartan aligned perfectly across each curve and button. The craftsmanship involved was remarkable and a first for us here at GNK - taking a modern piece of technology and wrapping it in centuries of heritage.
Only a handful of these Xbox tartan controllers were ever made. They were launched by Xbox as part of a limited-edition celebration of the collaboration, each one becoming an instant collector’s item.
The response was immediate and overwhelming - fans from around the world reached out, wanting to know how they could own one. The design even went on to feature in the V&A Dundee’s permanent collection - a proud moment that proved tartan could speak to new audiences in bold, unexpected ways.
This collaboration wasn’t just about fabric; it was about storytelling - showing that Scottish craftsmanship and gaming culture can share the same stage.
The Xbox Tartan: A Collaboration Woven with Meaning
At Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers, we’ve always believed that tartan is more than fabric. It tells stories, carries heritage, and continuously adapts to new chapters. The Xbox tartan is proof of that. It bridges two worlds - one steeped in centuries of tradition, the other driven by future-driven innovation and imagination.
From beginning to end, the Xbox tartan brought together weavers, designers, and makers who all share a passion for quality and craftsmanship. It’s been a privilege to see the Xbox tartan recognised around the world - from the V&A Museum to customer stories.
We are proud to champion Scottish Craftsmanship in new and unexpected ways. Whether you wear it, play with it, or simply treasure it for years to come, the Xbox tartan stands as a reminder of how old and new can inspire each other.
SHOP THE
GNK x Xbox Tartan Collection
