Here is the Forrester tartan shop in full — made-to-measure kilts, cloth by the metre, scarves, ties, sashes and gifts, ready to order and ship to your door.
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Forrester Tartan Fabric by the Metre
Buy Forrester tartan fabric by the metre in medium-weight and heavyweight pure new wool, plus poly-viscose for budget projects. Swatch samples let you check colour and weight first.
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Forrester Tartan Gift Ideas
For pipe bands, wedding parties and clan events, Forrester tartan can be ordered across kilts, sashes and accessories so everyone matches.
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Custom Orders & Worldwide Shipping
Orders are produced to measure and dispatched globally. For weddings, gatherings or band orders in Forrester tartan, get in touch for group pricing and timing.
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Forrester Tartan Kilts & Outfit Packages
Choose a Forrester kilt on its own or as part of a full outfit. Made-to-measure sizing means a clean fit for grooms, guests, dancers and pipers alike.
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Choose Your Forrester Tartan Colourway
Colourways describe the dye, not the age: Modern is vivid, Ancient is mellow, Weathered is muted and Dress is the brighter formal version. All are available for Forrester tartan.
Clan Motto
Blow, Hunter, Wind Thy Horn
Heritage & Identity
Who Wears Forrester Tartan Tartan?
Worn by Forrester descendants worldwide, sept families including Forester and Foster bearers, Border regiment members, and Scottish heritage enthusiasts across America, Canada, and Britain.
Associated Names
Forester
Foster
Forstar
Forster
Forrister
Fostar
Forrestor
MacForester
McForester
Military Heritage
Associated Regiments
Forrester warriors served with distinction in Border regiments, Scottish infantry units, and colonial forces, particularly excelling in North American frontier service and British Empire military campaigns.
King's Own Scottish Borderers
Royal Scots Fusiliers
Cameron Highlanders
Black Watch (Canada)
Nova Scotia Highlanders (Canada)
Toronto Scottish Regiment (Canada)
Shop Forrester Tartan Products
Discover authentic Forrester clan products including traditional kilts, Highland dress accessories, clan crests, tartan scarves, ties, and ceremonial items crafted for descendants across North America.
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Forrester Tartan Tartans
0 Variations
Each tartan can feature several variations, with the most common being Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress.
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Ancient Tartan
Before 1860, all fabric dyes came from nature — plants, berries, bark, and insects. The colours they produced were softer and more muted than what we're used to today: think mossy greens, dusty sky blues, and reds with a warm, orangey tone. A lot of people actually prefer Ancient tartans for this reason — the gentler contrasts let the pattern breathe and stand out in a way that bolder colours sometimes don't. Worth knowing: the pattern itself, called the sett, is exactly the same across all variations of a tartan. It's only the colours that change.
Modern Tartan
Modern tartans came about after 1860, when chemical dyes replaced natural ones. The difference is pretty striking. Those soft, earthy greens became deep bottle green. Pale blues turned into rich navy. Reds went from warm and muted to full-on scarlet. If you're after something bold and vivid, Modern is usually the one to go for. It's the version most people picture when they think of a classic tartan.
Weathered Tartan
Weathered tartans take their inspiration from what happens to fabric left out in the elements — faded by sun, softened by rain, worn in by time. The colours shift towards olive greens, warm browns, and very pale blues, with reds that fade down to something close to a dusty pink. It's a more rustic, lived-in look, and honestly a really beautiful one. If you want something that feels a little more understated and natural, Weathered is worth a look.
Hunting Tartan
Hunting tartans are essentially the camouflage version of a clan's tartan — greens and browns brought forward so the wearer could move through the landscape without standing out. Not every clan has one, and that's by design. If a tartan is already mostly green or brown (like the Black Watch or Gunn), there's no need to adapt it. But a tartan like the Fraser, which is predominantly red, would make someone very easy to spot in the field — so a Hunting version makes a lot of sense for clans like that.
Dress Tartan
Dress tartans were made for the big occasions — Highland games, celebrations, and traditional dance. The pattern stays the same, but the main colour is swapped out for white, or extra white is woven in to give it a lighter, more formal feel. As you'd expect from the Scots, the rules get bent every now and then — yellow has been used instead of white in some cases, which is exactly how the famously bold MacLeod Dress Modern and Barclay Dress Modern came to be.
The Forrester Tartan Story
Four centuries of history woven into every thread
Royal Foresters
The Forrester clan traces its origins to the ancient office of Royal Forester in the Ettrick Forest, first documented in the 12th century when King David I appointed hereditary keepers to manage Crown woodlands. The family established themselves as significant landholders in the Scottish Borders, with their principal seat at Corstorphine near Edinburgh. Early clan members served as sheriffs and royal officials, wielding considerable influence in medieval Scottish administration. The Forresters demonstrated unwavering loyalty to the Scottish Crown, supporting independence throughout the Wars of Scottish Independence and Border conflicts with England.
Clan Expansion
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Forrester clan expanded their influence beyond forestry through strategic marriages and royal service. Sir John Forrester of Corstorphine served as Chamberlain of Scotland under King Robert III, while his descendants acquired extensive lands throughout the Lothians and Borders. The family weathered the turbulent Border wars, defending Scottish territory against English raids while maintaining their Presbyterian faith and Border traditions. Forresters distinguished themselves as skilled horsemen and warriors, earning recognition for their valor in numerous Border skirmishes and Scottish military campaigns.
Where does the name Forrester Tartan come from?
Forrester derives from the Old French 'forestier' meaning 'forest keeper' or 'royal forester.' The name originates from the hereditary office of Royal Forester, granted by Scottish kings to guard and manage Crown forests. This occupational surname reflects the clan's ancient duty as keepers of the Ettrick Forest in the Scottish Borders, where they held lands and forest rights from the 12th century under royal appointment.
Political Struggles
The 16th and 17th centuries brought both triumph and tragedy to the Forrester clan, with members serving in high court positions while facing religious persecution during the Covenanter conflicts. Notable clan members included Sir George Forrester, who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and his kinsmen who established cadet branches throughout Scotland and Ireland. The family supported the Presbyterian cause during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, suffering confiscation of some properties but maintaining their core Border holdings. Many Forresters emigrated to Ulster during the Plantation period, establishing the family name in Northern Ireland.
Global Expansion
The 18th and 19th centuries marked a period of global expansion for the Forrester clan, with members emigrating to North America, Australia, and New Zealand as pioneers and settlers. Clan members served as officers in Highland and Border regiments during the Napoleonic Wars, American Revolutionary War, and colonial conflicts throughout the British Empire. In Scotland, the family adapted to agricultural improvements and industrial changes while preserving their Border heritage. Distinguished Forresters emerged as merchants, scholars, and civic leaders in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Border towns, contributing significantly to Scottish cultural and economic development.
The Forrester tartan weaves together centuries of Border heritage, from royal forestry service to global diaspora, in distinctive patterns worn with ancestral pride.
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