Declaration of Arbroath 7th Centennial Anniversary Tartan
A Son of Arbroath
Scotland
Keeper of Heritage
I call Arbroath home, a town that holds its history close. Being a Red Lichtie and Freeman of Aberbrothock means a lot to me, quietly shaping my art and my connection to Scotland.
Creating the Declaration of Arbroath 7th Centennial Anniversary tartan has been a deeply personal journey. It’s my way to honour not only that historic document, but also the living spirit that has carried our country through centuries: courage, faith, and the unyielding desire for freedom. Every thread is chosen with purpose—these are not just colours, but symbols woven from generations of hope and struggle.
My goal with this tartan is simple: to carry forward a legacy, crafting something timeless and meaningful for anyone who carries Scotland in their heart—whether you walk these old streets or feel echoes across the world.
I hope it keeps the Declaration’s promise alive in cloth and colour,
binding past and future in hope and resilience.
This tartan is my offering: my true respect to the land and people who have shaped me. Heritage isn’t just something fixed in the past—it lives in us now, to be shared and carried on.
I’m honoured to share it with you, hoping it brings the same sense of connection and pride that I feel every time I look at it.
STEVEN PATRICK SIM—Arbroath, Scotland
. . . . . . .
THE DECLARATION OF ARBROATH 7TH CENTENNIAL TARTAN
A reflection of the deep spirit of Scotland, and its timeless story of independence and resilience.
Celebrating 700 Years
— The Declaration Woven in Time
On April 6th, 1320, a letter written in Latin was sealed and sent to Pope John XXII. That letter—known now as the Declaration of Arbroath—was boldly crafted by the barons, nobles, and the whole community of Scotland. It asked for what mattered most: recognition of Scotland’s independence, and acknowledgement of Robert the Bruce as the rightful king.
After a hard-fought struggle for survival—Bannockburn, Berwick, and long wars with England—the Declaration was a message of unity, sovereignty, and hope. Seven centuries later to the day, this seven-colour tartan was created to mark that moment, carrying the voice and values of the Declaration into a new century.
More than just words, this tartan tells Scotland’s story: freedom, resilience, and hope interwoven in every thread, holding the heart and courage of the Declaration it honours.
The Threads of History
— Meaning in the Weave
Every colour and thread count is chosen with intention. These are not just numbers—they're drawn from the living soil of history, shaped by real hands and lived experience:
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LIGHT TAN AND NARROW BLACK STRIPES
Echo the parchment and ink of the Declaration—the written word and solemn plea for Scotland’s freedom. -
GREEN AND RED
Represent the wax seals of the earls, barons, and nobles: their solemn promises and unity in support of their nation. -
WHITE PIVOT
A pale gold shimmer that honours Pope John XXII, the recipient—whose distant spiritual judgement shaped the course of history. -
SCARLET PIVOT
Remembers the blood of Scots who made ultimate sacrifices in the hope of independence. -
BROAD BLACK STRIPE
A quiet shadow, memorialising all those who fell, binding remembrance into Scotland’s living story.
Time Spanning Numeracy
— Threads Linking Centuries
Two opposing pivots anchor the tartan, their thread-counts telling the passage of 700 years:
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Six scarlet, four black, thirteen red, and twenty green threads
Mark 6th April, 1320: the date the Declaration was sealed and dispatched to Avignon. -
Six white, four black, twenty light tan, and twenty black threads
Mark the centenary of 6th April 2020, bridging the past and present through numeracy in cloth.
Two light tan threads between the pivots form a subtle pause, a space that connects centuries—quietly bridging past and present in the living weave.
Honouring Robert the Bruce
— King and Legend
Thirty-two dark red threads
Pay tribute to Robert the Bruce, crowned king at 32 years old, who led a nation through hardship and hope from 1306.
Twenty-nine dark red threads
Remember the year of his death in 1329—an enduring sign of legacy, resilience, and sacrifice that still speaks to us today.
The Geometric Pattern
— The Artefact Woven
Everything in this design is intentional—from the thread counts to the precise pattern. The art reflects the artefact: a story of leadership, courage, and togetherness, all bound in the fabric’s geometry.
If you look close, you’ll see a hundred threads crossing the soft light tan backdrop. They recall the famous line: “for, as long as a hundred of us remain alive...”—a reminder of enduring unity and strength.
In the registered thread count, two thin black stripes combined with five more reach a total of seven, quietly marking seven centuries of Scotland’s resilience. Every detail carries memory and meaning that stretches back, through hardship and hope, across generations.
Further Meanings
— The Weave of Heritage and Hope
- The BRIGHT SCARLET stripe commemorates the blood and selfless sacrifice of those who gave everything for Scotland—men and women who kept hope alive through the bleakest years.
- RED AND GREEN WAX SEALS are a tribute to the barons and nobles who stood together to sign, their unity the root of Scottish sovereignty.
- The soft gold-white strand is for the Pope’s robes—a gentle reminder that faith and hope run quietly through our story, even in faraway places.
- Black stripes on the tan field cross to form a subtle crucifix, a mark of faith, perseverance, and endurance during testing times.
The colours draw inspiration from the original Declaration parchment—the aged tan of vellum, the dark ink, and the bright red and green wax—while the palette also reflects the land around Arbroath Abbey: greens for the grass, faded reds for the ancient sandstone walls where the Declaration was forged.
A Timeless Tartan
— Relevant for Centuries to Come
Born from centuries of spirit and struggle, this tartan is built to last. While created for the 700th anniversary, its colours and meanings are meant to live on—quietly carrying stories of determination and identity for anyone who holds Scotland close.
The Declaration of Arbroath: A Legacy in History
— Scotland’s Enduring Letter
The Declaration of Arbroath was more than a plea for peace—it was a landmark assertion of national self-determination. Written in Arbroath Abbey and sealed by barons representing the whole realm, the letter eloquently declared Scotland’s right to self-rule, even pledging that “for, as long as a hundred of us remain alive,” no Scot would surrender freedom. Its powerful language still finds echoes in debates on independence and identity.
The papal audience was crucial. Excommunication, wars, and shifting alliances had left Scotland’s future in doubt—even after the victory at Bannockburn. This document was Scotland’s answer: a bold and measured reminder to Rome that our sovereignty ran deeper than kings, and that the will of the people could not be quenched.
Though intended for the Pope, its message stretched far—fueling inspiration for those seeking freedom everywhere. The United States Congress even recognised its legacy by linking it to American independence, naming April 6th “Tartan Day.”
In Humble Gratitude
I’m truly honoured to have been inspired to bring this design to life. It’s a tribute woven not just with cloth, but with courage, faith, and the hope of all who cherish Scotland’s heritage.
Thank you for sharing in this journey.
Postscript
— A Legacy Beyond Borders
Some say the Declaration of Arbroath inspired the American Declaration of Independence. Whether or not that’s true, it reminds us that the hope for freedom stretches far beyond any one nation.
This tartan, along with its transatlantic companion the — Star-Spangled Banner — carries that same spirit: a quiet tribute to the values that connect us across time and place.
Both designs stand for courage and hope, and share Scotland’s story with anyone who holds liberty dear.
. . . . . . .
Slàinte Mhath — Stevie, 😊
STEVEN PATRICK SIM
The Tartan Artisan®
SCOTLAND
Creator of the Declaration of Arbroath 3D Facsimilie
Official Registration Details
— Scottish Register of Tartans Ref: 12809
Designer: Steven Patrick Sim — The Tartan Artisan®
Tartan Date: 06/04/2014 Registration Date: 06/04/2020
Copyright © 2020. All weaving, tailoring, and commercial use is managed by the designer.
Contact: steve@theTartanArtisan.com
UK IPO Registered Design No. 6085120. The Declaration 1320® is UK IPO Registered Trademark No. 3138756.
The tartan commemorates the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath—a letter in Latin submitted to Pope John XXII in 1320, speaking for the Kingdom of Scotland. Its seven colours portray the artefact: tan for parchment and script; green and red for the seals and signatories; white for Pope John XXII; scarlet for the Scots who died, and broad black stripes in remembrance. Thread counts in two pivots encode 1320 and 2020. Thirty-two threads honour Robert the Bruce’s coronation age; a hundred threads mark the famous “for, as long as a hundred of us remain alive…”.
Registered details: Mr Steven Patrick Sim, The Tartan Artisan®, Arbroath, Scotland.
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View the Official Registration of the tartan
The Declaration of Scottish Independence, Arbroath 1320
Learn about Scotland's Independence tartan here
Companion tartan to the Declaration of Arbroath 7th Centennial Anniversary tartan