Star-Spangled Banner Tartan—THE PRESENT

The Story Within the Weave

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COMMEMORATING THE
S E M I Q U I N C E N T E N N I A L

 

A CLOTH OF REMEMBRANCE

The Star-Spangled Banner (Flag of 1814) tartan was created by Steven Patrick Sim, The Tartan Artisan®. It was officially registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans on Independence Day, July 4th, 2021. While its registration coincided with the 245th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the tartan has since evolved in meaning and purpose: it now stands as a bold tribute leading toward the United States’ 250th Semiquincentennial anniversary in 2026.

Tartan Registration Number #13214

 

My Inspiration

The seed for this commemorative tartan was planted in 2014 during the creation of the Declaration of Scottish Independence, Arbroath 1320 tartan — designed to visibly represent Scotland’s two historic flags while embodying the spirit of freedom.

From that point I envisioned a tartan for the United States that would share a revolutionary lineage, woven into its thread counts and colors. This tartan honors the modern American flag’s enduring legacy — the bright red, white, and blue that inspire pride, unity, and freedom for over 300 million people.

 

A Cloth of Celebration, Unity, and Endurance

The PRESENT Edition of the Star-Spangled Banner tartan is a vibrant tribute to the flag that flies today — a proud emblem of a nation united under fifty stars and thirteen stripes.

Where the PAST Edition is softened and reflective, this tartan shines with vivid color and energy, celebrating not only the anthem’s words but the living republic that has flourished beneath them over two and a half centuries.

 

Threads of the Modern Flag

Its palette bursts with life:

  • Red for hardiness and valor

  • Scarlet Red for luminous energy — evoking sparks, explosive brilliance, and the anthem’s fiery imagery

  • Ivory White for purity and enduring ideals

  • Old Glory Blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice

  • Azure Blue for a luminous accent within the star field, symbolizing hope and renewal

Across the sett:

  • 50 navy threads are counted within the dark blue field, each representing one of the current fifty states

  • 13-count broad scarlet and ivory stripes honor the thirteen original colonies — the foundation on which the nation continues to thrive

  • 15 red and 15 azure-blue threads recall the 1814 banner, ensuring the historic flag’s presence endures

The sett’s intricate structure balances history and modern unity. The first pivot evokes the legacy of the colonies, while the second pivot presents a single shimmering star of five white threads, surrounded by navy and ivory accents, with a luminous azure field — a constellation recalling both heritage and hope.

 

Sparks of Renewal

At the intersections where scarlet, ivory, and blue meet, the tartan glows with dynamic energy — echoing the anthem’s “rockets’ red glare” and “bombs bursting in air.” Here they signify not conflict, but renewal: sparks of resilience, growth, and unity.

 

Symbolism of Star & Stripe

“The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun.”

This timeless symbolism underpins the tartan: the stars shining above and the stripes radiating like rays of hope. Together they weave past, present, and future into one fabric of identity.

 

The United States Semiquincentennial

Through the evolution of the design, the tartan now stands to honor America’s 250th anniversary of independence in 2026, serving as both a tribute to history and a living promise for the future.

 

A Living Cloth

More than remembrance, the PRESENT tartan is a living textile — bright, confident, enduring. It waves not on a pole, but through pattern and color, woven to last generations. It is today’s anthem in design, celebrating promise, unity, and liberty.

 

A Summary of the Rationale

Design Inspiration & Significance

  • Celebrates the contemporary American flag with fifty stars and thirteen stripes

  • Honors 250 years of independence and unity

  • Officially registered on July 4, 2021; redefined as a Semiquincentennial tribute

  • Connects American ideals of freedom with Scotland’s historic Declaration of Arbroath

Color Palette & Meaning

  • Red: Hardiness and valor

  • Scarlet Red: Luminous energy and explosive brilliance, evoking anthem imagery

  • Ivory White: Purity and innocence

  • Old Glory Blue: Vigilance, perseverance, and justice

  • Azure Blue: Accent of luminosity and hope in the star field

  • Vibrant tones emphasize the living fabric of today’s nation

Thread Counts & Sett Structure

  • 15 red and 15 azure-blue threads recall the historic 1814 flag

  • 13-count broad scarlet and ivory stripes honor the colonies

  • 50 navy threads represent today’s union of fifty states

  • Pivots and intersections create sparks of renewal, reinterpreting anthem imagery

Hidden Symbolism — Continued Legacy

  • Four white squares allude to the White House’s cornerstones, including the missing original laid in 1792

  • They symbolize enduring democracy and the Constitution’s inclusive purpose

Smithsonian Permission & Registrations

  • Conception date: September 14, 2014

  • Permission sought from the Smithsonian in 2020; twenty red threads commemorate this year

  • Official approval received April 22, 2021; registration completed July 4, 2021

  • Tartan Registration: #13214

  • UK Registered Designs: #6104320 (Color), #6147549 (Pattern)

  • USPTO Patent Pending: #29/800,256

  • Registered Trademark: #UK00003667073

No endorsements are made by the Smithsonian Institution in connection with the tartan – Star-Spangled Banner (Flag of 1814).

 

Collectible Fine Art Print Offer

Celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial with the PRESENT Edition Star-Spangled Banner Tartan fine art print — a vivid homage to today’s fifty-star flag and enduring spirit of liberty.

FINISHED IN OAK

  • Framed Fine Art Print: Museum-grade archival paper mounted in oak-finish frame

  • Unframed Versions: Available in multiple sizes, rolled in archival tubes for safe delivery

  • Dimensions: Collector and standard sizes for versatile display

 

Fine Art Crafted for Patriotism and Pride

Each print showcases the tartan’s scarlet, red, ivory, and azure tones; the constellation of fifty states; and the powerful meanings woven into every thread — from colonies to the promise of unity.

It is a celebration and a collectible, resonating with pride, resilience, and enduring promise.

 

Secure your fine art print today and honor America’s story as it reaches its 250th year of independence.