Click the tartan to view its entry in The Scottish Registers of Tartans which includes registration details, restrictions, and registrant information.
Unregistered tartans may link to one of the web's online design environments for similar information.
For any questions about reproduction of designs or weaving of these tartans, please contact the registrant directly or via this website.
The Red Thistle Dancers' 50th Anniversary
"50 years of Scottish Dance!"
Founded in 1973 in the San Francisco Bay Area, The Red Thistle Dancers are a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing and performing the country and highland dances and music of Scotland.
This tartan was designed by author of this website who is both an admirer of and performer with The Red Thistle Dancers.
This day marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of The Red Thistle Dancers in 1973 with a dress variation of the original Red Thistle tartan.
Official Registry Notes: Designed as a tribute to the dancers, musicians, founders, and friends of the Red Thistle Dancers, a Scottish Country and Highland Dance performance group from the San Francisco Bay Area, and named for California’s native red thistle. The tartan marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of this group. The colours are intended to reflect the vibrant hues of the California native red thistle species, Cirsium occidentale and Cirsium arizonicum, under a blue sky.
The Red Thistle Dancers, founded in 1973, are a Scottish Country & Highland Dance and Music Performance group based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The colors in this design were inspired by the namesake red thistle flower (Cirsium occidentale and Cirsium arizonicum), species native to California.
Reds and Crimsons: For the spectrum of light and dark reds of the California red thistle species
White: for a dress and dance background for the other colourways
Black: for traditional highland and Scottish Country dancing ghillies
Azure blue: For California skies
For a gallery of more red thistle species, visit the website of The Red Thistle Dancers by clicking the red thistle photo, captured by Red Thistle Musician, Susan Worland.