The gap between the world's rich and poor has never been wider. Malnutrition, AIDS, conflict and illiteracy are a daily reality for millions.

But it isn't chance or bad luck that keeps people trapped in bitter, unrelenting poverty. It's man-made factors like a glaringly unjust global trade system, a debt burden so great that it suffocates any chance of recovery, and insufficient and ineffective aid.

"Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom. The task will not be easy. But not to do so would be a crime against humanity, against which I ask all humanity to rise up. Make Poverty History. Make History. Then we can all stand with our heads held high"

Nelson Mandela 2005

"30,000 children are dying needlessly from preventable diseases each day because of poverty. The pain and suffering in Africa is desperate. But we lose out too. Within those 30,000 children there is artistic talent now forever untapped, scientific discoveries never found, sporting achievements not reached, musical compositions never created. And we are all worse for it."

Jack McConnell, (former) First Minister
Opening address to the Africa Conference Scottish Parliament 2006

"Tartans is Scotland’s international calling-card."

Alex Salmond First Minister

INTRODUCTION

‘Tartans for Africa’ is an initiative which has the fundamental aim of helping to improve the lives of ordinary people throughout Africa by using one of the distinctive symbols of Scotland – tartan.

The unique method of weaving tartan cloth lends itself to an almost endless variety of colour combinations and patterns so, by selecting the colours in the flags of African countries and combining them with the colours in the flag of Scotland, tartans have been designed and woven for DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Others will follow. Twelve have been woven and officially registered with the Scottish World Tartans Authority. Throughout the design process International Tartans has worked in conjunction with each African High Commission/Embassy and representative groups in the UK, and women’s co-operatives throughout Africa. Each design has been enthusiastically welcomed.

Although most commonly associated with the kilt, tartan cloth can be made into a wide range of clothing items, clothing accessories and gifts, but can also be reproduced in a number of other forms: on printed cotton cloth, paper, plastic, etc. And each of these forms can be used to produce a wide range of products: clothing, stationery, furnishings, tableware, gifts etc.

By such means tartan products can be used by NGO’s to generate funds for humanitarian projects throughout Africa, primarily in the UK, but capable of being introduced throughout Europe and the USA, and with a range of products which will reach a far wider donating public whilst providing a strong common identity for both donors and recipients.

At the same time, if used in particular ways such as printed wrapping paper and stationery, it can be used to promote each African country internationally by carrying a printed message along with the design.

I find your entrepreneurship inspiring, in particular the type of product. Tartans that inspire self-pride, a kind of cultural connectivity that is positive by using a product from one culture to infuse cultural relevance in another. In a subtle way it represents the entirety of what multiculturalism, interculturaism or whatever 'isms' seek to achieve."

Alache Ode
Lecturer in International Development
Birkbeck College, University of London

WHERE WE ARE

Each tartan has been woven in the traditional form (wool) for registration purposes here in Scotland, and made into a range of twenty or so products which can be sold through NGO’s, charities etc. (through web-sites, shops, fairs, etc). An agreed percentage of the proceeds of sale* will go to help fund humanitarian projects in each country.

Discussions are underway to have each tartan produced in each individual country in cotton to be used in their gift, souvenir and fashion industries. Potential importers in the USA, Scandinavia and the UK for these products have already been identified.

Arguably the most effective use of these tartan designs is as wrapping paper in sheet form. Each sheet is over-printed with the name (and strap-line) of the country and the requisite design / production information. Printed on 115 gm. paper from renewable sources, packs of 100 sheets are available to recognised organisations as a fundraiser. As a low-priced and popular product a sheet of wrapping paper allows many more people such as schoolchildren and pensioners to make a contribution. It is also available to businesses in each African country to bring added value to retail products, thus providing them with a continuous world-wide advertisement at no cost.