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A small family-owned Forfar firm is aiming to make a huge impression on the Big Apple with its New York Tartan Week creations.

Strathmore Woollen Company will be part of the international celebration of Scottish culture, fashion and heritage taking place later this week.

And for sales and marketing co-ordinator Hannah Cain, it will be extra-special as she makes her modelling debut on the Dressed to Kilt catwalk in one of her own designs.

Company owner Christine Donaldson and Hannah have been putting the finishing touches to the garments and other tartan products they are taking to the US.

For almost 80 years, Strathmore has gone about its business as one of Scotland’s leading tartan suppliers.  So while the razzamatazz of the city that never sleeps could not be more of a contrast to the company’s base on North Street in Forfar, the pair are excited for a hectic weekend ahead.

Christine, originally from Broughty Ferry, bought the business in 2018.  After 30 years in textiles in the Borders, she took a leap of faith in becoming a company owner.

“I was a customer of Strathmore, so I knew their quality was outstanding.  But I knew nothing about running a business,” she said.

“We’ve always been a very traditional company, but have changed and adapted the business model as we’ve gone,” she added.

The core business remains selling woven 100% wool fabric from a collection of more than 400 tartans, many of those registered as Strathmore designs.

That material is exported to almost 40 countries, with the North American market still the company’s biggest.

Two pieces of Strathmore tartan have even been into space.  Those included a swatch of McBean clan tartan carried by astronaut Alan Bean when he became the fourth person to set foot on the Moon during the Apollo 12 mission in 1969.

Strathmore first took part in Tartan Week in 2022.  The invitation came after Dr Geoffrey Carroll, who co-founded the Dressed to Kilt fashion showcase with the late Sir Sean Connery, learned of the Angus company’s Afghanistan tartan.

In 2025, Strathmore debuted an evening gown and kilt in Navy Seal tartan.  Its foundation is the benefiting charity of Dressed to Kilt.

Heriot-Watt fashion design graduate Hannah, 24, has used her talents to create the stunning pieces in that tartan for the latest fashion spectacular.

“I’ve been to New York a couple of times, including a school trip, but nothing like being on the catwalk,” she said.

“I’m really looking forward to it.  It’s very exciting to be taking garments which we have made entirely here in Forfar.”

The event’s 2026 theme is Scotland Cool – Braveheart to Outlander.

Fittingly, Outlander star Sam Heughan is the grand marshal of Saturday’s parade up 6th Avenue.  “We hope to be part of that before going on to Dressed to Kilt,” said Christine.

“It will be very busy, but this is a great opportunity for our traditional little business to do some funky stuff while celebrating our tradition and authenticity.”

This article appeared in The Courier on 8 April 2026