The Isle of Bute Heather Collection

The tartans remind me of my home on the south end of the island of Bute. It is one of Scotland's best kept secrets and my source of continuous inspiration.

Bute features stunning views of the Scottish landscapes and has a cosy hometown feel that brings me comfort and warmth. With the most important stately house in Scotland, Mount Stuart, inspiring me to draw ideas for new tartans and show off my Scottish heritage.

I now live on the Isle of Bute and like to reconnect with the island as it is one of Scotland’s hidden gems.

- Ken MacDonald

The Modern Bute Heather tartan has been a cult classic at Houston Kiltmakers for many years. It is a signature staple of the Bute Heather collection.

Featuring contemporary shades of purple inspired by the Scottish heather & Bute Estate. Bute heather is only found on the Isle of Bute & Cowell peninsula.

It also features a faint touch of green, representing Scotland's beautiful greenery. Black, Navy & white are used as accent colours to compliment the purple tones and create a dynamic sett to the tartan.

“This was a massive tartan for me, especially as purple tartans were all the rage in the 2000's”

-Ken MacDonald

Stradd is a striking neutral tartan with a pop of mauve woven through it.

It features a toned down multi-tonal grey base with pops of black and varying charcoal shades to contrast the purple centreline.

The Straad tartan is inspired by the real area of Straad. The peninsula is located in the West Coast of St. Ninain's bay on the island of Bute. The land show-cases beautiful picturesque views and a traditional bustling community.

The bay has spectacular views across to the small island of Inchmarnock and Arran beyond.

“The repeat of the tartan is called the sett also known as the stitch count. Stradd is on the peninsula of Bute.”

 -Ken MacDonald

The Hunting Bute tartan is inspired by misty & foggy Scottish forests. It incorporates one of today's most popular wedding colours, sage green.

The dark grey base allows the tartan to be neutral and not too garish, with a touch of sage green for contrast. This tartan works well when styled with charcoal, black & green jackets. The subtle peak of green allows this tartan to fit into any wedding colour palette.

“Dunagoil Bay on the southern coast of Bute was host to an ancient hillfort. It was believed to have been used as by the Vikings as they moved into the west coast of Scotland.

Hunting pattern tartans are believed to be brought over to Scotland from the Vikings.”

-Ken MacDonald

Weathered Bute is a popular tartan featuring a tan centreline running through the design. It takes inspiration from the warm caramel tones seen in the Scottish forests & barley fields. 

The warm tan colour contrasts the cool grey charcoal base featuring elements of black and white to create a unique tartan. It’s neutral colour palette allows to be styled for any season and event. 

This tartan looks good with brown/silver/charcoal & black jackets, socks and tan shoes. It can also be styled with a charcoal or black jacket with matching socks & black shoes.

The tartan looks good with a warm toned fur sporran to bring out the golden tones in the tartan. Weathered Bute is another firm favourite at Houston’s due to its timeless design and colour palette.

“This combination of colours creates a spectacular effect & forms an easy to style tartan”

-Ken MacDonald

Glen Callum is inspired by the Glen Callum bay, which can be found on the southeastern tip of Bute.

The bay features a lighthouse that sits on a bed of rock on the north side of the bay. It showcases stunning views looking over to small Cumbrae & open water.

It is a must-see during the summer months, as the beautiful blue skies reflect
on the Scottish waters.

The teal in the tartan was inspired by the blue views from the bay. It also is a sentimental reminder to Ken of his son Callum’s blue eyes.

“Dunagoil Bay on the southern coast of Bute was host to an ancient hillfort. It was believed to have been used as by the Vikings as they moved into the west coast of Scotland.

Hunting pattern tartans are believed to be brought over to Scotland from the Vikings.”

-Ken MacDonald

Midnight Bute features the same classic grey & charcoal base alongside the rest of the collection but features a unique centreline of soft pink running through it.

The pink tone is inspired by the ever so slight pink tint to the Scottish aura night sky. This is easily seen in the sky views from the island of Bute.

The light pink makes this a popular wedding tartan as it compliments many pale pink wedding colour palettes and bridesmaid dresses.

“Midnight Bute has and will always be a classic tartan due to its ability to compliment popular wedding colours”

-Ken MacDonald

Kyles of Bute, almost like a sister tartan to Glen Callum. It features a striking royal blue centreline on a dark grey and black base.

Despite the minimal amounts of blue this tartan really shines with a navy jacket & socks to make the blues pop.

This tartan appeals to those who like darker colours & tartans but means they don’t need to opt for a black tartan. Royal Blue is a popular colour in Scotland, meaning this tartan allows people to
incorporate their favourite colours in a classy way.

“The point of the collection was to design neutral tartans that could go with any colour palette. ”
-Ken MacDonald

Grey Bute features a lighter classic grey & charcoal base alongside the rest of the
collection, but features a prominent silver/light grey centreline through the sett.

The mixed grey colour palette was inspired by the skies of the island of Bute on a cloudy, misty & grey day. Scotland isn’t known for its tropical weather, but there is something quite soothing about it’s grey, mystic sky. It co-ordinates well with any colour.

The neutral colour tones make this a popular wedding tartan due to its versatility. It can be styled for any type of event and is suited to those who prefer a more subtle tartan look.

“The Isle of Bute provides the perfect calm, peaceful surroundings for me to create my designs & take inspiration from the landscape”
-Ken MacDonald

Bute mist is a sister like tartan to grey Bute with its mixed grey & charcoal colour palette, but it is woven in a tweed material.

The tweed texture and colour palette are inspired by foggy days in Bute. Due to the texture of the weave, the pattern is more subtle but has a unique effect from a far on the tartan.

This tartan looks really spectacular when paired with a silver tweed / barathea jacket. A light fur sporran and matching socks & necktie. Charcoal colours also compliment the tartan well.

“Grey tartans always in vogue, and the Bute Heather range contains multiple grey base tartans for any occasion.”
-Ken MacDonald

Autumn Bute features a red & purple base alongside a navy & gold centre line. The design also features a green & charcoal accent lines.

The autumnal colour palette was inspired by the Scottish forestry in the autumn season. Scotland in the fall will showcase tress in bright oranges, yellows, red and even purples.

The tartan can be styled all year round for any event but shines well in autumn weather & outdoor settings. It pairs well with a variety of jackets from charcoal, to black to navy tweeds.

“The Bute Heather range tartans are woven on the Isle of Bute by the world-famous Bute Fabrics, whose fabric is used in many prestigious locations around the world”
-Ken MacDonald

Ancient Bute is another more colourful tartan in the range. Inspired by the purples and purples found as sunset in Bute. This tartan is different from the rest of the collection as it is significantly brighter and combines a cool toned colour palette.

This tartan suits all seasons and pairs well with silver, charcoal, navy & black jackets. This tartan features popular colours but in a more subtle way. It is a bright but classy tartan that can be easily styled to fit anyone personal style.

“The blues and purples used create contemporary designs, which match with the popular colour schemes used for today’s weddings.”
-Ken MacDonald

St. Mirren asked Ken to design a tartan for a new football stadium opening in Paisley. Houston Kiltmakers has been in the heart of paisley since 1909 alongside supported our local team St Mirren football club.

The tartan features a red centreline, which is really striking in the tartan on it’s very dark mixed charcoal base. The tartan is ideal for those who would like an element of red in a kilt without having to commit to a super loud red base tartan cloth.

It pairs well with silver, charcoal & black jackets and accessories to create a neutral but impactful kilt outfit. A lot of Paisley buddies like this tartan.

“While each design is based on the same sett, the colours used in each Bute Heather tartan means that each Tartan has its own character.”
- Ken MacDonald