Weaving Power and Remembrance: The Witches of Scotland Tartan
For centuries, the whispers of the past have echoed through the Scottish highlands, carrying the untold stories of those persecuted under the Witchcraft Act. Now, those voices are being woven into something tangible, a new tartan, rich with symbolism and purpose, serving as a living memorial for the thousands, mostly women, who were executed in Scotland between 1563 and 1736.
This isn’t just fabric; it’s a spell of remembrance, a reclamation of power, and a call to honour the lives lost to fear and oppression.
Threads of Meaning
Every strand of the Witches of Scotland tartan tells a story. Deep blacks and greys recall the shadows of a fearful era and the ashes of those burned. Crimson streaks mark the bloodshed, while pink threads represent the bureaucratic red tape that bound their fates in ink. A delicate white check of three threads carries the campaign’s mission, securing a pardon, an apology, and lasting memorials. Even the thread count whispers history, encoding the 173 years this cruel law remained in force.
The Witches of Scotland tartan (not yet available for sale but we will update you when it is) was developed by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, founders of the Witches of Scotland campaign, in collaboration with designer Clare Campbell of Prickly Thistle Tartan Mill.
This is no ordinary tartan. It is a powerful sigil, woven with intention, calling us to remember, to honour, and to heal.
The Witch Wound and the Weight We Carry
The echoes of these injustices aren’t confined to history books. They live in our bones, in the collective wound passed down through generations, the Witch Wound. It is the fear that lingers when we speak too boldly, the hesitation before stepping fully into our power. It is the whisper that tells us to stay small, lest we be punished for shining too brightly.
For centuries, women who healed, spoke out, or defied the expected norms were silenced, sometimes violently. Today, we may not face flames, but the fear of ridicule, rejection, or being labelled “too much” keeps many of us bound. The Witch Wound manifests as imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and the shrinking of our own magic.
But here’s the truth: we are not meant to stay small. The very things that once marked women as “witches”, our wisdom, our intuition, our power are the gifts we must reclaim.
A Tartan for Transformation
The Witches of Scotland tartan is more than a memorial for women in Scotland; it is a tool for transformation. For any women wearing it isn’t just about honouring the past, it’s about stepping into the future with strength.
It won’t matter where you are in the World. this tartan is a conversation starter. When people ask about it, you have the chance to share its story, to illuminate a dark chapter of history, and to ensure the memory of those lost is never forgotten. It is a living, breathing spell of awareness, weaving history into the present so that we can create a future where no woman fears persecution for her power.
Proceeds from its sale will fund continued advocacy in Scotland, ensuring that this movement isn’t just about remembering, but about changing the world we live in today. This is about more than fabric; it’s about justice, healing, and reclaiming what was stolen.
Wearing the Legacy
To drape yourself in this tartan is to wrap yourself in resilience. It is a reminder that you are the descendant of the witches they could not burn, that your voice matters and that the wounds of the past can be transformed into power.
The witch trials may have ended, but the fight for women’s rights continues. The Witches of Scotland tartan reminds us that we are never alone in that fight. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and now, through this fabric, we carry their memory forward.
So, will you wear this spell of remembrance? Will you honour the past and weave a new future, one where no woman fears her own power?
The choice is yours. The threads have been spun, and the magic is waiting.
