To tie in with Burns Night and the Chinese New Year, Edinburgh Zoo has unveiled the exclusive fine wool worsted Edinburgh Zoo Panda Tartan fabric to commemorate the arrival of Tian Tian and Yang Guang to their new home in Scotland. The unique panda tartan was showcased for the photographers at Edinburgh Zoo's panda enclosure, where our own designer, Kirsty Franey modelled a pleated skirt and stole in the tartan she created.
Kirsty said "It has been a great pleasure to work with the Edinburgh Zoo on such a culturally significant project and I am very proud to be able to celebrate and showcase the arrival of the Pandas with the exclusive panda tartan".
The unique tartan has been approved by the Scottish Register of Tartans, emphasising the huge cultural significance of the pandas to Scotland.
Deirdre Kinloch Anderson said "tartan is one of Scotland's greatest icons. Careful attention was given to create a tartan with a meaningful background, with relevance both to the zoo and also to China. In 1909 the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland was founded by the Edinburgh Lawyer Thomas Gillespie, so the sett is based on the Gillespie tartan. Clearly the tartan was to be black and white, but also with some grey to soften it, just as there is some grey in the pandas fur. The green line is for the pandas favourite food of bamboo. There are three fine red lines to represent China. Number 3 is China's lucky number and also the red lines are in the heart of the design to indicate that the pandas are in the hearts and minds of the Scottish and Chinese people."
Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive for Edinburgh Zoo said:
"We're delighted with the panda tartan designed for us by Kinloch Anderson. This significant and highly exciting project symbolically demonstrates the coming together of Scotland and China's heritage and culture - making it the perfect way to commemorate the gift of two giant pandas that China bestowed upon Scotland. It's unveiling on the overlap of two seperate culturally significant days for both China and Scotland feels very appropriate and auspicious timing."
From early April a fine range of Edinburgh Zoo Panda tartan merchandise including silk scarves, ties, leather goods, cufflinks and scarves will be available at Edinburgh Zoo's gift shop and online shop www.store.rzss.org.uk. These will also be able at Kinloch Anderson.