The story about the South Africa tartan made the nationals in South Africa and Scotland a couple of weeks ago helped by the support of Desmonf Tutu and a pic of a model in a South Africa tartan cocktail dress but I'm letting things grow 'organically ' as a good environmemtalist should :).
Im sitting 400 yards from the Science research buildings of Edin Univ, the National Geophysical laboratories and the Royal Observatory, but I still believe that ground-breaking reasearch is being done in Fife!. FIfe of all places. There are stories that they still eat their young in Fife. Well well well.

Hi Suzanne, I've just had tartan woven in Africa for the first time ever. The wool is from a local merino flock (who require an annual haircut anyway), carded, spun and dyed (to European standards) locally. The cloth is being made into range of products for the World Cup 2010, the US schools market and the African market. by local firms,. All of the businesses involved operate to acceptable business standards in terms of employments conditions and wages. A % of the profits will be used to have the designs made in locally-produced cotton (where appropriate) and silk and set up womens co-operatives in 23 African countries. Unlike cotton which is water-hungry and can cause desertification, wool to me is the most ethical of all fabrics: sustainable, long-lasting and eco-friendly. When used to create 'national' tartans using the colors in a country's flag, it can provide fashion wear and even every-day wear which gives a sense of identity and creates awareness internationally. I think what your and colleagues are doing may well produce fabrics that one day surpass wool, but not just yet.

Wow! I can heardly believe what Ive just read on your website(s)