2019 marked the 50th anniversary of Riding for the Disabled Association, a charity providing therapy through horses to over 25,000 disabled children and adults. The RDA offers the chance to develop skills and have fun through activities such as carriage driving and horse riding. With almost 500 RDA centres and the support of 18,000 volunteers, the charity does tremendous work throughout the UK. So, here at Lochcarron of Scotland, we were proud to be part of the celebrations!

Going Bright For 50 Years of RDA

To celebrate this momentous 50-year anniversary, we created the official Riding for the Disabled Association tartan. Our Tartan Design Service allows us to create bespoke tartans for events and causes like the RDA.

The first stage in the tartan creation was with our in-house designers, who selected yarn colours that work for the charity. In addition, the design team considered how the organisation will utilise this tartan, for example, in accessories such as the RDA scarves.

Official RDA Tartan Swatch

Using bright and bold colours, we designed the official tartan to incorporate the green of the RDA logo, representing their wonderful work. The bright green features alongside blue, pink and yellow in a colourful celebration of the charity.

RDA Blue & Green Tartan Scarf with RDA & Lochcarron of Scotland Logo

Weaving The RDA Tartan - Behind The Scenes

We are delighted to be able to share a behind the scenes look at the production of the official RDA tartan. The tartan is produced here at our mill in Selkirk, in the heart of the Scottish Borders. The images below provide a glimpse of a few stages in creating this celebratory tartan.

Firstly, our colourful yarns are wrapped onto the warp mill -  the warp makes up the length of the fabric - the Suzuki warp mill, pictured here, works by winding one thread at a time around the drum until the width of the warp is made up.

Blue & Green Yarn On The Warp Mill at Warping Stage

 

The Official RDA Tartan in Production at Lochcarron of Scotland's Mill in Selkirk

Secondly, the bright and bold RDA tartan in production on the loom. Pictured above, the back view of the loom shows the length of colourful yarns - the warp -as it's fed into the loom. On the front of the loom, pictured below, the weft threads are drawn across the width of the warp and interlace to create the tartan. This is the weaving process.

The Official RDA Tartan at Lochcarron of Scotland Weaving on the Loom

 

The Official RDA Tartan by Lochcarron of Scotland being Darned by Hand

Following on from the weaving is darning, pictured above. At this stage in the process, we check our lengths of tartan by hand and ensuring the bespoke tartans we produce is of the highest quality. From selecting our yarns to the finishing process, the time and craftsmanship invested in our manufacturing ensures this.

Launching The Tartan

Earlier this year, the RDA presented Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne - president of the RDA - with the official tartan. RDA volunteers and participants were in attendance at the Edinburgh ceremony to mark the anniversary and the launch of the tartan. The RDA will continue their anniversary celebrations with events throughout the year.

Princess Anne being presented with the official RDA Tartan

Picture: Copyright Chris Watt

At Lochcarron of Scotland, we are so proud to have created the RDA anniversary tartan.

Find out more about the RDA and their mission of enriching lives through horses. You can support this wonderful charity by purchasing a tartan scarf, for more information contact kate@tatandoun.co.uk.

Interested in designing your own tartan? Have a look at our Tartan Design Service to find out more.