Designer Robert Guibal Guibal and Jo Smith looking at an item made from the Barbados tartan. (Picture by Shanice King.)

Barbados’ own tartan

Article by Carlos Atwell

Barbados now has an officially registered tartan, the first in the Caribbean.

A delegation from Scotland was here for a week, cementing ties in education, business and trade.

At Hilton Barbados last week, founder of the Renfrewshire Business Network, Jo Smith, said there were many similarities between Scotland and Barbados and the visit was a successful one.

Both the visit and the tartan were made possible by Shane Thomas, a Barbadian flying Barbados’ Flag high in Scotland.

The tartan, a specially designed Scottish fabric, was created by designer Robert Guibal, with strict instructions from Thomas to use only Barbados’ three national colours, although tartans are usually made with four colours.

Guibal said it took months but he was pleased with the finished product. (CA)