Forth Valley College unveils its new official tartan
Forth Valley College has revealed its official college tartan.
The bespoke design was created in partnership with social enterprise International Tartans, and each colour included in it was carefully selected to tell part of the Forth Valley College (FVC) story.
It was unveiled at a special celebration at FVC’s Stirling campus on the same day that marked the reopening of its award-winning Gallery Training Restaurant after a big refurbishment.
The college’s own recognisable colours, dark blue and purple, have been incorporated into the tartan alongside light blue and light green to symbolise the River Forth flowing through the region. Giving a nod to the iconic Forth Rail Bridge, a bold and deep orange-red runs throughout the design.
Officially registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans, the design has now been established as a permanent part of FVC’s identity and is expected to be used at graduations, college events, international visits, and overseas activity.
First developed in 2025 as the college neared its 20th anniversary, the idea of a FVC tartan was spearheaded by principal Kenny MacInnes, vice principal for business and innovation Colin McMurray, and Global Partnerships manager Jamie Allan.
The trio discussed ways of marking the milestone with something that would last for generations, and the brainstorming coincided with the development of the college’s international ambitions.
A tartan was then born, with the aim of creating something unique to FVC which could communicate its Scottish identity wherever it travelled.
Emma Jones, a designer from International Tartans, crafted the tartan by using a very Scottish design process on her journey to the finished product.
Watercolours and scallop shells were used as she worked to find the best balance of shades. During the Gallery Restaurant launch dinner, it just so happened that scallops were on the menu, giving the guests an immersive experience while inadvertently combining the two celebrations.
Emma was also present at the event and formally presented the finished tartan and its registration certificate to FVC.
Kenny MacInnes, principal of Forth Valley College, said: “This event marks two important milestones for the college. We are delighted to officially relaunch our award-winning Gallery
Restaurant and to unveil our new bespoke college tartan. Both are symbols of who we are as a college: proud of our heritage, ambitious about our future, and committed to creating outstanding experiences for our students and communities.
“Thanks to Emma Jones from International Tartans, who joined us during the celebrations. We are grateful for their support and expertise in helping bring this project to life. We are incredibly proud of the finished design and what it represents for our college community.”
Emma Jones, designer at International Tartans, said: “The design process for a tartan is always fun and challenging, and I really enjoyed this one, combining the Forth Valley colours with ones that reflect the local landscape. I usually always start with paints, as it gives me a chance to look at colour and composition before moving onto the screen to design. Living in Eyemouth, shells provide a great paint palette for small projects, so I use them to mix my colours.
“At International Tartans, we’ve created tartans over the years specifically designed to bring countries, cultures and communities together.
“Our founder, David McGill, worked with embassies, consulates and diaspora communities, so collaboration has always been a really important part of our process.
"Forth Valley was no exception, and the resulting design reflects the college, the landscape around it and the communities that have come together to form Forth Valley College.
“We’re very pleased to have played a small part in creating a tartan that marks the college’s first 20 years, and hopefully will still be telling that story for many years to come.”