The Black and Red

A dark black-brown ground with red check lines in same sett (pattern) as Red and White or the Green/Red. As it is the same colours as used in “Rob Roy” (MacGregor) tartan can cause confusion but Menzies having seven lines of various thickness is more complicated pattern. The colours are said to have been taken from the browny black branches of the tree and the red berries. Modern dyes give a pure black colour. It is not clear if it had any special use in the old days. Now it has been snapped up by the ladies of the clan as it makes up into very smart outfits. It has to be ordered.

This cloth will usually have to be ordered and minimum orders are likely to be seven to eight yards - quantity for a man’s kilt.