Iona is just 3 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, but it is home to a small and thriving community. Sound of Iona Tartan was founded in 2014 by a local family that have lived on the island for generations. With a traceable family history that dates back to 1700, the family still resides in the same location today.
Iona is an island with immense beauty. Multiple rock types display a vast range of textures and colours, all against a backdrop of green machair, white sand and turquoise sea. Some of the rocks on the island, namely Lewisian Gneiss, are over 2000 million years old.
The tiny island is believed by many to be one of the most sacred places on earth. Once the sacred island of the Druids before becoming the centre from which St Columba converted most of Scotland and northern England to Christianity, Iona has a spiritual magnetism. People never just visit once, but forge a lifelong connection with the island that keeps them coming back throughout their lifetime.
An island of light and colour
Sound of Iona Tartan is a small, family-run business. As a family, we wanted to develop something that could become a keepsake, a product that could commemorate a visit to Iona. We developed a tartan that was inspired by the landscape. Just like the Scottish Colourists, who captured Iona’s vibrant colours in their seascapes, we designed a tartan inspired by the ever-changing colours of the island.
Our signature Iona tartan, with its iconic light pastels, is inspired by the white sands of Traigh Ban Nam Monach, the pink tones of our ancient granite rocks and the blues of our translucent sea. Iona is woven into many people’s hearts and we intend to evoke special memories through our range of products. We design and produce a considered selection of products for those looking to have a wee bit of Scotland in their lives, wherever they might reside. In contrast to the Iona tartan’s vibrancy, we also designed the Mull tartan, which has more muted, darker hues.