News
Trump tartan: Gray's students weave their way into global brand
Tuesday, 16 March, 2010
Fashion Design students at Robert Gordon University's Gray's School of Art are embarking on a project to create a corporate tartan for Trump International - Scotland.
Intended to complement the existing Trump family tartan (Macleod), the new design will be produced in association with leading Scottish manufacturers and local mills, with a view to it being used within the club house and hotel interiors at the site in Scotland. It may also be incorporated into golf wear and resort merchandise, and will become part of the identity and branding of Trump International - Scotland.
Having been invited to come up with some initial designs, the students have been dealt the task of weaving together the Trump brand, Trump ancestry and the Trump golf vision. Their brief is to take inspiration from Donald Trump's golf vision and passion for Scotland, using colours that reflect the North-east coastline, Trump's worldwide portfolio and 500 years of golfing heritage.
The fashion team at Gray's are well-versed on the striking potential of Scotland's favourite fabric, working on previous projects with the Gordon Highlanders Museum, Kinloch Anderson Textiles, Smiths of Peterhead and International Tartans, to name but a few. Last year, they created a range of Japanese tartans for Sakura Scotland and have seen their designs given a global platform at events such as Dressed to Kilt in New York and London Fashion Week.
Sarah Malone, Executive Vice-President of Trump International - Scotland, explains: "Gray's School of Art's particular emphasis on the design and application of tartan within their fashion and textiles department prompted this partnership. Trump International - Scotland will commission a Trump corporate tartan in the future and we are keen to engage up and coming designers working in the North-east in this process."
Students Daniel Crozier (21), from Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, Sarah Struthers (19), from Millhill Farm in Lanark and Jaqueline Cooper (21), from Woodend, Aberdeen, are going along to the Balmedie Headquarters this week to showcase some of their previous work on tartan and get a better feel for what they might want to create.
Daniel says: "When we found out which organisation we were going to be working with next we were definitely in a state of awe! I think that it is fantastic that we have been given the opportunity to work with an international company and that they see the value in working with local students. They obviously want to give something back to the community.
"We have started looking into what the man and the brand stands for and I am very impressed. I visited Trump Tower during a trip to New York and it really has to be seen to be believed; I think it is amazing what one man has achieved."
Kim Eason, Programme Leader for Fashion and Textiles at Gray's, adds: "There is a growing emphasis on the demand for tartan around the globe and we are delighted to be working with such a prominent worldwide brand. Bringing this fabric to the attention of the next generation of designers is an excellent investment for the future of both the Scottish textile and tourism industries, and I thoroughly enjoy being part of it."
ENDS 16 March 2010
Notes to editor:
Media Opportunity
There will be an opportunity to interview and photograph the three students mentioned at Trump International - Scotland, Menie Estate, Balmedie today (Tuesday 16 March) at 2.30pm. Models will be showing off the students' striking tartan jacket designs and Sarah Malone will also be available for comment.
Members of the media should meet Katy Jones, Communications Officer from the University, on arrival.
Katy Jones
Communications Officer
Robert Gordon University
Schoolhill
Aberdeen
AB10 1FR
Tel: 01224 262206
Email: c.a.c.jones@rgu.ac.uk