Highland Apparel Displays

Interactive displays for schools, organisations or privately for individuals on the beauty and ingen

31/10/2024

As the days start to get colder and more wintry here in Scotland a Shepherd's Maud is a must. 👍🏻

www.facebook.com/flightweavingbyjanisembleton

A PRIVATE DISPLAY - For Chase & Kalli Hicks

26/05/2023

Keith was blessed to conduct a private display on ancient Scottish clothing and weaponry for two American missionaries recently. A fun day was had by all! :-)

Keith conducting a private display for Chase & Kalli Hicks while in Scotland, before returning to North Carolina in the United States.

26/05/2023

Keith conducting a private display for Chase & Kalli Hicks while in Scotland, before returning to North Carolina in the United States.

Photos from Highland Apparel Displays's post

26/05/2023

15/12/2022

Getting ready!! I'm looking forward to teaching tomorrow. 😊

I haven't been able to display in some time due to illness, so I'm looking forward to showing off garments and weapons from Scotland's past again and I'm so thankful that I'm in a place again to be able to do so.

Photos will posted soon. Thanks for your continuing interest in Highland Apparel Displays. 👍

17/02/2020

Knowing my passion for Scottish shepherd's, for Christmas Linette gifted me an exquisite art print of "A Highland Shepherd - a sketch" by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, R.A. (1802-1873).

Today we received it back from the framers and I can't take my eyes of it. It is a wonderful gift from my wife, especially as she didn't know that I actually use the image as part of my displays on ancient Scottish clothing.

The shepherd has a "shepherd's maud" around him, which was a heavy wool blanket to keep him warm, usually woven in the shepherd's tartan itself - which is mainly simple untreated black & white squares with black border & tails.

The shepherd's tartan is also known as the Northumberland tartan/Falkirk tartan/Border tartan/Border drab/Border plaid. The shepherd would also fashion a pocket, a "neuk", in the maud to help him carry injured lambs.

Highlanders often went barefoot, but they would also wear heavy woolen "hoes" around their legs & feet for warmth, tied with woolen garters. The hoes toes & heels are missing, which would happen due to heavy wear, but these were often easily replaced by simply sowing on replacements, extending the hose's life considerably.

The original painting was oil on board and measured 19 x 15 in. (48.3cm x 38.1cm). This print, with frame, is bigger and looks outstanding, the photo here certainly doesn't do it justice.

I'm grateful & blessed - Keith Gainham

30/05/2019

For the Instagram users of you, you can catch up with us there too, mosey on over:

Instagram - 👍

30/05/2019

Keith was interviewed in Shepherd's garb by American film-maker Rebecca Friedlander for her film and television series 'THIN PLACES.

You can stream or download HD or SD files and watch on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast here:

https://vimeo.com/user84088600

Also, check out:
https://www.rebeccafriedlander.com/

30/05/2019

A change of name and logo from 'ALBA FO DHIA DISPLAYS' - hope you guys like it and continue to enjoy the beauty and ingenuity of ancient Scottish clothing and weaponry with us. Your support is very much appreciated.

If you are interested in booking us please e-mail: [email protected] 👍

23/04/2019

Sometimes my displays are planned and organised in advance and sometimes they aren't, which was the case today.

While working away today an American tourist asked me for multi-pack of bottled water, so as I was showing her and her group of friends to the right part of the store I was asking them where they were from and where they're going on their tour.

So, after telling them that Edinburgh is pronounced "Eh-din-buh-ruh" and not "Ehdinbro", we got onto the subject of kilts etc.

What followed was an impromptu quick display of ancient Scottish clothing via my mobile and informing them that Scots word "kilt" is really a verb meaning to tuck up clothes around the body and that there are two main types of the kilt - the fèileadh beag (the little kilt) and the much bigger and more ancient - fèileadh mòr (the great plaid).

We discussed sporrans, hoes and bonnets and other ancient accoutrement, but alas I had to get back to my "day" job. What a priviledge it is to teach people who are actually interested in our heritage and see the beauty of the things I show them. I left them all beaming and grateful for my time and help and I left them grinning like the Cheshire cat.

I wish there was as much of an interest, here in Scotland, in learning about the beauty and ingenuity of our ancient clothing, not so much about the blood and guts caused by men's wars, but the beauty, the real beauty of the things our Father has given us in this beautiful country.

Alba, fo Dhia, gu bráth.

K.G.