Scotland is the home of greasy haggis, ancient kingdoms and stoney castles, and Mel Gibson's rugged, blue-faced character William Wallace from the movie 'Brave Heart'.
Now another American production is giving Scotland a second serving of Hollywood spotlight. The television program 'Outlander', which depicts a married WWII nurse in 1945 who finds herself transported back to Scotland in 1743, is putting Scottish tartan back on the big screen. And sales of the checked fabric are soaring.
The nurse - Clare Randall - and her affair with kilt-wearing, highland warrior Jamie Fraser, has seen tartan textile maker Ingles Buchan tapped for a second time for its iconic Scottish tartan.
Glasgow-based Ingles Buchan, which operates a mill in Selkirk, has ramped up its merchandise efforts, with tartans being sold across Europe, Canada and the US after the success of the drama series.
The company first became involved with 'Outlander' two years ago when it created five tartans for characters in the hit TV series. As ratings soared, fans began to request the tartans featured on screen.
To cater for the increasing demand, the company is creating new jobs in Glasgow and has recruited an apprentice at its Selkirk mill, with a further apprentice starting in the autumn, according to the Business Quarter.
The 'Outlander; tartans will be woven in Selkirk and a range of products, including kilts, scarves, hats and bags will be manufactured from the fabric in Glasgow.
Colin Brown, managing director of Ingles Buchan, said: “We’re thrilled at becoming a supplier of genuine Outlander tartan merchandise.
“Producing the range will be a real boost for our business and our plans to grow.
“In recent years Scotland’s textiles industry has been in decline but we have shown that demand remains for high quality, traditional cloth.”