New York City accolade for Black Isle queen of tartan Siobhan Mackenzie
A BLACK Isle designer with an international clientele took another bite out of the Big Apple when she picked up an accolade recognising young Scots who make a mark in their field of endeavour.
Siobhan Mackenzie, who is from Fortrose, received the Young Scot Wallace Award from the Board of the American Scottish Foundation.
It was a special moment for the Black Isle-raised entrepreneur who has flourished after setting up her own design label, specialising in her unique take on tartan.
The designer can claim some famous customers who have helped spread the word about her designs to a worldwide audience.
A citation states that the young designer “has already made an exceptional contribution to the world of fashion and design - taking it forward in a fresh new and yet classic direction”.
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She said: “It was a wonderful event, I felt immensely privileged to share the evening with Sir Jim Walker who is a huge inspiration to myself as an entrepreneur and such a kind and humble man.
“The venue of the University Club of New York was a magnificent piece of architecture and I was thrilled to also display my work in an exhibition there. I was surprised by Naomi Rougeau who wrote my Elle US article back in 2016.”
She was also delighted to be accompanied to the event by her mum, Charmaine Mackenzie. She said: “It was very special to have my mum there with me and people who have followed my career.”
Of her stunning outfit, she said: “I made a Macleod silk tartan gown with seventy handmade satin roses on the skirt, worn with black gloves with kilt pins and diamond jewellery loaned from Laings Jewellers.”
Her self-named Scottish fashion label was founded in 2014 when she was just 21. The company takes its inspiration from its Highland heritage.
Siobhan champions a Made in Scotland ethos where traditional craftsmanship and modern design thinking are fused together. An advocate for slow fashion and sustainability, she says she is proud to work in contrast to the fast-fashion industry.
Her upbringing influenced the choices within her business. Her father, an environment officer for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, installed sustainability into her as a child.
The luxury brand has gone on to be featured in the likes of Forbes, GQ, Elle US, Kobe Fashion Museum Japan and The V&A Museum. Clients include Jared Leto, Justin Bieber and the Royal Family and she has designed Team Scotland kit for The Commonwealth Games.
