NDSU Bookstore adds new items to the official NDSU Tartan Collection
North Dakota State University's Bookstore has added three new luxury accessories to its Official NDSU Tartan collection, all crafted by Timeless Tartans: a silk necktie, a silk scarf and a wool scarf — each woven with the official NDSU Tartan pattern and now available exclusively at the NDSU Bookstore.
The new items mark a significant expansion of the tartan line and offer students, alumni, faculty and Bison fans elegant ways to show NDSU pride.
The story behind the NDSU Tartan
Every thread in these new accessories carries a rich history that began right here on campus.
The idea to create an official NDSU tartan took root in the fall of 2010, when the university launched a new branding effort and the Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Interior Design and Hospitality Management (now Apparel, Retail Merchandising & Design) wanted to be part of that conversation. Faculty envisioned a project that would give students across all three department majors a hands-on learning opportunity — while also raising money for student scholarships and faculty research.
The tartan isn't just a symbol — it's a living classroom tool. Each spring semester, students enrolled in ADHM 272: Product Development complete a project using the Official NDSU Tartan, conducting market and trend research and creating product concepts presented to the buying team at the NDSU Bookstore. Many of those student ideas become real products available for purchase.
In one remarkable chapter of the tartan's story, NDSU took the "made locally" concept to new heights. Rambouillet sheep at the Hettinger Research Extension Center were shorn to provide approximately 1,800 pounds of wool — tested at 22.5 microns for exceptional softness and warmth — which was then hand-dyed and woven into Official NDSU Tartan blankets by Faribault Woolen Mill. The result: an entirely American-made, NDSU-grown product that alumni could pass down as an heirloom.
Supporting students, one sale at a time
Every tartan product purchase does more than display Bison pride. Royalties from tartan sales flow directly into a scholarship fund supporting students in the Department of Apparel, Retail Merchandising & Design. Since the first $1,000 scholarship was awarded in fall 2013, more than $11,000 in scholarship support has been provided to students in the program.
The addition of the new Timeless Tartans accessories continues that tradition — meaning that when someone wears the NDSU Tartan tie to a graduation or wraps a silk scarf around their shoulders, they're also helping fund the next generation of NDSU designers, merchandisers, and hospitality professionals.
Shop the full Tartan Collection
The NDSU Bookstore carries the complete Official NDSU Tartan product line, including the new tie and scarves, as well as fabric by the yard, a bow tie, tartan flag, wool blanket, glassware and more.
For more information about the Official NDSU Tartan and its history, visit the Department of Apparel, Retail Merchandising & Design’s website.