The Higgins School of Highland Dance Tartans, created in celebration of the school’s 15th anniversary, are a heartfelt tribute to the heritage and community that have shaped HSHD. The designs draw inspiration from a blend of tartans that reflect the school's roots and its connection to the region, as well as to Kathleen's family history in Cape Breton and Ontario. The tartans weave together elements of local tartans and symbols of Nova Scotia, embodying the deep ties between the school, its location, and the province.
The predominant blue symbolizes the waters of Dartmouth—its lakes and the nearby ocean—while the warm yellow and red echoes the Nova Scotia tartan. The colours are also inspired by the Cape Breton tartan, the Ontario provincial tartan, the Dartmouth City of Lakes tartan, the Heritage of Halifax tartan, and the Royal Banner of Scotland and Nova Scotia’s provincial flag. A stripe of purple honors HSHD’s original brand colour, which has evolved alongside the school’s growth, alongside the current colours of blue, white, black, and yellow in HSHD’s new branding.
The tartans are not just a design but a symbol of the school's enduring spirit, its history, and its ongoing connection to the place it calls home.
School kilts designed by Jenna Holz, of Flying Shuttle Kiltmaking, in consultation with Kathleen Higgins. A school set of kilts will be available for HSHD dancers to borrow for competition (Pre-Premier levels only), performances & events.