The Design Story
On April 29, 2025, Artfarm’s Fish Shop opened its doors in Washington, DC, marking a new chapter in the restaurant's story. This acclaimed Scottish seafood restaurant first made its mark in Ballater, nestled in Royal Deeside, and has now brought its ethos of sustainability, craftsmanship, and fresh, responsibly sourced seafood to The Wharf in Washington, DC. This is not the first collaboration between Artfarm and Araminta Campbell - it is the third. Araminta’s bespoke textile designs can also be found at The Fife Arms in Braemar and Mount St Restaurant in London’s Mayfair, making the Fish Shop tartan part of a continuing creative partnership.
The journey began in Ballater, Scotland, where the original Fish Shop is nestled in the heart of Royal Deeside. Known for its fresh, sustainably sourced seafood and warm hospitality, the restaurant’s ethos is one of celebrating the simple beauty of the sea and the traditions that sustain it. As the concept expanded across the Atlantic, Araminta Campbell was commissioned to design a bespoke tartan that would embody this spirit.
Araminta Birse-Stewart, Founder & Creative Director
The Fish Shop tartan’s colour palette is inspired by the world of fishing – both its rugged reality and its quiet poetry. Deep blue-greys and soft blues capture the ever-changing moods of the sea, while warm fawn and gold reflect the age-worn hues of fishing twine and the sunlit decks of weathered boats. Flecks of silvery grey recall the flash of fish caught in the nets, while a distinctive red stripe pays homage to the iconic markings of fishing vessels across the globe.
The tartan’s structure is a nod to the woven textures of ropes, nets, and lines – integral tools of the fishing trade. Drawing inspiration from the historic Deeside tartan, the design grounds the cloth in the geography of Royal Deeside. Subtle yet significant, the dark blue check, made with 23 threads, marks the founding of the original Fish Shop in 2023, creating a bridge between past and present.
True to Araminta Campbell’s ethos, the tartan was produced in partnership with artisan mills in rural Scotland. We believe in the importance of supporting Scotland’s textile industry, and projects like the Fish Shop tartan are a testament to this commitment. Working with artisan mills allows these time-honoured weaving skills to thrive, and seeing their exceptional craftsmanship showcased in an international setting like Washington, DC, is a proud moment.
We are immensely proud to collaborate so closely with our Scottish mill partners, ensuring that high-end, luxury Scottish textiles can reach a global audience. Each piece of the Fish Shop tartan is a product of skilled hands, a true heirloom textile that tells a story as rich and enduring as the sea itself.
Today, the bespoke tartan graces the interiors of Fish Shop in Washington, DC, a subtle but powerful symbol of the restaurant’s transatlantic heritage. Woven into the fabric of the space -quite literally – it is a reminder that true craftsmanship knows no borders.
The bespoke tartan forms a dramatic feature wall, where the cloth is carefully draped and ruched to create a rich, textural installation – a flowing sea of fabric that echoes the movement of waves. This artistic use transforms the tartan from a traditional textile into a sculptural focal point, celebrating the beauty of its colours and textures.
The tartan also appears on the chairs, offering a subtler but equally meaningful touch. Here, it becomes a quiet, elegant nod to the restaurant’s Scottish heritage, creating a cohesive and immersive design narrative. To book your table and visit the exquisite new Fish Shop in DC head to their website here.
Our custom design waitlist is now open. If you would like to learn more about our bespoke design service, please visit our Custom Design page.
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