Fisherwoman’s Striped Skirt
Nairn Museum

This long, pleated skirt with dark blue, grey, red, and white vertical stripes was typical of the clothing worn by the fisherwomen of Nairn’s Fishertown. Women in different fishing communities often wore a similar outfit, a bit like a uniform. They were expected be well presented and clean. 

Fish have been an in important source of food in the Highlands since prehistoric times.

During the nineteenth century, ‘Fishertouns’ sprang up in places like Nairn to provide food for the nearby towns and villages. Women played an important role in the industry, working long hours, often in harsh conditions.