Regional Highlands wear for women in the 18th century

An arisaid was a popular form of regional dress for women in the Scottish Highlands during the 18th century. They were seldom brightly coloured, often combining a plain white or cream ground with alternating bars of red, yellow, blue, and black.

Typically composed of two lengths of heavy plaiding material joined by a central seam, the wearer could comfortably enclose themselves within its ample folds to stave off the cold and damp. Many had a second life as household textiles, reused as blankets and bedding. It was common practice for owners to sew their initials into their arisaid.