International man of tartan, Philip D. Smith, Jr., PhD., has recently designed a tartan design for Martha’s Vineyard.

The tartan was to be introduced by Dr. Smith at the National Tartan Day Conference held on Tartan Day, April 6.

Dr. Smith’s expertise in the oeuvre of plaid lies in both talking the talk and walking the walk. He has designed over 120 tartans and authored over 60 books on the subject.

The Vineyard colors are described as “blue for the sea, white for the surf, green for the Islands and black for all Vineyard men and women lost at sea.”

Dr. Smith currently lives in Cookeville, Tenn. but his Island roots run deep. He is a direct descendant of John Smith, one of the original Vineyard settlers.