A duck that won the hearts of Scotland fans after backing the Tartan Army is set to become a global fashion sensation. Dawn the Duck, also known as Dawny, joined supporters in a bagpipe parade in Providence, Rhode Island, last weekend, stealing the show by sporting a Saltire flag on her back.
Inspiration for Merchandise
The sight of Dawn wearing the Scottish flag inspired Glasgow photographer Brian Anderson to design a t-shirt featuring a caricature of Dawn with a traffic cone over her head, whom he now calls Dawn McQuack. Sales have gone through the roof, with orders from across the world, including one to a well-known Scots Hollywood star whom Brian has declined to name.
Brian said: 'Like thousands of others, I was instantly inspired by the duck. What started as a quick character design quickly became something much bigger. The response has been incredible.'
Global Demand
Orders began arriving from across Scotland, then England, then further afield. 'Before long, customers from Boston, New York and across America were buying Dawn McQuack merchandise. The support has genuinely blown me away,' Brian added.
The t-shirt is one of a number Brian sells as part of his Gallus Collective brand, which also includes hoodies and hats. They all feature Scottish-themed photographs Brian has taken over the years, such as Billy Connolly's banana boots. He has in the past sold t-shirts to Scots singer Sandy Thom, Mick MacNeill of Simple Minds, and Jules Gizzi of the rock band Gun.
Expansion Opportunities
In the last few days, Brian has had talks with former Timberland boss Stephen Craig and Anthony Donnelly of fashion brand Gio Goi over expanding his Gallus Collective wear. Both have been in touch since the launch of the duck t-shirt.
Dawn joined the Tartan Army after some fans decided to base themselves in Providence, which is about 25 miles from Boston Stadium where Steve Clarke's side played their first two games. Dawn is well known as a 'rally duck' and rose to fame in 2024 when she attended a match of the Providence College Friars basketball team in the city. However, she was soon banned from the stadium over animal welfare concerns. But Dawn still frequently attends events across Providence and has over 30,000 followers on Instagram.
Brian added: 'Gallus is a Scottish term meaning bold, confident and full of self-belief. Dawn embodies every bit of that spirit. The demand for the t-shirt has been extraordinary, and opportunities are opening up that only a few weeks ago would have seemed impossible.'
