Giant Caribbean-inspired puppets set to tower over Merchant City Festival crowds this summer

Two giant puppets inspired by an unexpected connection between Scottish tartan and Caribbean culture are set to take to the streets of Glasgow as the Merchant City Festival returns bigger than ever this summer. 

Created by Glasgow artist Noel Bridgeman, the five-metre-tall characters will make their debut during the festival's Opening Day of Dance on July 24. 

The puppets are inspired by the Wob Dwiyet, Dominica's national dress, and draw on the French and British Caribbean tradition of Miss Wob Dwiyet. Featuring colourful Madras fabric, elaborate headwear and flowing skirts, the costumes tell a little-known story linking Scotland's textile heritage with traditional dress worn across parts of the Caribbean. 

While the fabric's origins are rooted in colonial trade routes linking Scotland, India and the Caribbean, it later became an important part of Caribbean cultural identity and remains widely worn during festivals, celebrations and traditional performances today. Variations of the Wob Dwiyet remain part of the national dress of countries including Dominica and Saint Lucia. 

Merchant City Festival returns across two weekends from July 24-26 and July 31-August 2, with more than double the number of events and performers compared to last year thanks to support from the Glasgow 2026 Festival. 

For Noel, who was born in Glasgow to Dominican and Barbadian parents, the commission offered an opportunity to celebrate his heritage while exploring the historical connections between Scotland's tartans and the use of Madras fabrics throughout the Caribbean. 

Noel Bridgeman, founder of Bridgeman Arts, said: "When people see the puppets, I hope they're struck by how beautiful and vibrant they are and become curious about the story behind them. 

"The Wob Dwiyet remains an important part of Dominican culture today and these characters are inspired by a tradition that is still very much alive. 

"The costumes tell a story about identity, heritage and cultural exchange. There are fascinating links between Scottish textiles and the Madras fabrics that became part of Caribbean culture, but many people don't realise that history exists." 

The giant puppets are based on traditional Miss Wob Dwiyet figures and will be joined by costumed roller skaters and street performers as part of a specially commissioned opening day spectacle. The troupe represents a community stepping proudly into the public eye, dressed in their finest attire and sharing their story through performance. 

Noel spent almost five months creating the characters alongside creative partner Jackie MacDonald, using modern materials and techniques to build highly detailed puppets designed to interact with audiences as they move through the festival. 

Every stripe and line of the giant puppets' Madras costumes was recreated entirely by hand and scaled up from traditional Dominican fabric patterns. The puppets were constructed from mixed materials in Bridgeman Arts' Glasgow studio, while performer costumes were designed in collaboration with local clothing producer Tar10 Threads, Jackie MacDonald. 

He said: "It was really important that people from Dominica would recognise these characters immediately. 

"We've had people from the Caribbean see photographs of them already and say, 'Those are Dominicans'. That's exactly what I wanted." 

Noel has spent more than two decades creating large-scale carnival art and public performances across Glasgow and says there is something timeless about giant puppets. 

He explained: "There's something magical about seeing a character several metres tall walking through a crowd. 

"The best part is seeing them come to life for the first time and watching people interact with them. After months of work in the studio, that's when everything becomes worthwhile." 

Merchant City Festival returns to Glasgow from July 24-August 2 with an expanded programme of street theatre, live music, dance, circus, family activities and cultural performances across the city centre. 

For the first time, The Briggait will serve as a central festival hub, hosting street food, DJs and interactive family activities as part of the expanded programme.  

The expanded Festival also includes mid-week, live big screen Commonwealth Games sport viewing and free family activities in Candleriggs Festival Village supported by VisitScotland.