Plaids,Tartans & Checks

Plaids, Tartans & Checks.
These are three words that show up together. We use them interchangeably too. What do they mean? ‘Plaids’ were originally referred to heavy woolen clothes used as a blanket or slung over the shoulders by the Scots. They had the ‘Tartan’ as a pattern in them.‘Tartans’ are weaves of criss crossing patterns woven at right angles in two or more colours.

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan#/media/File:Highland_soldier_1744.jpg
Plaids & Tartans: Plaid, as we know it emerged in Scotland in the 1700s. Weavers, in different locations produced different patterns depending on their choice, the natural dyes available in their areas and the raw material available.They became a symbol of Scottish identity & unity.

Source:https://www.scotiana.com/from-walter-scotts-black-white-tartan-design-to-famous-scottish-clans-tartans-card-set/
In the 18th Century, with Scottish immigration Tartan crossed the sea to the New World & Plaid & tartan became synonymous. Coming to America: Jock McCluskey, is said to have made “Plaid” popular in the USA. He travelled from Scotland to Canada to find work. It is said he established trade with the Sioux Indians by bartering pelts in exchange for the Red & Black Tartan blankets of his clan. This is the pattern we call “THE BUFFALO PLAID”. The Iconic ‘Buffalo Check’ shirt: In 1850, the WOOLWICH WOLLEN MILLS launched the iconic Red 7 Black ‘Buffalo Check” Shirt.It served as the uniform of the pioneers & the working-class lumberjacks carving out a new frontier. It is part of the Woolwich logo & the legacy of the Plaid continues to this day -171 years after it was first launched.

Source: https://www.woolrich.com/us/en/woolrich-history/brand-history.html
Checks & plaids: So, while Plaids were originally made only of wool & had a heavier twill weave, they are made from various fibres today. So, what’s the difference? Checks have 2 colours& a variety & the stripes have the same warp & weft pattern. They are always symmetrical. Plaids have more than 2 colours and a variety in the stripe layout. The warp & weft pattern can be the same or different. Some common Plaid & Check pattens in use today.

Source: https://mystylebox.ca/pages/patterns-and-prints
Perhaps one of the most recognizable patterns in the world is the NOVA CHECK.It is a Scottish Tartan design with a beige base, accented by a black, red & white. It was patented by BURBERRY in the 1920s.

Source: https://wallpaperaccess.com/burberry-logo

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Vijayalakshmi Nachiar is Co-Founder Ethicus.