Tartan vs Plaid – A Detailed Comparison

There are many instances when you are drawn to the crossing of tartan. Perhaps you have Scottish ancestry or enjoy watching Outlander. However, plaid and tartan are two materials that are sometimes misunderstood for one another. They both have woven designs with two or more colors crossing each other. While the term "plaid" refers to the crisscrossing pattern, tartan refers to the Scottish plaid pattern. We hope that this Tartan versus plaid article clears up any misconceptions you may have.

In this post, we'll look at the main characteristics of tartan and plaid. You'll also discover the main differences and similarities between tartan and plaid. Let us begin on that note.

Tartan vs Plaid – What is Plaid Fabric?

Plaid is typically used to describe a woven design with vertical and horizontal threads crossing one other. Plaid refers to various crisscrossing woven patterns for many types of clothing. Sometimes you'll see plaid designs on cotton, flannel, or wool.

The term plaid first appeared in Scottish history as an alternate name for a blanket. Archaeologists have discovered a fabric with the plaid design dating back to the Dark Ages. The crossing pattern associated with plaid was originally noticed in the Scottish highlands. A wave of Scottish immigration later carried this cloth to America, where it immediately became popular.

In the early nineteenth century, a firm devised a clever marketing strategy that gave plaid a uniquely American edge. The corporation used a photo of Paul Bunya sporting a plaid shirt to make it more appealing to the general audience. The term plaid refers to a wide range of tartan, checkered, and crisscrossing designs such as buffalo plaid.

Plaid is a distinct cultural symbol of resistance and counter-cultural flair. By wearing tartan in the highlands, plaid became a key component of the punk clothing. Boys were frequently seen wearing unbuttoned plaid shirts. This allowed them to become an important part of the center.

Tartan vs Plaid – What is Tartan Fabric?

It's critical to comprehend tartan cloth in this tartan vs plaid comparison. It's a plaid pattern whose name and history are linked to a Scottish family. Clan tartans are typically found in online databases and historical archives as distinctive designs. In America, tartan and plaid are frequently used interchangeably. In Scotland, plaid originally referred to a piece of clothing, whereas tartan referred to the woven design.

It's possible that the iconic Scottish kilt evolved from the use of tartan blankets. You could wrap the blanket around your shoulders. As a result, the Scottish began to refer to it as plaids. Plaids have several meanings in Scotland. Tartan, on the other hand, is known as plaid in America. The farmhouse style was one of the factors that contributed to the revival of the plaid pattern in recent years. Plaid pyjamas were another popular usage of the plaid pattern.

Tartan vs Plaid – History of Tartan and Plaid

In the Scottish Highlands, most clans had a specific weaver who designed fabrics for the community. With the passage of time, the weavers expanded their inventiveness and created distinctive plaid designs for the men in their town to wear. These plaid motifs functioned as a neighborhood identify as well as a team uniform.

Initially, weavers utilized natural dyes to generate their colors. Weavers can make intricate sets using this way. The fundamental distinction between tartan designs was the recurring crisscross patterns. It's possible that the name "tartan" came from the French word "tartaine," which means "checked cloth."

The Scottish tartan is associated with their quest for independence. Throughout history, Scotland has struggled to become an independent nation. During the conflicts, Scotsmen would wear their clan tartans as a form of identification. The popularity of clan tartans faded after the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite revolt at the Battle of Culloden. As part of the Disarming Act, England prohibited the wearing of certain tartans, thus repressing centuries of history and culture.

Despite the sorrow associated with these clan tartans, the tartan design was clearly meaningful. It was a cultural emblem, and the ban lasted more than three decades before being successfully lifted in 1782. However, at this time, the majority of Scottish families had already immigrated to America, seeking the freedom they had lost at home.

Does Every Scottish Family have a Tartan?

Although most people believe that every original Scottish family has a tartan design, this is not necessarily the case. People of Scottish heritage would wear the tartan associated with their mother's maiden name in such instances. Sports teams, Scottish areas, and corporations can now simply register a tartan pattern to represent themselves. The tartan might then be worn to indicate support for favorite brands and sports teams. Over 25,000 tartans have been registered, according to records. So, if you have a Scottish ancestry, you may come upon one that is significant to your family.

Tartan vs Plaid: The Difference

The fundamental distinction between these two materials resides in their relationship. Plaid refers to woven designs with crisscrossing vertical and horizontal lines, whereas tartan refers to distinctive patterns linked with an organization or a single clan. As a result, the word "tartan plaid" is commonly used because most tartans are technically a type of plaid.

Wearing a highland clothing with tartan colors was the greatest way for most males to identify as a member of a clan in the 16th century. It was the greatest approach to portray highland culture. Tartan plaid is now utilized in a variety of clothing items like as sporrans, kilts, coats, and so on. Most people, however, only wear it for special occasions and cultural events.

Simply explained, the main distinction between plaid and tartan is a cultural one. Although the standard plaid design is attractive, it does not necessary represent anything. Tartan, on the other hand, always has a historical or cultural significance.

Tartan Plaid Names and Colors

In the 16th century, wearing highland clothes with tartan colors was the best way for most males to identify as a member of a clan. It was the best way to depict highland culture. Tartan plaid is currently used in a range of clothing items, such as sporrans, kilts, and coats. However, most individuals only wear it for rare occasions and cultural events.

Simply put, the primary contrast between plaid and tartan is cultural. Although the usual plaid style is appealing, it is not required to represent anything. Tartan, on the other hand, is always associated with something historical or cultural.

Tartans by Surname

In Scotland, your surname indicates the clan you are a member of. However, when lesser clans display their allegiance to larger strong clans, this link to surname becomes more complicated. This frequently indicates that surnames vary throughout time. Furthermore, because each clan has its own tartan pattern, your surname may also be the name of your tartan plaid. Clan Fraser is an example of tartan vs plaid. This clan has various different tartans bearing their name, such as the Frazer of Lovat, Fraser Red, and Fraser Hunting.

For generations, most households wore woven clothing. However, tartans gained appeal among British and Scottish people following George IV's visit to Scotland in the 1800s. No English Monarch had ever visited Scotland before, and his encounter with the tartan sparked the Georgian infatuation. This event motivated Queen Victoria to travel to Scotland and commission a one-of-a-kind creation for the royal family. She purchased the Balmoral caste and decorated it with this tartan design. This design included a variety of patterns such as the Hunting Stewart and Dress Stewart.

If you have Scottish ancestors, you can use an internet database to see if you have a tartan design. However, due to surname spelling, you may not discover the tartan design. Because most surname spellings vary over time, it's usually best to perform genealogy research before going online.

Some organizations created a new registration system for clan tartans to make it much easier to discover your surname's tartan plaid. The Scottish Register of Tartans is the most official registry you can use right now to find your clan tartan.

Tartan Plaids by Colors

Colors, like names, have cultural designs, and you can tell the colors of each family tartan by looking through their meticulously curated records. When researching tartan records, you will notice that they employed muted colors, current colors, and old colors. Furthermore, there were specific words used to describe the sort of dye employed by the weavers to create the tartan design.

Chemical, brilliant, or synthetic dyes are used in the majority of current colors. This approach aided in the creation of brilliant green, red, and blue colors, which are commonly utilized in the design of kilts. Ancient colors, on the other hand, symbolized the natural dyes used by the first highland weavers in their creations. While they generated the same hues as current colors, they were lighter and less vivid.

Muted hues did not emerge till the late twentieth century. People were interested in reproducing the tartan plaid's original hue. As a result, muted colors were a more recent attempt to replicate the old colors connected with the style.

Tartan vs Plaid – Who is Allowed to Wear a Clan Tartan?

Tartan designs are typically associated with specific groups of individuals, such as the British Royal family. However, there are various tartan plaids available that anyone, including those without Scottish ancestry, can wear. There are also unique tartan designs developed by weavers for general wear. You can celebrate Scottish heritage without feeling guilty by using them.

Today, there are various tartan patterns that once had a distinct representation but are no longer uniform. The Black Watch tartan, for example, belonged to the Scotsmen military group used by the British to police Scotland. However, this black and green tartan plaid can be seen in a variety of garments for general use. Despite the tartan's appeal, cultural appropriation must be avoided. If you are not of Scottish descent, you should only wear them to special occasions.

Final Thoughts

Tartan is one of the many styles of plaid patterns available. The fundamental distinction between tartan and plaid is that tartan is a one-of-a-kind design that always has a cultural meaning. Plaid, on the other hand, refers to woven patterns with intersecting vertical and horizontal lines.

A plaid shirt with tartan motifs or buffalo checks is easy to find. Plaid designs are found all across the world, including India and Scotland. However, you may now wear them in a variety of ways, including pajamas, kilts, and even summer shorts.