TARTAN

The power of Tartan as an enduring symbol of Scotland’s heritage and national identity cannot be understated. Tartan is instantly recognisable and holds a unique connection to any with Scottish lineage – a visual tribute to ancestry and tradition. Made from tartan, Highland dress is one of the most distinctive national costumes in the world.  Adapted for evening wear it makes a stylish alternative to black tie for Scots and those of Scottish descent.

Tartan’s roots lie in the tradition of local weavers producing their own distinctive pattern, known as a ‘sett’. In early years, the colours used to weave each tartan were frequently kept secret, known only to local weavers. Over time, clans came to adopt their own tartans, which eventually became their symbol. It’s said that, just as a wine taster can age and match thousands of wines and vineyards, a practiced eye can identify the island from which hails any one of over 2,200 recognised tartans.

Tartan is a complex weave of colours in wool. Different coloured wool yarns cross each other, forming intermediate shades. Using six yarns will produce a total of around 21 different colours – pure tones where yarns of a single colour cross each other and complementary half tones where each colour crosses another. The arrangement of colours has the appearance of a number of squares intersected by criss-crossed stripes; this is the 'sett’. Variations are achieved by varying the colours, width, depth and number of stripes.  By repeating the pattern or sett over and over again, a length of tartan is created. Such is the cachet and allure of tartan that many hundreds of businesses, sports teams, cities, military organisations, schools, universities and even North American states have created their own. Famous Scottish whiskies and distilleries such as Glenlivet, Glemorangie and The Macallan boast a tartan. In 2009 the Scottish Register of Tartans was launched, maintained by the Keeper of the Records of Scotland in Edinburgh's National Archives to help promote and preserve tartan and provide a definitive reference source for existing recorded tartans and a system for recognising new ones.