Tartan
is a woolen fabric on which there are many patterns which are
horizontal and vertical and are in different colors. In the beginning
tartans were fabricated in the woven cloths but now they are used in
many and different materials which shows its popularity. Tartan was
produced for the very first time in Scotland in the 16th century. The
popularity of tartans increases with fabrication of kilts. Kilts are
usually made with tartans on it. In North America tartan is also known
as plaid.
Now tartans are mostly associated with Scotland but the main origin of tartan is undefined and unknown to most people. Some people say that it was invented and constructed in Scotland and many say that it was first fabricated by the British. According to the expert textile historian E.J.W Barber, the Hallstatt culture produced tartan like fabric in 100 BC to 400 BC. Many among them were recently founded and discovered and are now preserved in Austria. The traces of tartan like fabric is found in the Western China where a 3000 year old mummy is found having tartan like legging. Similar findings were made in the central Europe.
The Falkirk tartan dates from the 3rd century AD. It was discovered in Stirlingshire at Falkirk, Scotland. The Falkirk tartan is a very simple design having checks. The wool used is dark in color. Before the 16th century there was no sign and no traces of tartan in Scotland. But in 17th and 18th century the tartan occurred and gained its popularity. It is also said that the Scottish tartans were used to distinguish between the people of different regions. In Scotland people of different regions wear different cloths due to which they can be recognized. And each family possesses a unique color and designs and setts to recognize the family member.
The popularity of the tartan fabric increased when the George IV visited Edinburgh in the year 1822. He was the first monarch to visit Scotland in the last 171 years. A great event and festival was arranged and everyone was attending the festival wearing the tartan array which was the reason of the increased popularity of the tartan. Queen Victoria with her husband went to Scottish Highlands and hires an architect to re-design the estate. And there the Prince Albert himself made a great use of tartan. The queen designed the Victoria and prince designed the Balmoral tartan which is still used as a royal tartan.