Tartan is a pattern of Dressmaking Fabric that consists of several different colours that are arranged in criss-crossed horizontal lines. Tartan Dressmaking Fabric was made from wool, but is now also manufactured using a range of other synthetic fibres such as polyster and nylon.
The word ‘Tartan’ is derived from the French word meaning ‘woven cloth’ (tirer), due to the way in which it is made. The wool is woven at different angles to each other, which creates the various patterns you can see in all the different Tartan patterns.
Tartan is most famously associated with Scotland, and it is the Scottish kilts that often display different Tartan patterns, which are often individually designed for families or ‘clans’. There are presently several thousand known designs of Tartan, and there are also many that are recognized as being officially registered to a clan, and are used to identify members of that clan.
Tartan is not only popular in Scottish culture for making kilts, it is also becoming another Fashion Print Dressmaking Fabric with many uses:
- Clothing – Womens and mens clothing garments often incorporate Tartan Dressmaking Fabrics, and is often used in fashion accessories such as ladies scarves, and is now printed on various different fabrics including Chiffon, Satin and Jersey materials.
- Household Furnishing – Tartan is becoming popular in home decor, and is commonly used as a design for cushion covers and other accessories.