Tartan and my own work.

Tartans that relate to my work ....

Greens and Blues - http://lauradivenereinteriors.blogspot.com/2012/01/scotland-style-its-plaid-plaid-world.html

Although my work at the moment doesn't directly replicate Tartan, the colours you can find within Tartan have. What I have learnt from looking at lots of different Tartan is that you can get a good idea of what colours work together or in your own opinion work well. It's a much more interesting way of matching colours then just blobbing bits of paint on a piece of paper.

I hope to look further into the techincal side of creating Tartan from designing on the computer to weaving it on a loom.

Here are a couple of books and other websites that have helped me with my blog....

Collins Gem Guide (1991) Clans and tartans  2nd Ed. Harper Collins Publisher.

Banks, Jeffrey and De la Chapele, Doria. (2007) Tartan Romancing the Plaid. Rizzoli International Publications Inc.

http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/tartan-history.html - last accessed 27.02.2012

Traditional to Contemporary in today's market.

It's not only the fashion world that use tartan in their creations. You will also see it in the home, in or on the car and certainly on a picnic.

Whilst searching to for all things Tartan I came across this ....

 

Tartan Mini Cooper - http://www.worldcarfans.com/10602037881/mini-wears-bisazza

It's definetly eye catching. When I think of Tartan and a car, I actually thinking more along the lines of a blanket that you would keep in their for picnic etc. My Tartan search continues with looking for a classic Tartan blanket and a Contemporary one too.

Traditional V's Contemporary - http://www.bambooshoot.co.uk/avoca_lambswool_throw_blanket.html http://www.lindaclifford.com/Throws.html

On the left I chose a traditonal blanket in terms of colour and for the same reason the image on the right has a more contemporary feel due to the colour combination.

 

A little OTT!! - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1079718/Witty-bit-wild-tartans-checks-weave-way-latest-home-looks.html

 Wow there is alot of Tartan going on in this one room. Tartan wallpaper, throw and duvet. If only the lampshade was Tartan too, that would really finish off the room. This gives me my next item to search for...

Beautiful Tartan - http://www.sprucelondon.com/press/lampshade-update

I have fallen in love with this beautiful lampshade, the use of colours in the tartan work wonderfully together. The beige softens the blue and red and the black defines the whole check.

Now other then the car I want to find the wierdest tartan item I can!

Tartan Crazy Cuos - http://vickihorton7.wordpress.com/2009/12/12/travel-the-tartan-road-home/

  I feel these are certainly up there in the weird stacks.

Whilst walking around my own home I noted down all the Tartan items, I found I had a lot more then I realised, they include a scarf, 1 small luggage bag, my dad's bowls bag, inside of a rain mack and several shirts.

Where can we find tartan in todays world???

There are several well known fashion designers who use Tartan in their collections.

In my opinion I would say that Burberry and Vivienne Westwood are the biggest and most well recognised of the bunch.

Burberry have been using their signature tartan since the 1920's. The tartan was used as the lining of the Burberry trench coat, this becoming one of their most popular items. In the 1990's the Burberry check became very popular and therefore imitation Burberry Checked items hit the market and were being worn by a clientele that was less then appealing to the Burberry brand. The want for fake Burberry has lowered in recent year, giving Burberry the chance to regain the check and use it once more.



True Burberry Check - http://uk.burberry.com/store/mens-accessories/iconic-checks/#haymarket=true

Vivienne Westwood uses a more traditional looking Tartan in terms of colour with her collection. The items themselves are far from traditional. "The tartans were made to order by Locharron of Scotland, who also created a special design for Westwood called the 'McAndreas', after her second husband, Andreas Kronthaler." - http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1231_vivienne_westwood/changing_styles_11.html

Perfect Vivienne Westwood example - http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1231_vivienne_westwood/changing_styles_11.html

 A few more designers and brands include :-

• Alexander Mcqueen
• Jean Paul Gaultier
• Hollister
• Jack Wills

The list goes on as you will always find a little tartan somewhere as it never goes out of fashion!!!

My love of Tartan for all to see...

As a part of my Textile degree at NUCA we had to chose as woven fabric to write about and I excitingly decided that Tartan was the woven fabric for me.

My love for Tartan stems from living in the countryside and seeing it on lots of the traditional country clothing, blankets and many more items. However my earliest memory is getting a kilt from my Grandparents after they returned from a trip to scotland and wanting to wear it all the time.

I feel it's best to start with a little bit of the history behind the Tartan.

It is thought that Tartan dates back as far as the 5-6th c.B.C but as far as an actual samples goes, the earliest is 3rd c A.D - The Falkirk Tartan.



Falkirk Tartan - http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/

We then skip forward several years and the next time Tartan gets into the history book is when it is banned in 1746 until 1782.The Act that had the Tartan banned from being worn and produced in Scotland was lifted, the tradtional highland attire was restored and worn once again. By the 19th Century tartan had spread to the lowlands as well and now becoming a symbol of Scotland.

How traditional Tartan was worn.....

Belted plaid :- a large piece of woven tartan fabric that is worn as per the picture below.
Wrapped around and flung over the shoulder and held together with a belt.

 

Philabeg :- this is the traditional form of a kilt, but only held together with a belt rather then stitched and properly tailored like a modern day kilt.

Kilt :- what people think of when they hear the word Tartan. A tailored skirt made from tartan fabric. 

Trews : - basically just a pair of tartan trousers.