Scottish Tartan vs American Plaid

[Vegan Scot]

Not sure where this belongs; mods, move if need be...

I had a friend ask me today what the difference between tartan and "plaid" was and when tartan began to be used as a design for "western" or "cowboy" shirts here in the US. I didn't have a very good answer for the first question and none at all for the second. Anyone shed some light on this for me to pass along (and for myself)?

[Jock Scot]

I think:-

Scotland:
Tartan=Tartan.
Plaid=Cloth(tweed/tartan type) that you wear as an outer blanket.

USA:
Tartan=Tartan.
Plaid= Tartan.

I can't answer the shirt question.

[figheadair]

I think:-

Scotland:
Tartan=Tartan.
Plaid=Cloth(tweed/tartan type) that you wear as an outer blanket.

USA:
Tartan=Tartan.
Plaid= Tartan.

I can't answer the shirt question.

I'm not sure about shirts either but there are a number of picture of native Americans wearing tartan (plaid) shirts in the 1880-90s.

[Tobus]

when tartan began to be used as a design for "western" or "cowboy" shirts here in the US.

I'm pretty sure it was the 1970s that 'plaid' flannel shirts caught on in the US, although I'm fairly certain that some lighter plaids (i.e. not very bold patterns) were used in western shirts even in the 1960s.

[figheadair]

Here's one from the 1920-30s which is the earliest example I could find on a quick dander through Goggle - http://www.vintagepostcards.org/auct...ronco-rppc.jpg

[macwilkin]

Woolrich, a supplier of outdoor kit since the 1830s, claims that the "Buffalo Check" shirt was introduced sometime in the late 1800s:

http://www.woolrich.com/woolrich/company/aboutUs.jsp

T.

[Pyper]

In the USA, all tartans are plaid, but not all plaids are tartan. In almost every tartan, the warp and the weft are the same (so your tartan is the same vertical and horizontal). Many plaid fabrics do not have the same warp and weft.

Take a look here for a bunch of plaid fabrics, most of which would not be mistaken for any tartan:
http://www.thefabricfinder.com/PlaidFabrics.htm

Here's one telling of the history of your flannel shirt:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5022110_hi...el-shirts.html

[Lallans]

I'm a language gawker- I tend to study how words are used in everyday life. Based on my own experience, "a plaid" is the draped Scottish wear item. Used that way, the term is uniquely Scottish and NEVER used by anyone who is not kilted or with one in the family.

When used over here in NA, "plaid" is typically an adjective, as in "a plaid shirt" and so on. The word "tartan" is never used that way, tartan means a Scottish family design. I believe this is in line with what was already stated, just can't help myself from commenting on the word thing.

[Vegan Scot]

Woolrich, a supplier of outdoor kit since the 1830s, claims that the "Buffalo Check" shirt was introduced sometime in the late 1800s:

http://www.woolrich.com/woolrich/company/aboutUs.jsp

T.

In the USA, all tartans are plaid, but not all plaids are tartan. In almost every tartan, the warp and the weft are the same (so your tartan is the same vertical and horizontal). Many plaid fabrics do not have the same warp and weft.

Take a look here for a bunch of plaid fabrics, most of which would not be mistaken for any tartan:
http://www.thefabricfinder.com/PlaidFabrics.htm

Here's one telling of the history of your flannel shirt:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5022110_hi...el-shirts.html

Thanks for the links and history lesson! I guess it makes obvious sense that people coming from the UK to the US would bring their own styles of clothing with them, and it makes sense also that those styles might eventually become bastardized to a similar but entirely different style.

I'm curious if there's any real difference of utility (thread count, textile, etc) or aesthetic which would separate "plaid" from tartan as well.

[Lallans]

Thanks for the links and history lesson! I guess it makes obvious sense that people coming from the UK to the US would bring their own styles of clothing with them, and it makes sense also that those styles might eventually become bastardized to a similar but entirely different style.

I'm curious if there's any real difference of utility (thread count, textile, etc) or aesthetic which would separate "plaid" from tartan as well.

While far from being an authority on fabrics, I do believe the only difference is defined by the dictionary, with Oxford vs Webster in the main bout for supremacy.