A couple observations:

1) To my mind a tartan that is not woven into cloth is a non-starter. It's a pretty design on a piece of paper, akin to the loads of designs that are created on the Scotweb website. I've always appreciated that the STA requires a woven sample for inclusion in their database.

2) I think that most tartan designs that are not affiliated with active clan societies, branches of the military, or countries/provinces/states will naturally slip into oblivion for lack of interest.

3) I think that there will still be a clear distinction between those tartans that have been traditionally and historically associated with a highland clan or a lowland/border family and other "non-clan" tartans. I think the traditional clan tartans, in part due to their ready availability from the mills, will continue to be the most popular, although some fashion tartans (e.g. Isle of Skye) will find widespread acceptance.

Cordially,

David