Scottish Clans Tartans

A guide to the surnames of Scotland with each entry covering the history, land areas, castles and tartans. Includes 240 tartans and maps.

"Produced in association with the Scottish Tartans, this [book] focuses on the history of the world famous Scottish tartan. [It includes] over 100 clans presented with their tartan, crest, motto and Gaelic clan name; the history of tartan and how it plays its part in the traditional national dress."--Book flap.

Provides an illustrated history of Scottish Highland clans and their associated tartans.

The tartans of 72 Highland clans are presented in full-page, full-color, large-format illustrations. With a new introduction to tartans by J. Charles Thompson, Fellow of the Scottish Tartan Society and a noted authority in the field. A must for costume, textile and fashion designers and historians, and an eye-filling pleasure for all.

Tartan and Tweed is a comprehensive look at the chequered history of tartan and tweed from their origins in the Scottish Highlands to their reinvention, growing and continued popularity and use in contemporary fashion design, music, art and film. Both tweed and tartan are fabrics with a strong cultural identity and history. But they have been reinvented to create multiple meanings, particularly when used in street fashions and in haute couture to mimic or parody the aristocracy, and to act as a subversive symbol of rebellion. This lavishly illustrated book focuses on fashion over the last century whilst looking back at the journey these fabrics have made from traditional cloth to stylish fabrics. We follow the early popularity of tartan and tweed including the fabrics' connections from crofters and clans to aristocracy, and look at tweed's dramatic recovery during an economic crisis and its subsequent re-invention as desirable luxury fashion fabric. The book explores the use of tartan and tweed in fashion in the collections of leading designers including Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Chanel who have used these textiles in a fresh, subversive way, while also paying tribute to their history. Making use of first person sources, historic documents, paintings and fashion photographs, this is a complete overview of tartan and tweed in Scotland and beyond.