Tartan is more than a pattern — it’s heritage woven into cloth. This blog uncovers the structure, symbolism and craftsmanship behind authentic tartan, and wh…
Tartan is undeniably one of the most iconic fabrics to be woven in the world, it continues to be worn as a symbol of identity by individuals and as a way of self expression. Its colours, structure and symbolism carry centuries of identity, craftsmanship and cultural meaning. We take a look as to why this iconic textile continues to inspire designers, makers and wearers around the world. At Marton mills our three most popular tartan qualities are Jura a 16oz heavy weight fabric, Bute our mid weight 13oz & Glamis our lightweight 10.5oz cloth. You can explore all our highland wear fabrics here The Structure: Understanding the Sett At the heart of every true tartan lies its sett — the precise sequence of coloured threads repeated identically in both warp and weft. This mirrored structure creates the distinctive grid that defines tartan, each sett and colour sequence is unique to each tartan. A sett is not simply a pattern; it is a blueprint. Each thread count determines the scale and balance of the design. Whether bold and expansive or fine and intricate, the sett gives tartan its unmistakable identity. The Symbolism: Meaning Woven Into Every Stripe Tartan has long been associated wit…