How do people invent new tartan, and do they have to be authenticated?
You obviously have to know something about tartans before you start designing new ones – especially when you consider that there are already over 3,500 in existence. There are two ways of designing a new tartan – either by taking an existing one and changing some of the colours and proportions or starting with a blank canvas. Computer software is now available to help with this task.(take a look at our Croft Weaver design programme) Once designed, a tartan should be checked with the Scottish Tartans Authority to ensure that it’s not too close to an existing one. That’s all that’s needed.
