At one time, plaid fabric was relegated to the world of private school uniforms and vintage sofas. Plaid fabric could be used for Christmas stockings and school notebooks, but high fashion snubbed its highly discerning nose at plaid for years...until one magic Fall when plaid made a comeback. Suddenly, Betsey Johnson was using it for gowns, Marc Jacobs picked it up for shorts, and the magical cross-hatched fibers made their way to hipsters who, in an ironic homage to 90's grunge, brought back the ubiquitous plaid flannel shirt. Plaid is back. And it's big.From Burberry to H&M, plaid can be found in purses, dresses, shoes, and wallets. Plaid graces couture ball gowns and ready-to-wear jackets. It decorates hemlines and adorns headbands. Perhaps the allure of plaid fabric goes beyond some school-age charm. Perhaps this speaks to our Gaelic roots, when tartans (we've Americanized the word to mean plaid, but “plaid” originally meant a cloth or blanket that was thrown over the shoulder) were used to denote a particular clan's colors. The regional plaid was adopted due to the natural dyes found in the area (so if berries were plentiful in one part, their colors would be found in the local tartan; if a particular root was plentiful in another area, that color would be woven into the regional tartan), but due to modern technology, plaids can be found in hundreds of variations. And, when neon dye was developed, it was incorporated into neon plaid fabrics.Plaid works well for any piece of the wardrobe. A tighter weave can be used for classy pants; a bolder, larger pattern may be used for dresses and shirts. Plaid fabric with sparkling gold thread is often used during the holidays and flannel plaid fabric is often used in hunting and winter months. Originally, plaid was made of flax and wool, but it is now possible to find plaid patterns on any textile (even silk!). Plaid fabric is perfectly suited for any project that requires a timeless, chic, or quirky look.
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