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The Secret Life of Tartan

How a Cloth Shaped a Nation

Vixy Rae
In a richly illustrated survey, Vixy Rae (co-owner of Scotland's oldest bespoke tailors) charts the origins, evolution and enduring myths of tartan. Incorporating interviews with industry insiders, her detailed research reveals how, shaped by people, place and tradition, the fabled cloth gradually evolved into a global cultural emblem.
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RRP £16.99

£7.99

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Product information:
  • Publisher: Black & White
  • Year: 2023
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 304pp
  • Illustrated: Yes
  • Dimensions: 190x151mm
  • ISBN: 9781785305207
  • Condition: New
  • Weight: 0.7kg
Product code:
545377
Product information
Full publisher description
Tartan is so much more than just a cloth. From its clan origins in the Scottish Highlands to the catwalks of Milan, London and New York, from its regimental history to its anti-establishment status, tartan has not only shaped a nation but has become an international style icon.

The Secret Life of Tartan is as colourful and interwoven as the threads of the fabric itself. From troops in Black Watch tartan controlling Highland rebels to the Balmoral tartan exclusively worn by royalty, from the first tartan on the moon to the pattern of choice for punk and high fashion alike, tartan truly has a remarkable universal status.

Today, tartan evokes history, kinship, tradition, romance, irreverence, fashion and style. The Secret Life of Tartan unravels the truths and the myths of the cloth that shaped a nation to reveal how it has captured hearts around the world.
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