Who put the Rad in Plaid?

Plaid: it’s what unites all true hipsters and fashionistas these days. Oh, and it also includes Scots. So who put the Rad in Plaid? See how it all (rebelliously) began...

Tartan, known as plaid in North America,  is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors.Tartan was originally a sort of uniform for distinguishing the many clans in the Highlands and islands of Scotland and can be traced as far back as the middle of the 5th Century to Ireland, where the Scots originated. Although it was then introduced in the form of kilts and not trendy button-downs, plaid symbolized the rebellion against the English so much so that authorities banned it after the Scottish rebellion of 1746.

Plaid was further associated with rebellion in the 20th century and particularly around the women's liberation movement, who reclaimed the plaid shirt in the1960's as a statement against its association with men in the physical labor force. It was also embraced in the grunge scene in the 1990s. Just like skinny jeans in 1980s punk culture, grunge produced a style that challenged what was considered uncool and revamped the plaid shirt all over again while rebelling against the establishment, just like their predecessors.

Today the revival of plaid in fashion is particularly owed to the late Alexander McQueen. For McQueen, tartan—the visual signifier of clanship throughout Scottish history—was a reference to his own Scottish heritage as well as to Scotland's turbulent political history.

Alexander McQueen ensemble, Widows of Culloden collection, AW 2006-2007. Dress of wool tartan, top of nude silk net appliquéd with black lace; underskirt of cream silk tulle. Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  

New York street style, rocking the plaid. Left: red plaid APC poncho coat. Right: plaid pants. Images via Streetpeeper. 

So, have you rebelled yet? It's okay, you're allowed just this one time...in the name of fashion!