In most cases these probably preceded clan tartans. Martin Martin
remarked in A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland,
circa 1695, that it was possible to guess the place of a man's
residence from the sight of his plaid. This idea was nurtured
by William Wilson & Son of Bannockburn who, having one or
two patterns that had some local affinities, named a range of
their new patterns after towns, cities and districts.
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As a result a range of District Tartans have grown up, which
can be worn by who have an association with a particular district
irrespective of their clan connections. The tartan on the right
is the Mull or Glen Lyon District Tartan and comes from Wilson's
Pattern Book circa 1819.
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These sorts of tartan continue to mature: what were trade tartans
twenty or more years ago with a territorial designation have become
accepted as tartans for that area.
Towns, District and Regional Councils are have been commissioning
tartans for promotions and merchandising which are firstly corporate tartans but
are also district tartans. This is how tartan remains a growing
design medium where what is good is based upon the past associations
of a district or community, a District Tartan often having elements
of clan designs and other elements relevant to that area.
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