The Debian GNU/Linux distribution has it's own tartan too, the interesting detail being it contains morse code:<p><a href="https://wiki.debian.org/Tartan" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.debian.org/Tartan</a><p><a href="https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartandetails?ref=5936" rel="nofollow">https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartandetails?ref=5936</a><p>"This is the tartan of The Debian Project: an association of individuals who work together to create a free operating system that is called Debian GNU/Linux, or simply Debian for short. In 2007 Debian held its eighth annual gathering of developers from all over the world in Edinburgh, and the tartan was designed to celebrate that fact. The colours are references to various logos: Reds for the Debian swirl, Blue for Captain Blue-Eyes (the old Debian logo), and Yellow, Black & White for Tux, the Linux logo. If the image is rotated 180 degrees, the White can be seen to be arranged so as to spell out DEBIAN in Morse code (with a correct 1:3 ratio for dots to dashes, and for the pauses in and between letters)."
The good thing about this, is it puts tartans into a modern IPR context and sheds the Walter Scott fake history. It's no different to burberry trademarking it's red flash check. All the clan/sept/hunting/dress stuff is a giant fantasy of post Regency construction.<p>Harris Tweed on the other hand, is much more a "thing" and deserves its restricted mark for heritage reasons.<p>Cornish sailors knitting patterns next!
This was on the 99 Percent Invisible episode this week. A great episode about tartans.<p><a href="https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/plaid-articles-of-interest-2/" rel="nofollow">https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/plaid-articles-of-int...</a>
Tartans are always a great example of how computer science and algorithms got their start: fabrics. From the Jenner Loom on up, there has been a long relationship with textiles.<p>Some fun and semi-related tartan sites:<p>The list of US State Tartans: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_tartans" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_tartans</a><p>A Tartan warp sequence generator: <a href="http://www.weddslist.com/cgi-bin/tartans/pg.pl?source=sts#result" rel="nofollow">http://www.weddslist.com/cgi-bin/tartans/pg.pl?source=sts#re...</a><p>The above site is pretty neat! They have a GIANT list of recognized tartans, with the warp sequences. In addition, you can input your own warp sequence. Though I can't find evidence of the warp sequence being used as a messaging platform, it's not hard to envision. Take some message, convert it to hexadecimal (or some other method), put it in the weft, and viola! A 'secret' message:<p><a href="http://www.weddslist.com/cgi-bin/tartans/tartan.pl?col(g)=008000&col(c)=008080&col(f)=800040&col(k)=000000&warp=g10(c6f6)k10&ptrn=d1" rel="nofollow">http://www.weddslist.com/cgi-bin/tartans/tartan.pl?col(g)=00...</a>
Out of curiosity I checked out the "New Tartans" page. The most recent item is:<p><a href="https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=12260" rel="nofollow">https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=12260</a><p>which, sadly, seems to have been registered on behalf of a white supremacist cult.
As a Scot, I was <i>slightly</i> surprised to see that this is actually an official Scottish Government service!<p>Edit: I should have guessed by the domain.
About a year ago I discovered that California has its own tartan pattern. Unfortunately I was unable to find any manufacturer which currently makes a flannel shirt in this pattern. It's a shame, the pattern is quite nice, but it's unclear to me whether it's ever used anywhere.
Compaq Computers have a tartan too:<p>"Designed by Bill Alexander 1987, promoted by Eyedea Creative Consultancy Ltd for the Compaq Computer Co, an American compay which set up business in Scotland."<p><a href="https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=726" rel="nofollow">https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=726</a>
That is a weird way of paying by credit card they have:<p>In order for the customer to make a payment by credit/debit card we need:<p>1) the card number<p>2) the card expiry date;<p>3) the issue number if Maestro;<p>4) the last 3 digits of the card security number (on the reverse of the credit card);<p>5) the cardholder's name and initials as displayed on the card; and<p>6) the cardholder's address. Please note that all of these details are essential. Please also provide your reference (NRS/TR/Tartan Name).<p>Please telephone +44 (0)131 535 1395 to make payment by credit card.
<a href="https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/fees" rel="nofollow">https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/fees</a>