What do Armani, Christian Dior, Steve Smith (‘Red’ from the Red Green Show) and a Scotsman have in common? Yes, it is that quintessential pattern that can look equally at home on a runway in Paris or a cabin in the woods; plaid.

fashion or anti-fashion, plaid is 'in'.

Perhaps most famously fashionable in Scottish kilts (depending on your idea of fashion), plaid or ‘tartan’ can be found in any variety of colors throughout the world. Even with plaid designs running strong in 2011, the pattern itself has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The design transcends ancient cultures from Asia, European royalty, Scottish clans, and even political and social movements within the 20th Century. Truly, plaid is a design that is worth recognizing.

Our friends over at Quiltmaker magazine are doing just that, a “Salute to Plaid”. Follow the link and visit Quiltmaker’s contest page to answer a few questions for a chance to win fantastic prizes including Northcott fabric.

All this talk about plaid made me think of an ad we just composed for one of our newest collections called Majestic Mallards, a flannel print that has some great plaid designs. Have a look on our site to view more, I’ve also included a couple of snapshots to get those creative minds working!