The practice of using tartans to identify clans is a modern development. It's easy to see that the world of tartans is constantly evolving, with as many as forty new tartans registered each year. Some of the newest patterns include the Millennium Tartan , and the Princess Diana Memorial Tartan . The tartan community has also embraced the technological age. Several tartan databases provide online search capability, and last year, the Clan Moncreiffe held an internet election for a new tartan to represent the clan.
Some tartans represent eras or special groups.
Perhaps the most well-known of these is Blackwatch, originally worn by a law enforcement team in the early 1700's. Blackwatch has a limited number of colors because it was not intended to signify any one family, and could be worn by members of any clan. All Rights Reserved.