Tartan and Plaid Rugs

The iconic criss-cross patterns have found a prominent place in fashion and home décor. In the last few years, they have been also widely used in the carpet industry.

We have taken a traditional Scottish tartan, which has a special meaning for the client, and turned it into a contemporary runner. 

“Careful selection of colour is the key in creating accurate representation and visual impact. ”

Traditional tartans are historically woven. That is why our take on this tartan is quite unique – our rugs and carpets are tufted therefore cannot withstand the same amount of detail and intricacy as woven products and are not often used to mimic tartan & plaid patterns. With the combination of different tufting techniques and careful selection of colour, we have achieved a tartan which is simpler and bolder yet still recognisable.

The base is tufted into the backing first, in various colour combinations (some of which include as many as 4 different colours). Then, the horizontal and vertical stripes that intersect one another at a 90° angle and form grid-like patterns, are over tufted through this base. 

The CRONZ tartan runner, tufted in 100% wool, evokes comfort and tradition, and is sure to make statement in any space.

Difference between tartans and plaids

Although plaid and tartan may appear to be the same thing, there is an important difference.

tartan /ˈtɑːt(ə)n/
noun
a woollen cloth woven in one of several patterns of coloured checks and intersecting lines, especially of a design associated with a particular Scottish clan.

plaid /plad/
noun
chequered or tartan twilled cloth, typically made of wool.

Plaid describes a multi-coloured, cross-lined pattern. Tartan is, on the other hand, associated with a particular community or clan, and therefore has a distinct pattern and colour. Tartans are essentially plaids that identify a community and carry history. To be able to call the pattern a tartan, it must also be officially recognised in Scotland.

“Essentially, all tartans are plaids, but not all plaids are tartan.”

Playful Plaids

Our design team have developed a set of plaid patterns that are playful, fun, and not traditional at all! See below photos of the latest plaid rug samples, made to perfection at our factory in Rolleston.

We’ve used same tufting techniques as in the tartan runner (top of the page) - mixing of colours and overtufting to form broken lines.
All of these samples are available for loan if you are keen to see them in the flesh.

Your CRONZ team