Book excerpt: Tartan is so much more than just a cloth. From its clan origins in the Scottish Highlands to the catwalks of Milan, London, and New York, from its regimental history to its anti-establishment status, tartan has not only shaped a nation but has become an international style icon. The Secret Life of Tartan is as colorful and interwoven as the threads of the fabric itself. From troops in Black Watch tartan controlling Highland rebels to the Balmoral tartan exclusively worn by royalty, from the first tartan on the moon to the pattern of choice for punk and high fashion alike, tartan truly has a remarkable universal status. Today, tartan evokes history, kinship, tradition, romance, irreverence, fashion, and style. The Secret Life of Tartan unravels the truths and the myths of the cloth that shaped a nation to reveal how it has captured hearts around the world.