Tartan is such an iconic symbol of Scotland, but what is the story behind this colourful cloth. Tartan is made from wool and is woven in a special way with different colours and a checked pattern. The colours and the pattern can symbolise the identity of a specific Clan. Tartan as we know it today, is actually not that old. When King George IV visited Scotland in 1822 many of the Scottish clan chiefs were asked to meet the King in their family colours and the modern idea of traditional Scottish dress and tartan was born.