So for a while now I've been wondering to what extent did tartan exist in Scotland.
Most people would tell you it was a Highland thing and the only thing in the Lowlands similar to it is the Border Check. But my question has always been "where is the lowland-highland divide".
Most people say all of the Geographical Highlands minus the North-Eastern Plains or "Low Lands" which can be grouped with the Lowlands. But I've just found something that could somewhat counter this. And possibly mean that Historical Highland Dress and tartan could be found outside of the Gàidhealtachd seemingly commonly?
I was just looking at this site: http://digital.nls.uk/slezer/theatrum-scotiae.html on it is a collection of images done by John Slezer in the 17th Century, So in a time where Tartan was worn daily by Highlanders, But by the Lowlanders from what we're usually told, Was never worn and hardly existed. But I'd like you all to go onto the site I gave you and look at some of the bigger cities in the North-Eastern area, Then zoom in on the people in those areas that Mr Slezer made.
Some of the people wear Breeches and a Maud (Shepherds Plaid) but if you look closer at many others they are clearly wearing Highland clothing with Belted Plaids. I don't think this was just a mistake either, I'm now wondering if tartan (minus border check) actually had a larger range and so did the belted plaid. I also just wanted to show those images as I think they're amazing at how old they are. I mean this is the same time period in which Lowlanders and Highlanders were supposed to despise each others cultures, Yet here you have period images of people walking in "lowland cities" with belted plaids wrapped around them and tartan draped over them and were seemingly treated as a normal thing to see by John himself.

I could just be entirely wrong and he did decide to illustrate people who came from the Gàidhealtachd in these towns but I don't know. I'm going to start researching this now because it's got me really interested if anyone knows anything about it reply.