# Rad Plaid The traditional print has been shed of old cliches to become a modern craze. By [Bianca](https://www.trendhunter.com/bianca), Brand & Innovation Strategist | Published Dec 31, 2009, updated May 12, 2010 | Category: [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/style-and-fashion-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/rad-plaid-the-traditional-print-has-been-shed-of-old-cliches-becoming-a-mod ## Key Figures - Trend score: 5.1/10 - Evidence articles: 20 ## What is the Rad Plaid trend? **Rad Plaid:** Hipsters have helped transform plaid from a look associated with lumberjacks and Scottish kilts to a widespread trend not only in fast fashion and couture, but also in home decor. No longer just a look for winter, prints like gingham have made their way into wardrobes and homes year-round. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 20 featured examples - Articles from: Jan 7 to Dec 29, 2009 - Published: Dec 31, 2009 - Last updated: May 12, 2010 - Patterns: [Cyclicality](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/cyclicality), [Reduction](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/reduction) - Megatrends: [Curation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/curation), [Instant Entrepreneurship](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/instant-entrepreneurship), [Nostalgia](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/nostalgia) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Examples of the Rad Plaid trend 20 featured examples from Jan 7 to Dec 29, 2009. - [Half-Nude Hipster Shoots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roy-torres): Pants-Free Subculture Photography by Roy Torres (Category: Fashion) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate virtual reality technology to provide an immersive and interactive fashion photography experience for consumers. - [Gingham Patio Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sung-outdoor): Fashion Designer Alfred Sung Launches Sung Outdoor Furniture Line (Category: Art & Design) Implication: Potential for home decor brands and retailers to collaborate with fashion designers to create unique home collections. - [Checkered Kicks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vans-and-supreme-fall-winter-2009): The Vans Supreme Fall/Winter 2009 Collection is Off the Chain (Category: Fashion) Implication: The fashion industry can take advantage of collaborative shoe collections by teaming up with other brands to create unique and exclusive footwear. - [Clashtastic Plaid Shirts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trainerspotter): Trainerspotter Button-Downs Are a Mishmosh of Tartan Patterns (Category: Fashion) Implication: The fashion industry can capitalize on the clashing plaid shirts trend by incorporating bold and unconventional designs into their collections. - [Luminous Lumberjack Gear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flying-coffin-glow-in-the-dark-5-panel-caps): Flying Coffin Glow-in-the-Dark 5 Panel Caps Keep Partiers Safe (Category: Fashion) Implication: Apparel companies can incorporate glow-in-the-dark elements into their product lines, highlighting safety and novelty functionality. - [Swank Plaid Kicks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creative-recreation-holiday-2009): Creative Recreation Holiday 2009 Collection (Category: Fashion) Implication: Fashion companies can benefit from offering a variety of styles and designs to appeal to a wider customer base. - [Lumberjack Photoshoots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peak-performance-2009): Peak Performance Gets Casual With Autumn/Winter 2009 Collection (Category: Fashion) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore new materials and manufacturing processes to create fashionable and functional clothing. - [Preppy Timepieces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blumlux-louis-quatro): The BlumLux Louis Quatro Has a Plaid Face and Diamonds (Category: Luxury) Implication: Luxury fashion brands can find innovative ways to incorporate traditional patterns and unexpected materials in their products. - [Checkered Editorials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/check-it-out-gq-japan): 'Check it Out' for GQ Japan Features Tartan, Plaid & Checks (Category: Fashion) Implication: Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Implement advanced AI and machine learning technologies into the fashion industry to enhance personalization and customization. - [Tablecloth Kicks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-skinny-dunk-high-jam-jars): Nike Skinny Dunk High (Jam Jar) Sneakers Are Gorgeous in Gingham (Category: Fashion) Implication: The footwear manufacturing industry can benefit from collaborating with fashion designers to create innovative and trendy footwear designs. - [Nerdy 90s Grunge](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/copenhagen-street-style-spring-2009): Copenhagen Street Style Takes a Geeky Step Back in Time (Category: Fashion) Implication: The fashion industry can capitalize on the 90s grunge trend by producing clothing items that cater to consumers seeking retro-inspired fashion. - [Cool Wool Wallets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/head-porter-lesson-collection): Plaid Billfold Stands Out in New Head Porter Lesson Collection (Category: Fashion) Implication: Opportunities for designers and manufacturers to create innovative fashion products using wool-like materials, complementing traditional school uniform plaids. - [Pleasing Plaid Pairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pendleton-x-opening-ceremony): The Pendleton X Opening Ceremony Spring 2010 Line is Light and Playful (Category: Fashion) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a sustainable and ethical fashion brand that focuses on unique patterns and colors, appealing to eco-conscious consumers. - [Reversible Bow Ties](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-brooklyn-circus-reversible-bowties): The Brooklyn Circus Goes Geeky Chic With Flannel & Velour (Category: Fashion) Implication: The fashion accessories industry has an opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for reversible bow ties. - [Tartan and Checker Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tartan-fashion-patricia-arquette): Stars Like Patricia Arquette Make Plaid Look Rad (Category: Celebs) Implication: Fashion retail brands can capitalize on the plaid trend by offering a wide range of tartan and checker clothing options to cater to diverse customer preferences. - [Check-Covered Minidresses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pollini-spring-2010): Schoolgirl Glam Rocks in Pollini Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear Line (Category: Fashion) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate innovative checkered fabrics into clothing lines to cater to the growing demand for checked and plaidtastic fashions. - [Wild Customized Nails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/customized-nails-minx-nails): Minx Nails Personalizes Your Nails With Insane Sticker Styles (Category: Art & Design) Implication: The customization trend in nails presents opportunities for beauty salons, nail studios, and product manufacturers to offer personalized nail services and products. - [Fashionable Farming Editorials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/everything-and-the-farm-in-vogue): Model Karlie Kloss Works It for 'Everything and the Farm' in Vogue (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: Developing clothing lines and accessories catering to the farm worker and rural population. - [Girlish Grunge Fashiontography](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/teen-vogue-editorial-finding-nirvana): The Young-Love Teen Vogue Editorial 'Finding Nirvana' (Category: Fashion) Implication: The fashion industry can leverage the grunge fashion and bohemian aesthetic trends to create clothing lines that cater to the youth market segment. - [Gingham Glasses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gingham-glasses-stussy): Stussy Makes Shades That Match the Tablecloth (Category: Fashion) Implication: The fashion industry can expand by incorporating printed sunglasses and other personalized fashion accessories. ## Themes within the Rad Plaid trend ### Plaid as a Modern Trend Plaid and tartan are no longer confined to winter clothing and lumberjack attire. The print has been given a modern twist and is now used in fast fashion, ready-to-wear collections, home decor, and more, indicating the potential for disrupting how textiles are used and the market for seasonal clothing. ### Customization Driven by Social Media The emergence of social media has increased the importance of customization for consumers. The desire to have personalized items, like Minx nails, appeals to customers who prefer to have unique products they can integrate into other facets of their lives, which could present an opportunity for businesses to offer more customizable products. ### Vintage Fashions & Retro Resurgence Retro fashions are resurging among budget-conscious consumers, who have begun to embrace relics from different decades. Companies can cater to these consumers by manufacturing products with vintage elements in their designs, which presents opportunities for leveraging nostalgia and the success of previous time-period inspired fashion. ## What the Rad Plaid trend means for industry ### For Fast Fashion Fast fashion and ready-to-wear collections have embraced plaid prints, showcasing the print's modern twist and how it can be used across various forms of clothing, and disrupted seasonal fashion trends. ### For Fashion Accessories The blend of plaid with modern designs in sneakers, wallets, watches, glasses, and other items offer new creative opportunities for designers. ### For Home Decor Plaid and tartan have found new use in home decor, suggesting the potential for expanding the textile market beyond clothing and fashion. ## Trend signals for Rad Plaid Trend score 5.1 out of 10, from popularity 66%, activity 80%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 66% - Activity: 80% - Freshness: 8% ## Recent trend clusters - [Collaged Uppers](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/mixed-material-sneakers) (Fashion) - [Occasion Coding](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/commemorative-watch-design) (Fashion) - [Muted Motion](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/earth-tone-runners) (Fashion) - [Material Mashups](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/unexpected-jacket-materials) (Fashion) ## Trending in Fashion - [Jewelry Advent Calendars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pandora-2026-advent-calendar) - [Weatherproof Mid-Top Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/weatherproof-mid-top-sneakers) - [Football Throwback Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/football-throwback-sneakers) - [Fragrant Body Care Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/summer-fridays-body-collection1) All articles: [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion)