One of several variations on plaid, buffalo check is a fabric pattern composed of horizontal and vertical bands in two contrasting colors, most commonly red and black, which intersect at 90-degree angles to form a grid of large-scale squares. First traced to woven blankets in 19th-century Montana, it was ultimately popularized by Woolrich to outfit lumberjacks and other outdoor workers. Applications of pattern now feature diverse color combinations, while fabrics have moved beyond rugged flannel to include more formal varieties such as silk.
