Color pattern
Buffalo check
A bold, large check commonly associated with alternating red and black blocks.
Also searched as: buffalo plaid
Open the interactive guide ↗How it is made
Matching bands cross in both directions to make the check. Woolrich’s familiar version uses wool flannel, while the design now appears in many materials and colorways.
How to recognize it
Read the big blocks first, then the mixed-color areas where the bands overlap.
Common uses
- Overshirts
- Outerwear
- Blankets
What to distinguish
The check does not make a fabric flannel: flannel refers to the cloth and its finish. Red and black is characteristic, but not the only color combination.
Sources & further reading
Research checked 2026-09-27. Descriptions are original summaries; references support terminology and construction, not every product sold under a name.