Tartan Types and Purposes:

[g koch]

Jimmy,

A question/observation.

I recently read a book on Scottish history which indicated that the registration of tartan came with industrialization. Prior, when it was a cottage industry, people wore what ever they wanted and in some cases the louder the better.

Comments?

Casey

I read somewhere a snippet from the journal of a sales agent for a large mill that sold tartan to the Highlands. This was a few years before 1745. He said that sales were brisk and the young men seemed to fancy red tartans that year!

[Jimmy Carbomb]

I read somewhere a snippet from the journal of a sales agent for a large mill that sold tartan to the Highlands. This was a few years before 1745. He said that sales were brisk and the young men seemed to fancy red tartans that year!

After that post, I went and found an OLD tartan history book that I've had for years, and it reminded me of a fact that I had forgotten.

There was a time before 1800, when the Scots would buy from their local mills... almost exclusively. They would wear whatever the mills were producing at the time... atleast as far as colors. Usually, they would produce the district tartan and have it on hand all the time. Other than that, there were any number of "generic" tartans woven for clothing.

That FLOORED me when I re-read it. But, it makes sense. With a tradition so rich in heritage, it makes sense that they would NOT tred on the authentic tartans for the sake of cloth sales.

Sure those mills were the ones that produced the "special tartans" for the local interests, but they also appealed to the "commoner".

I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!!!

[Jimmy Carbomb]

I want to wear a kilt but there doesn’t seem to be a tartan for my surname.

There are probably still some purists around who say that you can only wear a clan tartan if you have the clan’s name as a surname. If you have some Scottish heritage and want to celebrate it by wearing the kilt then there’s nothing to stop you. Look at the surnames of your grandparents and then your great grandparents on both sides of the family and see if any of them give you a genuine link to a tartan, either by being a clan name or a sept of a clan. If you come up with nothing then you can always fall back on what we call an "Area Tartan". This is one that has been designated as being suitable for people from a particular area - a city or locality in Scotland. Some area tartans are 18th century and some are 21st century!
If you don’t fancy that idea then, then there are quite a few general tartans that can be worn by anyone plus a growing number of ‘Fashion’ tartans.

At the end of the day you can actually wear any clan tartan that you like even if you don’t have a connection, but most people like to feel their use of a tartan is 'genetically' justified - even if it was only that their Great Granny was frightened by a MacDonald!

From The Authority

[Mr. Kilt]

I want to wear a kilt but there doesn’t seem to be a tartan for my surname.

There are probably still some purists around who say that you can only wear a clan tartan if you have the clan’s name as a surname. If you have some Scottish heritage and want to celebrate it by wearing the kilt then there’s nothing to stop you. Look at the surnames of your grandparents and then your great grandparents on both sides of the family and see if any of them give you a genuine link to a tartan, either by being a clan name or a sept of a clan. If you come up with nothing then you can always fall back on what we call an "Area Tartan". This is one that has been designated as being suitable for people from a particular area - a city or locality in Scotland. Some area tartans are 18th century and some are 21st century!
If you don’t fancy that idea then, then there are quite a few general tartans that can be worn by anyone plus a growing number of ‘Fashion’ tartans.

At the end of the day you can actually wear any clan tartan that you like even if you don’t have a connection, but most people like to feel their use of a tartan is 'genetically' justified - even if it was only that their Great Granny was frightened by a MacDonald!

From The Authority

Hmmmm...I've been known to eat at McDonald's once in awhile. Does that count?

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Hmmmm...I've been known to eat at McDonald's once in awhile. Does that count?

Does her father know?

Oh THAT McDonald's! Hey man... works for me! As far as family and clan tartans go, apparently there's not a whole lot of "tartan police" outside of the Scottish circles.

We're finding that the "Military" tartans are for those in the service, the "Dress" tartans are for the ladies, and the "Royal" tartans are for the Royals (not Kansas City).

The Tartan Authority is trying HARD to get (especially North Americans) educated in the heritage and tradition. They bend a little in some instances, but are staunch in others.

I'm holding-out for the Chic-Fil-A waffle fries tartan.

[Rob Wright]

Jimmy ,the amount of information in this thread is simply amazing. THanks for going to all the time and effort. I enjoy reading this thread, now go have a pint on me.

Rob Wright

[seamus]

oh man carbomb, let me know as soon as the chick-fil-a tartan comes out! my dad lives in atlanta and theyre all over...that place is hilarious. totally classy.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

For those looking at Tartans other than Military, or Ladies looking at "Dress" tartans, here's the rule:
It was during the Great Scottish Revival that the tartan / clan association was enforced in that only the chief of a clan could allow his clansmen to wear the clan tartan. There is no evidence to support that such a rule existed pre-1746. In our modern era one does not have to wear the tartan of their clan; the Lord Lyon of Arms, the chief Herald of the Kingdom of Scotland, has made the determination that the wearing of the tartan of a clan means that you are showing your support for that clan and nothing more. While it encouraged that one wears the tartan of their clan, one can wear any tartan they so choose, and you no longer need the permission of the clan chief to wear the tartan of that clan.

[Donnie]

Jimmy, you are a veritable fount of information! I'm sure everyone here appreciates your information a great deal. I know I do! I just ordered a MacDonald philabeag from USAKilts because of my heratige. Now there a lot more tartans I would like to have!

[Casey]

Jimmy,

I'm contemplating a 16oz. tank in Ancient Gordon. What are your thoughts on pleating to stripe?

Yes, I have to eat my post aout not needing a formal kilt. You are an expensive influence.

Casey