Wear of Clan Tartan by non-Clan Members

[Kilted Cole]

"I suspect that those who today suggest the kilt is actually an English garment may have ulterior motives. Perhaps they enjoy acting like someone “in on the secret” at Scottish gatherings. People like believing that they have privileged knowledge. These ideas could also be attractive to those non-Scots tempted to wear the kilt, but who assume one must have Scottish blood in order to do so. If the kilt is really an English garment, then the question of ethnicity doesn’t matter so much.

To them I say, go ahead – wear the kilt! But don’t feel the need to justify it with false history. We have much to learn from Rawlinson in that regard. He was an Englishman who felt at ease adopting the Highland dress as his own. And if we are to believe John Taylor, another Englishman who visited the Highlands one hundred years before Rawlinson, the tradition of non-Scots adopting the Highland garb is a long one. In his account of his visit to Braemar in 1618, he wrote, “As for their attire, any man of whatsoever degree that comes among them must not disdain to wear it; for if they do then they will disdain to hunt… but if men be kind to them, and be in their habit, then they are conquered with kindness, and sport will be plentiful.”

So non-Scots certainly may wear the kilt. But when you do so, remember that you are wearing the Scottish National Dress! "

A quote from Newsome's site. I personally am of the school that since tartan wasn't originally designed as "by clan", if anything your paying a complement to the clan who's colors your sport'n. IMHO make sure pleats are in the rear, aprons to the front, and don't make a donkey of yourself wearing it and one shouldn't have too much of an issue. Keep in mind, not to be disrepectfull but.....if someone is a member of either the fassion police or the tartan police I usually refuse to assosiate myself with them. When at gathering's or burn's night's it's probably more appropriate to wear a tartan that you have a close affiliation with, but again as stated by many already, there is no concrete law by wich you could have fines levied against you or possible jail time.....well at least not for about 200 and a few extra yrs now.. I personally have 1 kilts who's clan affiliated tartan I have NO connection with at all, the colors look good on me and complement many of my outfitts, and I think the said tartan is georgeous! I have never once been asked my personal affiliation to that clan, just simply "what clan is that?" I tell the questioning person and then the conversation either goes further into why I chose to wear the kilt or the conversation ends. But I'm ranting and few by now are probably still reading at this length. It boils down to how you go about wearing it. Out of respect, or as a costume. If the later....well your probably not a member of this site and are 3 sheet's through pledge week or homecoming.

[David Thorpe]

I personally am of the school that since tartan wasn't originally designed as "by clan", if anything your paying a complement to the clan who's colors your sport'n.

How very kind of you to pay such a "complement". Is it a complement if it is perceived as an affront, an insult or a fraud?

Regardless of the origins of clan tartan designs, they have in the majority of cases at least some 200 years of association with the clans since -- some less and some longer. To many people, seeing someone wearing their clan tartan identifies the wearer as a kinsman. While that may mean nothing to you, it often does to them.

The article you quoted is about wearing the kilt rather than about wearing clan tartans. There is a critical difference.

There are many, many beautiful non-clan tartans from which to find one that suits your particular fancy or matches your eyes or your new tweed jacket or whatever. Yo also have the option of designing your own to your exact aesthetic standards.

Sorry, but "I like it" or "I think it's beautiful" is nothing more than an inadequate rationalization for flying in the face of a long-standing tradition. A tartan can be admired without being worn by the admirer. It is quite simply a matter of respect, the lack of which is unlikely to win you any friends or admirers among those whose tartan you wear. Only you can decide whether that is important or not.

(stepping down from soapbox and walking away...)

[Kilted Cole]

Fair enough on the correction on wearing of the kilt vs wearing of the tartan. And no, its not a rationalization. Traditions are great, however they can also become a hinderance when presented by zelots, No that is not meant as an attack on anyone just a point of note. I understand the assosiation of kinsman with wearing someone elses tartan. But calling them a "fraud" simply because they are not part of your clan is to me rediculous. I'm not spitting in the eye of tradition, what I was trying to encourage is I'd rather see someone encouraged to wear the kilt and how to wear it correctly than I would see the individual be casterated by folks taking offence to what could easily be taken as a complement. I've actually run into people wearing "my" clan tartan before that had no affiliation. Why should I take offence to that? I usually stick to my clans and the clans assossiated with my clans and wear the later out of respect and reverence to the bond that at least at one point in time flourished. My question is, what exactally makes it wrong, rude, disrespectfull? The one tartan that I wear that isn't affiliated with me is my Douglas Modern. I have tremendous respect for Clan Douglas, (as I do all the clans) soo what your telling me is that I should'nt wear it because I wasn't born into it? Thats about as bad an excuse as the cast system in India. You can't do this because of who your family is not. You can't wear that because of who your family is not. I'm not intending in anyway to be disrespectfull towards any one or any ones views. Just that there are other things that matter more than what tartan that bloke over there is wearing and IF he has a "right" to wear it. I wear the kilt on a daily basis as part of my everyday attire. NOT as a costume. I want to make that perfectly clear. The kilt in no way has ever been a joke to me. I'm just looking at how someone who perhaps just spent a small fortune on highland attire might feel if someone chastised them because of "your just a poser" speach. It could honestly ruin wearing the kilt for them. And I do think we can all agree that the wearing of the kilt and tartan is something we all hold dear to ourselfs. And that we would rather foster and promote its wearing, instead of making people feel isolated, unwanted, dishonored, and unwelcomed. I'm sorry if I offend anyone by wearing a tartan that I'm not born into. Yet I will not apologise for showing admiration towards another clan and openly complementing their forefathers taste in choosing a tartan, only to be rideculed and backhanded because someone has and elitest sence about themselfs. I guess the reason why wearing of someone elses tartan isn't a big deal to me is because there is a symbol more important to the clan than tartan.....the badge. That I can see folks having an uproar about, and I would support the reasoning behind it. Tartan's to most people not completely imersed in its culture can be confusing with all the variants of modern, ancient, weathered, muted, and so forth. Badges are quite clear with the symbol, and moto. But I digress. In short, maybe we as a whole should take a complement if its intended as that rather than being as rude to the "offending" person as we precieve them to be rude towards us.

[Kilted Cole]

I mean, look at Rocky's second post on page one. I think Clan Buchannan treated him admirably! And I would encourage others to follow their stellar example.

[dea3369]

First, thanks to all who responded (and not responded because others have already "voiced" their position). The general idea is what I expected. Mainly, it is inappropriate to wear clan tartan if one does not have affiliation to that clan. However, it surprised me to know that there are no real rules. On the hand, I guess there are no real rules for wearing other "group" clothing eitehr.

I wonder how many times this topic has now done the rounds!

I knew that it must have been discussed before. I tried searching for those, but obviously my search skills need work.

[David Thorpe]

My question is, what exactally makes it wrong, rude, disrespectfull?

I tried my best to explain and you obviously did not understand. So be it.

I did not "chastise" anyone about wearing the kilt. The term "clan tartan" obviously does not mean the same thing to you that it does to me. I am sure that there are many people who share your opinion as there are who share mine. What each of us does in light of that fact is entirely up to us as individuals.

I was a Fleet Marine Force Navy Corpsman. I wore the Marine fatigue uniform (albeit with my Navy insignia), ate their chow, slept in their barracks, went through some of their training, complied with their regulations and went through some of their experiences. That does not make me a Marine. For that reason, I would not wear the Leatherneck tartan, although I admire it a great deal, not only because I think it is beautiful, but because I respect what it means. Some Marines would not object to me wearing it. Others might. My wearing it would belie my respect for it and for them. Maybe I'll design a FMF Medical Corps tartan at some future time. If so, I will wear it with pride, not the least bit concerned with dishonoring any Marines or the Corps.

Wear what you will -- with a full understanding of what it means to others. That understanding may or may not have a bearing on your decisions. That is entirely up to you.

[Meggers]

I tried my best to explain and you obviously did not understand. So be it.

I think KC understood just fine. He simply has the opposite opinion.

I think, in many ways, both of you can be seen as right. Wearing a tartan from another clan is something that some may take offense to and, because of that, perhaps when shopping for a tartan, one should look at the many tartans available that are not affiliated with any clan first. Kilted Cole, however, is an example of someone who wears a clan tartan that he isn't affiliated with, but recognizes that he is not a member of the clan and simply wears it out of respect for members of that clan. I think that's a perfectly honorable reason to wear a tartan.

This topic really isn't as black and white as some might like it to be. There are always situations where wearing another clan might be inappropriate and some situations where it might not be. It also depends on the intention of the wearer. Many different variables come into play when deciding whether wearing a clan tartan that isn't "yours" is appropriate or not.

[Mael Coluim]

After the Kirk’n of the Tartan Ceremony at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, a lady stopped me to ask the name of the tartan I was wearing. I told her it was Malcolm in the modern color. She replied that she and her friend said it was the prettiest tartan they had seen. Now that is some compliment and not heard by me before.

Now I must say, I was wearing my new USA Kilt semi-trad and the blue stripes in it are quite eye catching. I personally would welcome anyone wearing our Clan tartan, even if it was just because it was pretty to them. There certainly is a benefit to a relatively small clan with surnames of Malcolm and MacCallum and derivatives of those names. It would ensure the tartan stays readily available as the demand for it justifies the tartan being made by the mill.




MC in USAK Semi Trad in Malcolm modern, the other gents have Malcolm Ancient tartan; Past President Don Malcolm of Atlanta, Chief Robin Neill Lochnell Malcolm, 19th Laird of Poltalloch, and Pat President Donald Malcolm of Roanoke Rapids.

If one will feel that they need the permission of our Clan Chief to wear it, I’ll be glad to give Robin Neill Lochnell Malcolm, 19th Laird of Poltalloch a call.

And on the other hand, not being a Marine, you will not catch me wearing the Leatherneck tartan as much as I may admire it.
Go figure!

[Mael Coluim]

....SNIP
I knew that it must have been discussed before. I tried searching for those, but obviously my search skills need work.

The search function isn't the friendliest. I can't find things on it sometimes when I know it is out there. On the otherhand, some of us expect to "beat the dead horse" a number of times over the years. Its always good to get newer members input and not enshrine what was stated before. After all the topic of the kilt is rather limited. But we do manage to have a lot to say about it!

[Friday]

Back to a question I asked in another thread this week, what is a clan? I have the surname of one of the low land Scot families. The family tree has been traced back to Ireland and from there there is fairly good indication that Irish branch came from Scotland. However, it is not clear if they did come over and if they did it is not clear if they were part of the family aligned with the Clan Chief of same name.

I do not belong to any of the Clan associations and the current Clan has no Clan Chief. Can I wear the tartan related to my surname, simply because of my surname or must there be some stronger Clan tie? Can there be a Clan if there is not Clan Chief?