Wear of Clan Tartan by non-Clan Members

[Meggers]

lol David....free willy?

I used to love that movie.

*sorry for the thread hijack. I just couldnt resist*

[xman]

Im the stubborn and overprotective type that would be annoyed if some Random was wearing "my clan" (assuming I had a clan) tartan with no reason, but the way your friend does it would not bother me becuase he seems to be recognizing that hes sporting a clan tartan but he's not doing it to falsely represent the clan, AND he's not doing it ignorantly. If someone wore a Walker tartan and said "Im not a Walker but I sure do love those shortbread cookies" then it's really not a big deal to me since they're recognizing that they are not actually representing Walkers and, instead, they are honoring something that has the word "Walker" in it. Idk. Im more or less "thinking out loud" here. I just know that I'm the type that would be like "umm.....whatcha doing sporting my kilt" if I saw it being worn by someone who has no claim to it. The way your friend does it seems to be a very reasonable and non-offensive way to wear a tartan that isn't "yours".

I have had both emotional responses actually. Once at a ren fair I saw a young man sporting Clan Donald and when i approached him it turned out he wasn't a MacDonald and didn't even know what tartan he was wearing. Another time here it was asked if it would be okay to wear Clanranald even though he wasn't Clanranald and I felt honoured. Which way is the wind blowing?

[Kilted Cole]

I have had both emotional responses actually. Once at a ren fair I saw a young man sporting Clan Donald and when i approached him it turned out he wasn't a MacDonald and didn't even know what tartan he was wearing. Another time here it was asked if it would be okay to wear Clanranald even though he wasn't Clanranald and I felt honoured. Which way is the wind blowing?

Would I be correct in assuming then its a matter of outright ignorance vs being respectfull in reguards to wearing clan tartan by the non affiliated party?

[Lyle1]

You are right. In general, it is considered in poor taste to wear the tartan of a clan whose surname, sept name, or ancestry you do not possess. However, in the USA many people do this and no one cares. If you are wearing the kilt around your home and only around members of your family of course you may wear any tartan you like. If you are attending a Scots heritage event, like the Highland Games, you may want to wear a universal tartan so as not to offend others who may have strong feelings about the matter.

Some common univeral tartans include: Royal Stewart, Hunting Stewart, Black Stewart, Dress Stewart, Black Watch, Pride of Scotland, Heritage of Scotland, Irish National, Irish Heritage, Heritage of Ireland, Jacobite, Caledonia, Isle of Skye.

Kilts made of a single, solid color, or tweed are also considered universal. Solid black kilts are worn by many Irish dancers.

Universal tartans may be worn by anyone both Scots and non-Scots.

Good luck to you. I hope you find a beautiful tartan to wear!

I think it would be appropriate to say "some people consider it to be in poor taste" rather than, "in general it is considered in poor taste." I also suspect that the entire issue bothers fewer people than you think.

I agree that universal tartans are always a good choice, but again, there are differences of opinion. I find it interesting that the Stewart tartans now make the list of universal tartans. I remember a time when some "tartan authorities" considered the Royal Stewart tartan to not be appropriate for use by commoners (and where are the Stewart royals?), and the concept of the Stewart Black tartan being a universal tartan is rather new also. I suspect that the current list of clan tartans that are considered appropriate for use by the masses reflects that fact that the masses (particularly pipe bands) choose to wear them.

[Meggers]

Would I be correct in assuming then its a matter of outright ignorance vs being respectfull in reguards to wearing clan tartan by the non affiliated party?

Id say this is a big indicator of what would make me feel upset and which would make me feel honored. If someone was wearing my clan and didnt know it, I would be very annoyed. If they did it to honor my clan, I would feel great. It just depends on the intention of the wearer.

[David Thorpe]

Would I be correct in assuming then its a matter of outright ignorance vs being respectfull in reguards to wearing clan tartan by the non affiliated party?

Being respectful would mean asking permission from the Chief of the clan or his representative, before wearing his clan's tartan, IMHO.

[Kilted Cole]

First of, The question posed was inteded specifically for xman. Seccondly, I do believe most of us who have been following this post are well aware of your humble or not so humble opinion. Thirdly, I did understand you quite well erlier in this thread but as Meghan beat me to the puch of mentioning that I simply dissagree with you. And finally, I actually wasn't referring to you about the chastisment but another person who I have noticed had been removed from this forum.

[Muddy]

You know, in the end, a kilt is just a piece of clothing. I wear "plaid" shirts all the time and, I'd bet most of you do too.
I have never once, chosen my shirt, or more to the point chose NOT to buy and wear a shirt because it's "not my tartan".
I realize the ethos of kilts is somewhat different but, since the "family" tartan thing is of relatively new provenance in history and, since many wear kilts now with no personal scottish connection whatsoever, anybody who gets their knickers in a twist over you wearing "THEIR" tartan without a "legitimate" connection needs to get laid IMHO.

[Kilted Cole]

You know, in the end, a kilt is just a piece of clothing. I wear "plaid" shirts all the time and, I'd bet most of you do too.
I have never once, chosen my shirt, or more to the point chose NOT to buy and wear a shirt because it's "not my tartan".
I realize the ethos of kilts is somewhat different but, since the "family" tartan thing is of relatively new provenance in history and, since many wear kilts now with no personal scottish connection whatsoever, anybody who gets their knickers in a twist over you wearing "THEIR" tartan without a "legitimate" connection needs to get laid IMHO.

***
Preach it brother, PREACH IT!

[kilted scholar]

The funny thing is that while I have worn kilts for decades - it must be well over a thousand times, possibly a couple of thousand - I can only recall one occasion, maybe two, when anyone asked me if I was part of the clan with which the tartan was associated.

May it be that such comments are more prevalent in north America? I lived in the USA for 28 years but wore the kilt there only occasionally (highland games, family gatherings) so I am not in a position to give an answer to that but others might be better placed.