US ARMY tartan redesign?

[Taffy Jack]

My thought is to accept Steve's design as one option, and to then solicit other designs from recognized designers. For example, Marton Mills' designer did a great job on my Dalrymple tartan. So I thought I'd send her fabric samples and ask for an original design (s.) I'd do the same elsewhere. It would entail some cost, but I could bear it. With a few designs in hand they would be submitted here for a vote of sorts, just as was done with the wildcat tartan. Then the design could be registered etc.

The new tartan could be touted through various publications. I think once word got out the yards might move well, especially if buyers could be directed to some of the kilt makers who advertise here. Hell, that abomination now known as US Army tartan seems to sell well.

Early on I had thought of dispensing with branch colors altogether. I thought perhaps a bit of buff in the design might do. Buff being the color of uniform facings in the Army's early years. Later, buff became the color of general officers, but today buff is the color of the Quartermaster Corp. What to do?

Then there's the issue of how to incorporate the engineers' white and scarlet two toned colors, or the military police green and gold. Things start to get complicated.

Since the entire Army revolves around the Infantry, all other arms and services exist to get the Infantry on the objective, this Infantryman is willing to take the point on establishing a new US Army dress tartan with the support of the less glorious rabble.

What are your thoughts?

"Complicated," indeed. Dark blue for JAG and AG as well as Infantry blue; scarlet for at least three branches (if ADA is still a branch...?); Finance has the money shots (silver and gold); cav and tankers want their yeller; chem guys have ANOTHER blue; these days there's CA (purple/white) and Cyber (Xerox colors?); PAO is a FOURTH blue; and the list goes on from there with Veterinary, Nursing, Transpo, SF...

Even this (certainly much) less glorious Rabbler would represent bottle green, silver-grey, infantry blue, and scarlet. Basically a bad Christmas wrapping paper.

I'm very late coming to this thread. I just realized I hadn't checked in on Xmarks in a while. Time flies.

I'd prefer to have the new tartan woven in P/V, as I can see some Snuffies out drinking while kilted , or troops serving in some hell hole putting on the kilt while blowing off steam. They'd be apt to soil their kilts and not have access to dry cleaning services. Of course, we of a gentlemanly nature would be as well served with P/V as wool.

The new tartan could be touted through various publications. I think once word got out the yards might move well, especially if buyers could be directed to some of the kilt makers who advertise here. Hell, that abomination now known as US Army tartan seems to sell well.

Appears I also came to this thread untimely; hadn't even realized that my spankin' new kilt's considered, in better-traveled circles, an abomination. Turns out I like it pretty well, but then all my taste is in my peat-smellin' mouth (cheers!).

I wonder if your project of restoring some dignity and attractiveness to our army's tartan might be undertaken
in concert with a company already producing "tactical kilts?" Those are already popular with Snuffies.