Tartans that non-clan/non-scot can wear

[figheadair]

What in the name of all things decent is the Scottish Tartan Register doing quoting the Vestiarium Scoticum as a reference?

Why wouldn't they if it were relevant?

[Michael A]

I am being a little tongue-in-cheek, since I know that many modern tartans have their origins in that book. Yet, as far as its authors claimed to document earlier provenance of tartans, it has been proven a forgery. The tartans contained therein were all made up.

[OC Richard]

I just hope that it's clear to somebody doing tartan research that the provenance the VS gives a tartan goes no further than the Allen Brothers' imaginations. (Even if the VS was genuine, the illustrated tartans were admittedly the creation of the Allens, because the VS contains no images but only extremely vague verbal descriptions open to a nearly infinite spectrum of interpretation.)

Around here, people who get interested in tartans tend to not notice such things and believe that all the tartans they see are traditional.

[ThistleDown]

Around here, people who get interested in tartans tend to not notice such things and believe that all the tartans they see are traditional.

If by 'around here' you mean California (or America) no doubt what you say is true Richard, but the definition of 'tradition' needs to be recognised as time and use sensitive: if something is culturally accepted and lived with daily for two hundred years does it not qualify as 'traditional'? And, of course, some of the tartans described in the VS did exist prior to the Allen brothers and were peculiar or specific to Highland regions and therefore to the clans in those regions.

[figheadair]

If by 'around here' you mean California (or America) no doubt what you say is true Richard, but the definition of 'tradition' needs to be recognised as time and use sensitive: if something is culturally accepted and lived with daily for two hundred years does it not qualify as 'traditional'? And, of course, some of the tartans described in the VS did exist prior to the Allen brothers and were peculiar or specific to Highland regions and therefore to the clans in those regions.

Rex, as you say, some of the VS tartans did exist prior to the Allan brothers, MacKenzie for example but those that did were Wilsons' patterns. I cannot think of one that is a truly old Highland pattern.

[ThistleDown]

Thanks, Peter. My point was that acceptance of tartans we know today as 'clan' tartans, no matter their origin, is the result of adoption and consistent use over a two hundred year period -- the last two hundred years -- and that makes them 'traditional'. Not ancient -- although some are much older than others -- but at least 'traditional'.

[figheadair]

Thanks, Peter. My point was that acceptance of tartans we know today as 'clan' tartans, no matter their origin, is the result of adoption and consistent use over a two hundred year period -- the last two hundred years -- and that makes them 'traditional'. Not ancient -- although some are much older than others -- but at least 'traditional'.

Ah, got it. And agree.

[Stormpriest]

I just went and got what is called the "Alba Go Bragh" tartan at usa kilts. Its a mixture of brown and tan hues.
Truth be told, I got it for hunting, hence the colour choice.

[lschwartz]

I just went and got what is called the "Alba Go Bragh" tartan at usa kilts. Its a mixture of brown and tan hues.
Truth be told, I got it for hunting, hence the colour choice.

Stormpriest,

I just went to the USA Kilts website and could not find that with a search. Did you spell Alba Go Bragh correctly?

[Stormpriest]

It's not that I misspelled it, it's that I used the wrong language,
It's called.... yup, Scotland Forever weathered.
Sorry bout that.