What 'universal' tartans do you like?

[billmcc]

My current favorite is the black/grey/lightgrey shades int he "Highland Granite" tartan from MM...

Marton Mills is making a Highland Granite tartan? I don't see it on the MM website. I would be interested in seeing this tartan.

[pdcorlis]

For me its...

1. Isle of Skye
2. County Cavan

I'm really starting to appreciate county and district tartans.

[GlassMan]

My favorite universal is the "fashion tartan" Prince of Wales tartan. I think it looks so elegant.

[O'Neille]

I've found I like my Ireland's National that Rocky made me a lot. My favorite "Universal" is my Black Watch. I would really like an Ireland's National in a Heavier Wool/Polyviscose 5 yd machine sewn true waist kilt. O'Neille

[Monkey@Arms]

I am somewhat new to the whole tartan scene, and have a couple of related questions. I gather mills and makers have designed there own "fashion" or generic tartans like Nightstalker or Pride of Scotland (I recognize that mills inventing new tartans is not really a modern phenomena), anyway when people ask you what clan's tartan that is, what do you say to them?

Why are some older tartans like Stewart or Black Watch universal? (Not trying to stir up controversy, if Stewart's not a good example pick another name, just want to learn.)

Lastly, is there a master list online of the non-clan affiliated tartans (other than the district list)?

Best regards,

Jake

[A Hay]

I really like the Auld Lang Syne Grey from Scottishkilts.net.

RockyR: You mentioned a "Balmoral Claret" from HOE, but I was unable to find any reference to such at the HOE website or the STA tartan search. Could you point me to a picture of it, please?

Tom

[Colin]

1. Maple Leaf
2. Isle of Skye
3. Xmarksthescot
4. Nova Scotia
5. Spirit of Scotland
6. Flower of Scotland
7. Earl of St. Andrews modern
8. Pershire New Weathered
9. BC

[RockyR]

I really like the Auld Lang Syne Grey from Scottishkilts.net.

RockyR: You mentioned a "Balmoral Claret" from HOE, but I was unable to find any reference to such at the HOE website or the STA tartan search. Could you point me to a picture of it, please?

Tom

Auld Lang Syne is actually made by Marton Mills in their Jura range... I'm not sure if it's on their site yet... A bunch of their new tartans (jura book 3 for those with access to their swatch books) aren't on their site.

Balmoral Claret is a fashion tartan that HOE made up and unveiled at the trade show in January. Not sure if they have it on their site or anywhere online yet. It's in their black/grey tuck selvedge collection that they're calling their "Balmoral collection" (balmoral is in the name of every 1 of the 4 tartans in this collection).

[macwilkin]

Why are some older tartans like Stewart or Black Watch universal? (Not trying to stir up controversy, if Stewart's not a good example pick another name, just want to learn.)

I have always understood that the Government Sett, also known as "Black Watch" (not Blackwatch) was a "universal" tartan in that at one time, the majority of Scottish regiments wore some version of it, and/or was the basis for almost all of the regimental tartans. So, the "universal" refers to its use by the British Army, and not as a "universal" tartan worn by all. Of course, modern-day marketing has made it a "generic" tartan, along with the Stewart Royal, which technically is also a military tartan, and worn only with permission of the Sovereign, although again, due to the tartan trade, it has become a "generic" tartan.

Cheers,

Todd

[Sylvain]

Twenty-First Century.