Rob Roy kilt

[Morris at Heathfield]

I think people here are trying to make some association between the "Rob Roy movie tartan" and the actual Clan MacGregor. That's erroneous, and not really the point of the tartan. The tartan in this case is called "Rob Roy" because it was the tartan worn in the movie of that name. Not because it has any historical association with the real Rob Roy or any association with the Clan MacGregor at all. In that respect it is a fashion tartan, pure and simple, and trying to draw comparisons between it and any actual Clan MacGregor tartan is besides the point.

The problem here is one of name resolution. I don't think anyone who has seen the Rob Roy tartan would mistake it for the Rob Roy tartan, but you can see (and have seen in this thread) how difficulties may arise when referring to one or the other in speech or text. I suppose using "Rob Roy movie" (and being sure to include the "movie" part) when referring to this tartan is a simple enough solution. Of course, there may be more than one movie.... (Fortunately, in the Disney movie, at least, he's wearing the usual clan tartan.)

As to the Highlanders preferring earth-tones, we do know that one purpose of the tartan was originally camoflauge.

Yes, I suppose in Rob Roy's case, earth tones would actually make a lot of sense.

I don't recall the picture

Well then, let me refresh your memory:

Since it's the simplest imaginable tartan, it's probably pretty common through the history of woven fabric!

Quite possibly. The MacGregors have claimed it as one of their clan tartans since at least 1816, though. As far as I know, nobody disputes that claim. Whether it was widely associated with the MacGregor clan before the 19th century, however, is open to question, in my opinion. But who knows? It could be Pryse Campbell was a Rob Roy fan.