Quote Originally Posted by Jock Scot View Post
Good for your customer. Your story illustrates, perfectly, why some of us Scots are somewhat mystified by people wanting to wear tartans that they have no connection to, and a whole host of them, at that. I can fully understand, as in this case, a clan connection and I fully understand district tartans and they ought to be understood and recognised more here in Scotland and I can understand universal tartans and I can understand appropriate state, country,college, band etc., tartans. Wanting tartans, just because, is a complete mystery to some of us.
Part of it (at least for me) is that there really aren't any ties from me to the old country. Sure, I can trace geneaology back to Lanarkshire, Scotland, and County Clare Ireland, and Bern, Switzerland and dozens of other places. But, all the culture I grew up with are a mix of South Dakota farmer and ex-military and Northern Mexico/Arizonian traditions and influences.

So, although it would be nice to say, "I support Laird X and clan Y", the fact is, that I know nothing about them or their relative histories, or where my various family connections would fit with importance. So, I dabble. Was my family particularly Frame? Should I go with Burnett because it is closer to my name (and there are ties)? stay with the wife's connections?

How does one, without any historical precedence, choose? I can't speak for others, but this is what I went through when having my first kilt made.

As a side-note, there aren't any local groups tied to any of the clans/houses I'm tied to. So, it is pretty much entirely up to me.