Why are some plaids universal?

[macwilkin]

In fact, Campbell / Blackwatch tartan is universal precisely because it was used by the military. During the Highland Proscriptions, the only tartans woven were those of military regiments, and the only kilts worn were likewise.

Those who had taken the king's shilling were more common than you'd think, and they brought their kilts home with them, so that when the Proscriptions were lifted, there were a lot of fellows left with kilts in that tartan.

At least, that's my understanding of it.

The term "universal" does refer to the Government Sett (aka Black Watch - always two words), but in reference to efforts by the British government to force all Scottish regiments in the late 19th century to adopt it as a "universal" tartan and not the belief today that it is an "open" tartan, even though it is de facto.

Needless to say, such a move was resisted by the Highland regiments that wore their own distinctive tartans, and even many of the Lowland regiments, that originally wore Government Sett as trews, began to adopt their "own" tartans in the years before the First World War.

T.