US Army Tartan

[RockyR]

My understanding it that the copyright to the Army tartan is held by Alexis Malcolm and Strathmore Mills. I believe Marton Mills pays a royalty to weave the Army tartan in Polyviscose.

Close, but not quite, Ron.

USA Kilts (not MM, but me myself) got Alexis Malcolm's permission and paid Strathmore a royalty to have a single run (130 M) of the cloth woven in PV. We did the special run of cloth back in 2007 and have since sold out of it with no plans to re-weave it. The costs associated with doing things 'the right way' (i.e. paying royalties to the proper people) get expensive when other companies get away with weaving it without paying any royalties and sell the cloth / kilts for less. It is sad but true.

I can also comment that I know for a fact that NO company currently has Strathmore's permission to weave ANY of the following tartans in any non-wool fabrics (yet it is done WITHOUT permission):

US Army
US Navy (Edzell)
US Forces
US Air Force
US Coast Gaurd

The Marine Corps tartan is a 'non restricted tartan' that can CAN be woven / sold by anyone.