Tartan Police!

[James]

All too often I read of the dreaded Tartan Police, who say which tartan an individual has the right to wear.

Then I'll read that the experts say it is OK to wear any tartan,. and there are no rules-so wear what you like and ignore what misguided people might say-for the experts have spoken.

Sadly this is akin to the British constitution-many people think there is a constitution-there is not. Rather there is a complex web of 'understandings' that have been built up over the years: common law rather than statute law.

It is the same with tartans: the experts might claim one thing, but underlying that there is a whole raft of unwritten 'understandings' as to which tartan an individual might wear. Now pople might be polite to a wearers face, but they could be thinking something very uncomplimentary about the visitors choice of tartan.

So unless one has a very clear claim to this or that tartan it is better to play safe: here the many district tartans and others that are not affiliated to a regiment or clan offer a safe alternative.

[Yaish]

If you're going to wear the kilt in the first place, I'd be surprised if you were overly concerned what small minded people thought in private about it.

[bear]

James,
I'm afraid I believe the exact opposite and that Yaish has it right.
I personally don't care to associate with anyone who would say one thing to my face and another behind my back. I honestly don't care what these people think of me.
I'm off to start a post about the porigins of tartans that should prove to be a doozy!

[Archangel]

still looking for that post on the porridge of tartans....

[Riverkilt]

I have a standard two word response to the self-appointed Tartan Police and their unsolicited opinions.

I do honor the historians of our addiction.

Ron

[An t-Ileach]

I think that we need to be a little relaxed about this matter, it's true. On the other hand, just as we tend to take exception to the idea that any old unbifurcated garment is a kilt, and insist on the concept of a "kilt" conforming to certain minimum norms, so too I believe with tartans.

As James has said, there are plenty of area tartans, national tartans, and so on to wear - and the Government Tartan, I think, comes under this heading.

But for whatever reason, certain setts have become associated with the clans. I think that one needs to have at least some connection, no matter how strained, if it's only even a matter of aesthetics with the tartan of choice.

Surely to treat the clan tartan as a trivial thing is insulting to the people of that clan, and many have suffered terrible things for their clan affiliation. We should respect their memory through respecting their tartan.

I actually don't mind people wearing the various Clan Donald tartans, but I'd like them to be conscious of what they're wearing, and know something about the Lordship of the Isles, and maybe a bit about famous Macdonalds (more than, say, the fast-food joint) such as Sir John A. Macdonald, the Great Canadian.

[Blu (Ontario)]

... So unless one has a very clear claim to this or that tartan it is better to play safe: here the many district tartans and others that are not affiliated to a regiment or clan offer a safe alternative.

Sadly, many are not generally available or are a special weave and very expensive. Thats what I discovered a while back while looking at some of the many Canadian regional tartans. :-(

"If you weave it, they will buy.", (to borrow a phrase) doesn't necessarily apply worsted wool. The mills will weave what sells.

blu

[macwilkin]

Sadly, many are not generally available or are a special weave and very expensive. Thats what I discovered a while back while looking at some of the many Canadian regional tartans. :-(

"If you weave it, they will buy.", (to borrow a phrase) doesn't necessarily apply worsted wool. The mills will weave what sells.

blu

Always check with Matt, Blu...it is amazing what he can find with his sources!

T.

[starbkjrus]

I'm going to weigh in here although I still consider myself a "newbie". Much well considered advice does indeed say to "wear what you want but be aware and respectful of the history". I tend to search for tartans that I have a connection to.....not for fear of someone accusing me of "misuse" of their tartan but for the fact that this whole thing with me is driven by a search for my roots. I'm Irish, Scots-Irish, Scotish and English with a documented family history of over eight hundred and fifty years.

What tartans am I "entitled" to wear?? Well let's see.....
Carolina District Tartan -- Official tartan of the state that I grew up in and where my family has resided for over 300 years AND is associated with the Stewarts.
ANY Stewart Tartan -- I am a Stewart and my family has been associated wtih the Stewarts for generations. The American version of the Clan Stewart society (to the chagrin of some) has even acknowledged that Royal Stewart should be reserved for the current British Royal Family BUT if you like the tartan please wear it with respect. (In other words Clan Stewart is not fond of the Windsors and says [in a US colloquialism] to "go for it"
Also, there is a Virginia District Tartan (official or not) that since I live in Virginia I'm "entitled" to wear it.
My Partner is a Candian (Ontario to be exact) so that adds two tartans ( or more) if you try to decipher the TWO tartans that are reputed to be the "official" Ontario tartans. Let me see...Ontario, Maple Leaf, other provinces we've visited and love.

To make a long story short (ok, old joke but......TOO LATE) If you look at tartans available and look at your family roots and place of origin AND talk to existing clan societies there are not too many (Thompson may be an exception for example -- no offense) clan societies that object to others wearing their tartans as long as you have respect for what it means.

We are ALL related one way or the other and family is a mixed bag these days. The idea is to respect and honor our ancestors and to remind ourselves of the lessons learned in past generations while not repeating the mistakes that have been made.

Someone on this board has a Gaelic signature that translates to "We will not be fooled again". I think that applies to much more than the Scotish / English conflicts of the past aeon.

Ok, sorry I got WAY off on this one....to make a long story short if you have an English/Irish/Scotish heritage and live in the western world you have a LARGE selection of tartans you are "entitled" to wear.

Gee I shouldn't post when I'm on vacation