Tartan for Tartan's Sake

[Mr. bone]

Excellent thread Rex!

I agree with the "Red-Headed Stepchild" theory. I would be hard pressed to wear a fashon tartan that had no meaning mostly because the very tradition of the kilt as understood by the masses is that "that's your familys plaid color, right?" To my mind, there has to be some sort of meaning. I could totally wear for example Rockys American Heratage tartan, because he has given it meaning. (plus it's a great looking tartan!) I also really really love the Warrior tartan he has. But the deadly "**" means it's just a cool purple plaid. I would feel funny if called upon to explain the rich family history of the tartan and could come up with nothing better than, "it's kinda cool"

But I don't feel funny wearing my only kilt, a UK workmans, even though I still have to answer the kilt question with a simple, "it's kinda cool." But I suppose that's because it's a non-traditional kilt.

If I could ever scrape enough pennies together to acatually purchase a family tartan, my thought process might change. Just gotta get that mortgage paid off. And the car. And the kids car......

[Ryan Nielson]

I have definately felt out of place having no scottish or irish connection at all. I like the idea of having a family tartan so I have gravitated toward some kind of tartan that have a connection to even if it is a slim one. I have a litle bit of welsh from my mother's side of the family and am looking at St. David's or Welsh National right now even though the connection is pretty slim even though I don't like the look of either of those patterns that much.

[macwilkin]

I have definately felt out of place having no scottish or irish connection at all. I like the idea of having a family tartan so I have gravitated toward some kind of tartan that have a connection to even if it is a slim one. I have a litle bit of welsh from my mother's side of the family and am looking at St. David's or Welsh National right now even though the connection is pretty slim even though I don't like the look of either of those patterns that much.

I've always admired the original Welsh National tartan that was designed in 1967:

http://www.district-tartans.com/welsh.htm

Regards,

Todd

[Phogfan86]

I'm a late joiner to this thread, so here's my 2 schillings...

After my initial kilt purchase of two clan tartans (Gunn and Macduff), my kilt collection seems to be growing more according to color than anything else. I just ordered a USA Kilts Douglas Modern casual in small part because I do have some Douglas in my family, but in larger part because I don't have anything green or in a blue that's not really dark.

My other kilts are SWK Night Stalker (black); SportKilt Hunting (gray and dark dreen), SWK Black Watch, and SWK Black Stewart. So, the Douglas purchase was just as much a function of color as anything else. I didn't have that color and I look good in that color so I bought it.

I used to think universal tartans were the red-headed stepchild of the kilt world, but as I've spent time here, that's changed. I wouldn't wear shirts in just one or two colors; why should I do it with my kilts? I'm not going to bail out on a tartan just because it was created by a woman in a wool mill in 1997. If I like it and I can afford it and I can order it without my wife finding out, I will.

[Ryan Nielson]

I've always admired the original Welsh National tartan that was designed in 1967:

http://www.district-tartans.com/welsh.htm

Regards,

Todd

Yes that shade is very nice. I wish it wouldn't be so hard to get ahold of that material. The one out there you see on sportkilt for example is much much brighter than that.

[Kilted Rogue]

Seams i am going to add my .02 to things.

As someone who doesnt have any direct traceable Scottish Clan / heritage. I look to these fashion tartans as my way to wear the kilt and still connect to places i have been. There is still that question you will have to answer" what clan is that?" ( i have been asked that while wearing my UK Mocker)

I love the kilt, i love wearing it, and for me those tartans that we are talking about give me the opportunity to wear it proudly an not as some one stated above" step on anyone's family tartan toes "

[george7]

The thing I don't like is the marketing of Pride of _____ (fill in the blank) from tat shops. I do however really like the Irish Pride tartan that seems to be catching on.

[Riverkilt]

Many are designed, few are woven.

My youthful alma mater, Oregon State University, had a tartan design contest and this tartan, designed by Krisja Lorenson, won.

http://www.oregonscottish.org/tartan4.jpg

sorry, can't paste it....but even though its "official" can't find the cloth and knowledgeable sources on line say its not woven yet.

So designing is one thing, weaving another.

Ron

[thescot]

To be perfectly honest, when it comes right down to it, I choose a tartan because I like the way it looks. If it's not pleasing to my eye, I don't want it. I have a Robertson Red great kilt for really dressy occassions, but for the most part, I'm not too crazy about red tartans at all--even that one.

I love my Robertson Hunting and the Weathered Robertson Huntgin, and the Gordon, and the Leatherneck, and the Weathered Ulster cloth that I just received. (Man, is that a great tartan. But I digress.)

Fact is, the names all have a meaning for me, but I would not have ordered any of them if I hadn't liked the way they looked.

So, in effect, they're all fashion tartans in a way. I have no connection to the IOS, but I'd love to have one because I like it. Who really cares about all that. It's mostly about selling material.

[Ealisaid]

Very interesting question. I don't consider "fashion" a pejorative. The first tartans were woven as soon as people figured out looms and the dying of thread-- long before clans took an interest in them. If you don't have a clan bond, you may still enjoy tartan.

I am endlessly fascinated by the combinations of color, line width, and symmetry to the square that comprise tartan. Whichever one I am wearing, I stare at it and get lost in it whenever I have an idle moment.

So whence the idea that a clan tartan is preferable to an open/universal/fashion tartan? People want to feel connected to an ancient and honorable heritage, and perhaps if they have no clan affiliation, they feel less connected. That is not necessary! People of all backgrounds can look to their heritage for strength and pride. One is not less than a clansman if he hasn't a clan. We all have families and literally millions of ancestors!