Checking if a Tartan is registered.

[macwilkin]

I am not going to argue with you Matt. You are after all a Governor of the Scottish Tartans Authority and I would expect nothing less than you would promote them.

I just find it very strange that we have a body set-up, regulated and funded by the Scottish Parliament and there is great antipathy and reluctance on this site to use them.

Regards

Chas

Actually, Chas, but the STA has been a strong supporter of the official register, and helped them get started, if memory serves me correctly.

T.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I am not going to argue with you Matt. You are after all a Governor of the Scottish Tartans Authority and I would expect nothing less than you would promote them.

I just find it very strange that we have a body set-up, regulated and funded by the Scottish Parliament and there is great antipathy and reluctance on this site to use them.

Regards

Chas

Chas,

Just to be perfectly clear, I never once suggested to anyone that they not utilize the National Register for recording their tartan. In fact, my exact words were:

This is not meant in any way to suggest that the OP should be discouraged from registering her tartan with the National Register should she choose to do so. In fact, depending on just what the tartan is intended for, it is probably a wise thing to do.

Note that the OP was not even asking about registering the tartan, but simply double-checking to see if the design was indeed unique before having cloth woven (which is a requirement of the National Register anyway). I simply suggested that the STA can provide that service at a lower cost (free!) than the National Register. And recording the tartan with the STA would in no way prevent that same tartan from being formally registered with the National Register, as well. (In fact all new tartans registered with the National Register get added into the STA's International Tartan Index automatically).

Just for the record, I have been promoting the STA long before I was named a Governor last December; and I do so because I think they do a good job of promoting tartan, not for any self interest.

[Tartanman]

I'm slightly bemused by Chas's claims re the National Archives tartan register. Yes it's certainly official and is a facility that we campaigned for, for many years. What has to be appreciated is that the administrators - the National Archives of Scotland - are the keepers of Scotland's records and as such are excellent at data preservation, handling and presentation. What they are not however, is experts on tartan as they will readily admit as evidenced by their passing all new tartans to us at the Scottish Tartans Authority for checking for uniqueness in name and - more importantly - in design. So . . . whilst they may appear to be the arbiters, they cannot arbitrate without our specialist input.
We and Keith Lumsden's STWR formed the basis of their register but from Day 1 ours and theirs diverged since they will only include tartans for which people have paid whereas our 'industry standard' database tries to be a record of all known tartans - whether channelled through the official register or not.
As for the 'Authority' having no authority . . . no-one has any authority over tartans and their 'official' registration is purely a matter of window-dressing and doesn't alter their legal status one iota.
The STA is the only body that represents both the academic and commercial sides of tartan on a global scale and is recognised as such by the Scottish government and its relevant funding bodies.
I hope that helps to clear up some of the misconceptions being passed around.
Brian Wilton,
Director
Scottish Tartans Authority

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Thanks for the clarifying post, Brian!
~M

[Tiny]

Update:

Just got the green light (bill) for my tartan. guess I should start gathering the funds to register the tartan and then get it woven and made into a kilt and matching half belted plaid. Guess I'm gonna need to chat with you some time Matt about getting all this done.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Update:

Just got the green light (bill) for my tartan. guess I should start gathering the funds to register the tartan and then get it woven and made into a kilt and matching half belted plaid. Guess I'm gonna need to chat with you some time Matt about getting all this done.

Just send me an email or call me at the museum when you are ready to get the ball rolling!