Have You Ever Had Your Tartan Disputed By A Stranger?

[sathor]

That attitude always amazes me. That someone would flat out not believe an expert on the subject is just baffling.

Perhaps, but lets look at it from a different direction. My grandma claims to have some Alexander tartan that my g. aunt (her sister) brought back from a trip to Scotland. She seemed to remember it having grey in it.

Now, the best I can guess is that she has a swath of MacDonald dress tartan. (Which is cool since my wife is only a few generations from being a MacDonald, close enough that her grandparents mention that part of the family still.)

Still, unless she ever finds it, I won't know what it really is, but if she only knew it as Alexander, who knows what she would find at the tartan Museum, and if she were as stubborn as my aunt.... she might have issue believe the expert as well.

(it might also be Alexander of Menstrey of some variation.)

[Canuck]

When walking around in a black leather kilt I get asked "what tartan is that ?" I reply "Mennonite" and walk away

[Nighthawk]

I haven't had this particular problem, mainly, I think, because the tartans I wear are so obscure, and not clan related for the most part. I wear the Colorado state, I wear Stillwater Kilt's Nightstalker, I wear the Albannach, and I have two Clergy. I know Clergy isn't obscure, but it's hard to dispute, I think. I have had one person tell me that my Colorado isn't a real kilt for the reason as McMurdo neighbor, though. I tried to explain to him that all tartans started out as regional tartans, based on the fact that the weavers used natural dyes from sources that they had on hand, so the Colorado is in a way more authentic than clan tartans, and the whole thing about clan tartans not being ancient, but being fairly modern. Guess how that tidbit of info went down... Otherwise, I've had no problems. I had a guy ask me once about my black Amerikilt, and if kilts are all supposed to be plaid. I explained to him the meanings of "plaid" and "tartan" and told him what type of kilt it was- and he ended up asking me to write down the AK website address for him! He told me that he had always wanted a kilt, but had no Scots blood and didn't feel right about wearing a clan tartan that he wasn't entitled to wear (much like myself.) So interesting conversations. Most of the time, I've found that people want to learn, want to be taught, and ask out of sincere interest.

[herminator]

I once was asked what tratan I was wearing (Warrior Tartan by Marton Mills) and as it is a fashion tartan I was told:

"Ah, then that´s not really a tartan!"

[Tartan Hiker]

I once was asked what tratan I was wearing (Warrior Tartan by Marton Mills) and as it is a fashion tartan I was told:

"Ah, then that´s not really a tartan!"

I get that same response from a know-nothing in our local Scottish Society whenever I wear my XMTS kilt. She seems absolutely delighted to proclaim that my kilt isn't "real tartan." Her reaction to my Carolina kilt isn't much better.

At this point I've just given up and avoid her whenever possible. No sense in beating my head against that particular wall.

[Tony]

and I have two Clergy.

Clergy? CLERGY??? That's my Clark tartan you're absconding with!!
How dare ye!!!!!

[JolyStNicholas]

When walking around in a black leather kilt I get asked "what tartan is that ?" I reply "Mennonite" and walk away

Being raised around a Quaker and Mennonite community as a child, that's
really funny!

[David White]

Being raised around a Quaker and Mennonite community as a child, that's
really funny!

Yup, me to in the Shenandoah Valley-even went to Mennonite H.S.

[fudgeman]

When walking around in a black leather kilt I get asked "what tartan is that ?" I reply "Mennonite" and walk away

[Zardoz]

I've two cases like that that I recall. what's funny, or sad, about them is that a 'family name' tartan was never involved, only experts with just enough knowlege to be dangerous.

One was easy, I was at the pub wearing my SWK Nightstalker, a woman wanted to know; "What kilt is that?" I said "Nightstalker tartan". She; "So, not a family tartan?" I kind of felt a big discussion coming on, so I said "No Ma'am, It's my kiltmakers corporate tartan" She; "Oh, OK"

Next was a little more fun, this was few years back at a Sci-Fi convention. I was wearing my then new Caledonia, and was in the hotel elevator with a couple friends. We were going like 20 floors from the top down to the ground floor, with a bunch of stops of course. A fellow in a business suit gets on and says in a sort of unfavorable tone:

"Nice kilt"

Me: "Thanks"

Suit guy: "Do you know what Tartan that is?"

Me: "Uh, yeah, it's Caledonia"

SG: "Must be new, I've never seen it before."

I was playing along OK, but now I figure this guy's a

Me: "It's a univesal tartan, I think it was originally registered in like 1820.."

SG: "Well I've never seen it, Do have the right to wear it?"

Me: "Yes, I bought it"

SG: "What I mean is did you get permission from......"

Me: "Where do you people get this crap?"

At this point two fortunate things happened, First, My friend Angela told the guy: " Man if you wanna debate your misinformation about kilts and tartan, don't do it with a guy in a kilt, at least not this one!"

Second, The door to our floor opened!

I love my friends!