District Tartans?

[Lulu]

I've tried to poke around a bit before asking, so hopefully I'm not being terribly bothersome.

How do district tartans function? Google is telling me that the district tartans preceded the clan tartans; is that something I should look for? I found the Perthshire and Tiree tartan (and from what we gather it looks like Husband is from the Tiree), but I'm not sure if you're supposed to look at the ancestry for those or where you live now. Do people even wear those tartans regularly? Would it be a good idea to get him a kilt in that tartan as a present?

[Mike S]

Not even the most persnickety clan and tartan bureaucrat "bullies" would claim that there is anything prohibiting anyone from wearing a district tartan to their liking. They simply represent the region of their respective namesakes.

Some may choose to wear a district tartan appropriate for where their clan originated, but this is not a requirement.

[The Wizard of BC]

Hello Lulu,

The thing to keep in mind is that there is no need to get too upset or concerned about which Tartan you should wear. Most of the Tartans we know today by names did not actually acquire their names until fairly recently. In many cases around the late 1700's to the late 1800's. Prior to that Tartans were known by numbers in weavers sample books or by local names.

Yes, the idea of names of Tartans after areas or regions is older than the names we use today. And many Tartan names today are for geographical places. There are Tartans today for just about anything. Some are named for Countries, cities, US states and Canadian provinces. There are Tartans for Companies and organizations. There are Tartans designed by individuals for their personal use. There are Tartans for those of Scottish descent who now live somewhere other than Scotland.
This forum has it's own Tartan. The world's first internet Tartan.

So, I use the following 3 guidelines with my customers.

1 - Pick a Tartan you like or which has some meaning to you. This could mean that you carry the same name as the Tartan or you could be from the place the Tartan is named for. It could also mean the Tartan represents some affiliation you have. It could also mean you like the colors.
As long as you feel some personal or emotional contact to that Tartan

2 - Know which Tartan you are wearing. It's a pretty good bet that someone will ask.

3 - Wear it with pride. Tartan tells the world - Who am I, where do I come from, how did I get here. You should be proud to show a Tartan which tells the world all of that in a simple fabric woven of multi-colored stripes.

I am in the kilt business so I see folks like you a lot. People who are new to this world. They have heard all sorts of things about Tartan and it's meaning.
The truth about Tartan is actually more interesting than the myth. Tartan is fascinating stuff.

The truth is that you do not need to get too concerned or worried that you may choose the wrong Tartan. There is no right or wrong. There is just the enjoyment of this wonderful fabric we call Tartan.

[Father Bill]

I remember taking a tour in Scotland and our guide came kilted for one day. When asked if that was his family's tartan, he said "No" it was the tartan worn by a choir in which he sang, but since they paid for it and kilts are so expensive, damned if he was paying himself to have one made in his own clan tartan when he'd been provided with that one for free.

Interesting bit of thrifty perspective there!

[unixken]

This thread has got me thinking. Among my kilts, I already have an Aberdeen District tartan, since my father's paternal side emigrated from Aberdeen in 1904. But I might want to look up whatever regional/district tartan is appropriate to the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, since that area is the origin of the Buchanan clan.

Geez. I've got to stop reading this board. You guys are constantly giving me ideas for another kilt... and the one after that... and the one after that...

I propose we design a tartan for that region I call "the jones zone", since that's where many of us spend a great deal of time. LOL

[Tarheel]

I propose we design a tartan for that region I call "the jones zone", since that's where many of us spend a great deal of time. LOL

Maybe a tartan based upon the Isle of (hurry up and) Wight would fit the "Jones zone" design. A bit more green, for envy of others, and sick of premature visits to the post box.

[ASinclair]

Lulu,

If you are considering a district tartan, you may want to consider the Carolina tartan. Here is a link to a website with info about it => http://www.carolinatartan.com/colors.htm

This tartan has been officially adopted as the state tartan by both South Carolina and North Carolina legislatures.

[Mike S]

In the case of at least two of my clans, the district and clan tartans are reciprocal in nature. The Guthrie clan tartan is based off of the Angus district tartan where the clan is located, and many Sutherlands wear the Sutherland district tartan as a clan tartan.

The Sutherland example may be a "chicken or the egg" situation.

[Balaamsass51]

check out scottishdistricts.org

[Profane James]

Encouraging words, Steve. I know not meant for me, but I will take them to heart.