A "restricted" Robertson Tartan?

[jsrnephdoc]

Yesterday I bumped into a YouTube discussion between the principals at USA Kilts regarding "forbidden," "restricted," and "Oh my God, I would NEVER wear THAT" tartans. Don't know why it appeared in the sidebar of my browser, but I clicked the link and watched a good bit of it. They talked about why no one but the Royal Family members would ever be countenanced wearing Balmoral, why it might not be cool to wear Black Watch in Ireland, why some organization-related tartans have symbolic exclusivity, and why "family" tartans generally can be worn by anyone in Scotland just because the wearer likes them.

However, mentioned in passing was a dust-up with a Robertson Clan Chieftan's "personal" tartan, but that was not elaborated upon.

Does anyone here know the story behind that? Nothing I could find on the Scottish Register of Tartans website provided a clue

[figheadair]

However, mentioned in passing was a dust-up with a Robertson Clan Chieftan's "personal" tartan, but that was not elaborated upon.

Does anyone here know the story behind that? Nothing I could find on the Scottish Register of Tartans website provided a clue

I wonder if it was a reference to the Robertson with the white line that is sometimes (without authority) referred as 'the chief's sett'. It is worn by the current chief.

[jsrnephdoc]

I wonder if it was a reference to the Robertson with the white line that is sometimes (without authority) referred as 'the chief's sett'. It is worn by the current chief.

Thanks so much! Maybe that's it.

I must admit that, even though I began wearing bits of it even before I started grammar school, I've never been especially fond of the classic "stoplight" red Robertson tartan. I didn't know that there was a historical reference to the possibility you suggest at the STA website. My parents (now both deceased 18 and 28 years ago) attended two clan gatherings in Pitlochry, and I actually have a photo or two of them posing with the then chief. I'll try to find those pics. Is it considered a faux pas for ordinary wearers of he family tartan to choose that variant?

Apologies if this is too much an attempt to gather knowledge without working at it myself, but could you say something about the origins of the Robertson of Struan tartan, and why it's so denoted? Also, I note that on the STA website there are two DC Dalgliesh Robertson "Fashion" tartans, one of them asymmetrical and just too busy, but the other actually attractive to my eye (enough so that there might be some cloth hanging around to be dispensed by whomever has acquired DC Dalgliesh's inventory). Neither of those is listed as "restricted" (as are many "Fashion" tartans). If they WERE restricted, does that succumb along with the existence of the original registrant (DC Dalgiesh)?

And, I'll pile on one MORE question: what about a "restriction" imposed by a designer who seems to have lost interest in the tartan itself? I'm speaking of "The Nursing Tartan," which I discovered on my most recent visit to Scotland in 2023. My spouse was not with me during that visit, but I brought home a scarf. The restrictions included being woven solely by Lochcarron and being retailed only by Gordon Nicolson, and to only a certain limited number of applications (including no kilts, but I did once see a pair of "ex hire" trews made from it on Gordon Nicolson's website).. I've been attempting to obtain a kilt made from it for almost 3 years now but seem unable to rekindle interest in the project from its "official" registered nurse designers.

[figheadair]

Is it considered a faux pas for ordinary wearers of he family tartan to choose that variant?

It is certainly less common nowadays but in the 1820-30s it was a stock tartan as this c.1830 specimen confirms.

Apologies if this is too much an attempt to gather knowledge without working at it myself, but could you say something about the origins of the Robertson of Struan tartan, and why it's so denoted? Also, I note that on the STA website there are two DC Dalgliesh Robertson "Fashion" tartans, one of them asymmetrical and just too busy, but the other actually attractive to my eye (enough so that there might be some cloth hanging around to be dispensed by whomever has acquired DC Dalgliesh's inventory). Neither of those is listed as "restricted" (as are many "Fashion" tartans). If they WERE restricted, does that succumb along with the existence of the original registrant (DC Dalgiesh)?

The Robertson of Struan first appeared in Volume II of the Highland Society of London's collection (1906-34). Presumably it was submitted by the then chief but beyond that, nothing is known of its origins.



The graphics are misleading, neither of the Dalgliesh dress tartans are asymmetrical. The firm is no longer and I assume that there is therefore no restrictions on either sett.

And, I'll pile on one MORE question: what about a "restriction" imposed by a designer who seems to have lost interest in the tartan itself? I'm speaking of "The Nursing Tartan," which I discovered on my most recent visit to Scotland in 2023. My spouse was not with me during that visit, but I brought home a scarf. The restrictions included being woven solely by Lochcarron and being retailed only by Gordon Nicolson, and to only a certain limited number of applications (including no kilts, but I did once see a pair of "ex hire" trews made from it on Gordon Nicolson's website).. I've been attempting to obtain a kilt made from it for almost 3 years now but seem unable to rekindle interest in the project from its "official" registered nurse designers.

According to the SRT entry there are no specific weaver or end use restrictions on the Nursing tartan. Have you tried contacting the Register?