Designing a New Tartan

[Tibbsy]

Greetings all.

I am a member of a military organization that will be celebrating it's 50th Anniversary in a few years. Actually, we trace our history well beyond that date but the anniversary represents the date when 3 bodies were amalgamated into who we are today.

Anyway, my thoughts is that in commemoration of this milestone I wanted to propose to the Brass that we adopt an official tartan. We have a colour we are currently associated with and my thought was to incorporate this as the main colour of a tartan made up with the colours historically associated with our preceding bodies.

I've seen a couple of online "tartan design" web applications but they all seem a bit basic. Now, before a collective gasp goes up...yes, I understand that these are not that great but I'm wondering if someone can point me in a direction of one that is at least good enough for planning purposes at this stage of my undertaking.

Additionally, I'm looking for any good reference material that can help me work through this design process. Do's, don'ts, pitfalls to watch out for, terms that are used.... That kinda stuff.

I have plenty of time for this undertaking and I'm just at the start of my project but I thought I would consult with those who know more first off so that I can at least get on the right track.

Any assistance, guidance and words of wisdom would be appreciated.

Thanks

Randy

[xman]

One of the banners at the top of every page here is for Scotweb and you can read on the banner itself that you can "Design your own ...". I find it to be very good. Use the 'Pro Colours' option.

[Whidbey78]

One of the banners at the top of every page here is for Scotweb and you can read on the banner itself that you can "Design your own ...". I find it to be very good. Use the 'Pro Colours' option.

X beat me to it, so...what he said.

[Chas]

One observation and one question.

Keep away from asymmetric, it only brings problems.

And -

Are we talking about the Canadian Combined Forces?

Regards

Chas

[macwilkin]

Are we talking about the Canadian Combined Forces?

Regards

Chas

When I read Chas's comments, I couldn't help but think of the irony of designing a tartan for the unification of the Canadian Forces, which essentially attempted to destroy a lot of regimental custom & traditions for the sake of economics. As I remember correctly, the generic "CF Green" uniform was widely unpopular until Brian Mulroney's administration began to restore some individual distinctions to the forces:

The Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces by Minister of National Defence Paul Hellyer, an attempt to create uniform and streamlined land, air, and sea units in a more efficient Canadian Armed Forces, was met with resistance and disdain by many regiments which saw, in the name of efficiency, an attempt to erase the proud regimental history, traditions and identity that had acted as a cohesive factor in the lives of thousands of soldiers. The bland uni-service uniform was largely disdained and eventually rejected as the value of regimental identities and ethos was re-established through the 1970s and 1980s.

-- http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.c...=A1ARTA0006741



T.

[Mike_Oettle]

Hi, Tibbsy – developing a symbol for any organisation can be a challenge, because there will always be conflicting opinions.
Having devised or adapted coats of arms for a good number of organisations (two of them have been registered, neither without controversy) as well as a number of tartans (one has been registered, but with a substantial alteration at the whim of the client [fortunately a single individual, not a collective]), I can testify to this.
Your request was couched in such vague terms that my immediate questions were: “What organisation? What are the basics that need to be incorporated/accommodated in the design?”
So already you have presented us with an immense conundrum.
And when Todd (Cajunscot) realised that the organisation in question was the Canadian Armed Forces, I could see that you were producing a very large and extremely hot potato.
Politicians generally (that is to say, not only in Canada) have done an immense amount of damage to military tradition and pride in the name of efficiency (so-called) and economy (often equally misnamed).
I will not even go into the disaster zone known as the South African National Defence Force.
But outside this special case, probably the most unpopular and ruthless mix-and-matches of recent years have been the mergers of the Highland regiments of Scotland (not ignoring the great many other British regimental disbandments and amalgamations of units, whether kilted or otherwise) and the Canadian Armed Forces.
I certainly can identify with your sentiments, and your desire to commemorate an event.
But I wonder whether the eventual result will be worthwhile.
I see Canada’s abolition of the distinctions between army, air force and naval uniforms and traditions as a disaster of the first magnitude.
In contrast there is one change to Canadian military uniform that can be seen in a totally positive light: the replacement of the Royal Stewart tartan worn by many of that country’s military pipe bands with Maple Leaf tartan.
I have a fondness for Royal Stewart, and acknowledge it as a tartan virtually anyone can wear, but in its military use it speaks of royal connections that are essentially British (that is, belonging to the United Kingdom, rather than to, say, the Commonwealth of Nations).
For my money, Canada should take pride in Maple Leaf and make even more military use of it (and we all know that it is similarly in broad civilian use).
What comes to mind is the Red Hackle tartan – Black Watch with the addition of red stripes that allude to the feather emblem worn with such pride by Scotland’s premier regiment. The sett pays tribute to the unique contributions in terms of bravery and service beyond the call of duty made by members of that unit.
Perhaps what is needed here is not a new tartan, but a variation on Maple Leaf that would similarly add panache and esprit de corps to a military organisation that has been through an unwarranted era of humiliation.
Regards,
Mike

[Spartan Tartan]

What military unit are you developing this new tartan for? I think it's a great idea. I've played with some of those tools too, they work well. You ought to be able to get a good idea of what the tartan will look like.