YOUR tartan

[Singlemalt]

Well here goes a long story.

I have several of the great clan names in my family background, MacKenzie, Cameron, Kerr and MacNeil. However, my surname is Thomson. A good sold old Scots name, I understand its the 4th or 5th most common surname in Scotland but it is without some of the history and grandeur of some of my other ancestors.

However, the Thomson tartan has another connection which I can also identify with. It is actually Canadian. It was designed by Roy Thomson, Lord Thomson of Fleet (unfortunately no relation because they are still the wealthiest family in Canada). Roy was of humble Scottish farming stock from an area just east of Toronto. He was poor at farming but got the license to sell radios, when they first came out, in Northern Ontario. The only problem was he found that there were no radio stations in Northern Ontario. So to sell radios he had to start radio stations. He quickly and successfully built this into one of the world largest media empires. At his peak he owned many of the big London daily papers and The Scotsman. He was quoted as saying he enjoyed his divided life living both in London where he was Lord Thomson and Toronto where he was just Roy to everyone. He and his family were great philanthropic supporters of the community and he was a man to be admired.

He was always proud of his Scottish background. He designed the Thomson tartans in the 1950's and I read somewhere that the Hunting Thomson was inspired by a very old piece of tartan found at Moy Hall. As this is very close to the small village in Invernesshire my Grandfather came from I can draw connection from there as well.

So that is it my tartan is Hunting Thomson.

[Teufel Hunden]

MacDonald of the Isles Hunting Ancient. I prefer it over the modern tartan, as well as most other MacDonald tartans... except for the modern dress when appropriate.



That's me with the fly plaid and frizzy horsehair sporran, my brother is in the prince charlie wearing the same.

[TheBrus]

After the Bruce tartan, it'd have to be Auld Scotland. I'm saving up for a 4 yard boxster in this.

[Seawolf]

Madainn mhath,

I would have to say that as my ancestors(as far as I can tell) were mercenaries and fought with the Mackenzie, & Graham clans I do favor them but... I do prefer the Watch kilt. Has some sort of swager and wears best on me.

Slàinte mhor a h-uile là a chi 's nach fhaic,

Seawolf

[Jim Simmons]

The U.S. Army Tartan that appears in my avatar. The colors represent to me my pride in my service in the U.S. Army and in the U.S. Border Patrol.

[Seawolf]

Good Stuff,

As a veteran and card carrying DHS member thanks for your service. It goes to show that kilties are a diverse bunch active, retired, proud of their plaid people...


Semper Paratus!

Seawolf

[Mike_Oettle]

There are a whole string of very special tartans for me, and sadly most of them seem out of my reach.
My clan tartan is Lindsay, and I would love to own a tank in Lindsay Modern.
I have designed a suite of tartans for my own family, starting with the one I use as my profile picture. This is for general wear (hunting?). I also have one with white instead of brown (an arisaid) for the womenfolk, one with pale blue instead of brown, which I call my dress sett, and another with deep red instead of brown, which I think I might like to wear as a plaid with my dress tartan.
South Africa has no district tartans as yet, neither national nor regional. I have registered one for national use called Spirit of 1994, but it has yet to be woven, let alone recognised at any level.
And I have designed quite a few more for the new and old provinces of South Africa.
But in the meantime I will have to be satisfied with belonging to the Jesus clan and wearing my Mighty Men kilt.
Regards,
Mike

[Calico]

I wanted to design and have woven my own personal tartan, but decided I could not afford it. But I did want to feel an attachment to the tartan I chose. I'm glad I like the California tartan, being native Californian (several generations). So that was my first kilt and so far still favorite tartan.

Next (purchased) kilt is Isle of Skye, though... so a new favorite could be coming soon...

[Jack Daw]

My first two kilts were the MacIntyre Hunting and MacIntyre Red (dress) and they are my favorites. Because of other clan and Scottish family names, I also like to wear my Kerr, Stewart, and Buchanan Hunting tartan kilts.

[MacHiram]

I have three. The Gordon Modern and Weathered and the Law Enforcement Memorial Tartan that I got from Rocky, at USA Kilts, just last week for the Metro Richmond (Virginia) Police Emerald Society.