Quote Originally Posted by RockyR View Post
I agree, Nathan, but I would point out something: Not everyone who wears clan tartans that they have no affiliation with feel they ARE doing something wrong. It boils down to how the individual feels about it (which is where this conversation usually comes full circle). If you personally don't feel comfortable wearing another clan's tartan, don't. If you do, go ahead. You may be wise to understand there are 200 years of history surrounding the clan tartans (with the understanding that they were 'made up' by a mill to move cloth), but ultimately, the decision is up to the individual.

Where I tend to veer slightly off the path of the discussions laid out here is in the use of clan tartans in other articles of clothing. Not sure why someone would be uncomfortable wearing a Dress Godron kilt, but boxers or shirts are completely fine. If it b/c it's "accepted in society" to wear tartans as a shirt, but when you wear it as a kilt, it's a symbol of who you are? If so, then I would ask when that rule started? It's still Dress Gordon. The tartan and it's meaning don't change b/c one is a kilt and one is a shirt. People fiercely protect clan tartans in kilts, but let it slide in other articles of clothing.

It's the black / white mindset vs. the grey area. Individuals pick and choose what parts of the argument to pull into their beliefs... where on the "tartan enforcement agency" scale they want to fall between "wear any tartan at any time for any reason" all the way to "only ever wear your father's clan tartan, no matter what article of clothing, period". There's plenty of room in the middle of that scale for differing view points.
Rocky makes some interesting and carefully reflected ideas here. One that immediately pops out is the idea of mills making up tartans to move cloth. I wonder how much that has really changed. I have a Buchanan Hunting Modern kilt, the cloth woven by Locharron. The Registry did not give me a date when this tartan was created but the modern moniker would lead me to believe it does not have ancient roots. I love the tartan, and many people have commented on it. I always represent it as a Buchanan tartan, always when probed tell people I am not a Buchanan and never, ever wear it in a manner that anyone would consider disrespectful. If someone wants to condemn me for it, fine. I just respectfully disagree. How many agree that at the same time that if you are a Celtic or Rangers supporter it is totally wrong for wearing a team jersey because you have never taken the pitch for either side?

I sold a specific tartan kilt a year or so ago, but when I purchased it someone wrote me stiff rebuke replete with some acerbic comments. I actually wrote the clan secretary who took no issue with me wearing it and while I can not at this moment locate the email said something to the effect that they were honored by it.

My hope in all of this discussion, and I agree it is a bit of beating a dead horse, is that we are all bound by pleasure in wearing the kilt and that is not dissipated by divergent points of view.