Cameron Tartan

[Grizzly]

Below is an extract from the Cameron website which clearly sets out the different tartans and their restrictions or availability. -

TARTANS There are four basic tartans which are utilized by the Clan Cameron, each of which is usually found available in "modern" (bright and lively colors), "weathered" (softer hues) and "ancient" (supposedly more authentic colors) variations.

1) Basic Clan Cameron: This sixteen green squares upon a red background sett, with a bright yellow bordering, is for general use by all members of Clan Cameron. If one tartan had to be singled out for general use by Camerons worldwide, Basic Clan Cameron would be the one. As is the case with most clan tartans, this is one from the Vestiarium of Scoticum in 1834, which was accepted by the then Lochiel. It very much resembles an old red and green square sett in the West Highlands Museum in Fort William, although there are some variations.

2) Cameron of Lochiel: This red and blue tartan is similar to that worn by the 18th Chief, Donald "The Gentle Lochiel" Cameron in a portrait hanging at Achnacarry. It was first illustrated in 1810 in Wilson's Collection. This is the personal tartan of the Chief and his immediate family; as a rule it should not be worn by clansfolk.

3) Cameron of Erracht: Said to have been designed by the wife of Donald, 7th of Erracht in 1793 (there are many theories as to its origin, none of which seem entirely satisfactory). This combination of the Cameron and MacDonald tartans uses a deep red, dark blue, green and a fine gold line. It was created for the use of the original 79th Regiment, later known as The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, raised in 1793 by their eldest son, General Sir Allan Cameron, K.C.B. Regardless of its origin, this tartan has been in use by The Cameron Highlanders since their late-eighteenth century inception. It is often used as a day or "hunting" tartan, because of its "serviceable" colors. At times it has been strictly reserved for use among the regiment, but is now in wide use among Clan Cameron. This tartan was not created as a tribal clothing specifically for the Erracht Camerons. Therefore, if any Cameron ancestors owned this tartan, it does not mean that they were Camerons of Erracht. Quite the contrary, it probably indicates a regimental affiliation or even a school uniform, as some Highland academic institutions required students to dress in this tartan.

4) Hunting Cameron (of Lochiel): With its soft shades of green and blue, this tartan is not listed as being restricted in its use. It was devised because the Basic Clan Cameron tartan was considered too bright for shootings, stalking and hiking. Designed in 1956, it was based on a description of the tartan worn by the clansmen who fought under Sir Ewen Cameron, 17th Chief, at the battle of Killiecrankie

Personally as a sept member of the Cameron Clan I prefer the Hunting Cameron Tartan which is unrestricted in its use.

hope this helps

[kilted scholar]

This is an intriguing question, about which I have no personal interest.
Both TartanMill (ex-Scotweb) and Kinloch Anderson sell kilts in Cameron of Lochiel. Neither the Scottish Tartans Authority nor The Scottish Register of Tartans give any indication whatever that any of the various Cameron of Lochiel tartans are restricted.

[Jock Scot]

This is an intriguing question, about which I have no personal interest.
Both TartanMill (ex-Scotweb) and Kinloch Anderson sell kilts in Cameron of Lochiel. Neither the Scottish Tartans Authority nor The Scottish Register of Tartans give any indication whatever that any of the various Cameron of Lochiel tartans are restricted.

I wonder, if these establishments mean Cameron of Lochiel(hunting)? According to the Cameron website(exert posted above, thank you)this version is not restricted.

Perhaps when I bump into Lochiel next, I will remember to ask him.

[kilted scholar]

No, Jock, it looks very much to me like the regular tartan.
The STA and SRT sites list all the variations.

[Jock Scot]

No, Jock, it looks very much to me like the regular tartan.
The STA and SRT sites list all the variations.

Well then , I know not!

[Grizzly]

As a Taylor which is a sept of the Cameron Clan I would wear any of the Cameron Tartans with the exception of the Cameron of Lochiel (red and blue) which is restricted as Jock says to the Chief and his family. The hunting version (green and blue) is not restricted so, therefore would not cause any unnecessary faux pas at any Cameron gathering.

The safest bet is to wear the red and green (16 small green squares on a red background) which is the generally accepted Clan tartan.

If the mills will sell you the Cameron of Lochiel (restricted) then I think it probably says more about their willingness to sell you anything rather paying any due respect to Clan conventions.

[davidg]

So what exactly are Lochcarron saying?

They're not saying anything Jock. They simply would not be allowed to sell a restricted tartan without permission of the holder of the rights. As this tartan was designed in 1840, if memory serves me correctly, it cannot possibly be restricted under international copyright law as nobody holds the rights any longer than 75 years after the death of the copyright holder

All modern tartans come under copyright law but most are simply put into the public domain without any restriction whatsoever. Other tartans, like Isle of Skye, are freely licensed to the general public and for these tartans the supplier, i.e. the kilt maker, has to pay a surcharge which is effectively the licence fee paid on behalf of the end user. Other tartans are fully restricted and can not be sold to anyone except to a licensed outlet for a specific and approved use

All other tartans, that is those that are out of copyright like Lochiel, can be freely woven, sold or worn by anyone without exception but there are a few tartans that convention says should not be worn. The Balmoral, for example, is used by the Royal Family and it is bad form for anyone else to wear it. The Cameron of Lochiel tartan appears to fall into this same category of being reserved for use by the chief and not normally worn by clansmen. To do so would cause offence but you can't physically be stopped from weaving, buying or wearing it

That was precisely what I was meaning when I said to the OP that they would be advised to check the Clan Cameron site so that they could become aware of any special conventions. The danger of them simply going to a kilt maker would be that, especially in this case, because the tartan is not restricted it could have been sold to them and they would unwittingly have broken the convention which may, in turn, have cause offence and embarrassment

You certainly did the OP a good service with finding the information but I think the crossing of our posts may have confused you. Twice I was still composing whilst you were already posting so it may have looked like I was trying to argue with you, which was not the case. However, the fact does remain that this is a convention rather than a restriction, which has quite a specific meaning in the trade

[davidg]

Both TartanMill (ex-Scotweb) and Kinloch Anderson sell kilts in Cameron of Lochiel.

Point proven. If it were restricted they would NOT BE ALLOWED to sell such kilts. They wouldn't even be able to buy the cloth!

The clan "reserving" that tartan for the chief is NOT the same as legally "restricting" it which they simply cannot do. Anyone outside of the clan can actually wear what they want, even if that does not respect the wishes of the clan or its chief

[Jock Scot]

davidg.

I did sort out in my mind that our posts were crossing and did not think for a second that we were arguing. I know nothing of the technical facts of the matter other than two "good" sources of information disagree. Whilst I can only await answers from "those wot know" I can only ponder our various points.Thus far, a satisfactory answer is eluding me!

[mookien]

Gentlefolk: Perhaps there is a semantic distinction to be made here.

Perhaps "restricted" does not mean "as a rule it should not be worn by clansfolk", if for no other reason than that implies if you are not Cameron clansfolk, you are then not restricted.

Perhaps "restricted" means the tartan is protected under copyright law and no weaver (subject to such laws) will weave it unless given explicit permission by the copyright owner.

Whether either of those statement is correct, or not, I am now very glad that I did not take Rocky up on his sale of a kilt in the Cameron tartan. I'd be afraid to walk out my front door. (I realize it was not the Cameron of Lochiel, but I'd still be afraid.)