What's Your Favorite Universal Tartan?

[Mikilt]

My X Marks the Scot tartan from Freedom Kilts is far and away my favorite.

[Godot]

I love the Norwegian Centennial tartan, and also the German heritage tartan. (I'm German and Norwegian by heritage) The combination of the Scottish and Norwegian flags in the Centennial tartan is just too cool to me.

[Nile]

I have always felt strongly that your tartan is your tartan, ... It's a nametag, ...

I agree with Father Bill to some degree but, modern kilt wearing in the USA does not necessarily reflect the strictures of traditional (or what ever) Scottish dress.

Consider your broader heritage. Perhaps you could look beyond your sir name to identify other Scottish (or Irish) ancestors, maternally and paternally, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. You can honor your family, your heritage, or your past but, that doesn't have to start with your mom and dad. We are all at the end of an ancestral line that has many branches above it.

The other thing that you could consider is designing your own tartan, one with significance of design and/or color. Of course this would be costly when ordering a tartan but, it is an option.

Aesthetics is important but, it should not be the only criteria. Keep in mind that the kilt is not a stand alone entity, it is a part of your outfit (all be it the most important part) and you can dress it up or down and generally enhance its' aesthetic by what you wear with it.

Nile

[mookien]

My favorite "universals" are the Strathtummel and the Stewart Hunting Modern. I have a kilt in the former, but not in the latter, yet.

I do not have a picture of the Strathtummel, but look forward to posting one. At the moment, I cannot post pictures on the forum due to some as yet unresolved technical problem. But, a pretty decent computerized image may be seen at

http://www.letsbuyscottish.com/wp-co...rathtummel.jpg

The corresponding image at the Scottish Register of Tartans is not very good, and the one at the Scottish Tartans Authority, while better is not as representative of the actual tartan as the one referenced above. In reality it is a rather bright tartan.

[PiperChick]

Father Bill and Nile, I agree with you to a point. I would not presume to wear another clan's tartan. I've passed up the offer of a free kilt that I felt I had no right to wear, and have taken issue with a friend that did not feel the same, and wears a tartan he cannot even identify. It simply seems rude to me, and I would rather not offend.

But I'm curious about your take on a pipe band. Many in the MWPBA wear a clan tartan. As a matter of fact, several wear MY clan tartan by marriage. I doubt many, if any of them belong to the Douglas clan and therefore wear a tartan that, by the standard you have stated, they should not wear. Yet, it is the band uniform.

Or how about a solo piper, who either does not know their lineage, or comes from one without a tartan? Or one who is adopted? Or who has a strong rift in the family, and choosex not to display the affiliation, but would still like to contknue with the instrument? Or had no Celtic lineage at all, but became a piper for love of the instrument? A tartan kilt is part of the piper uniform. While I think it would be bad form for that person to wear a clan tartan not his own, I see no reason why a universal tartan or a district tartan would not be a reasonable and acceptable choice.

Nile I haven't considered tracing my own heritage back further. I may give that some thought.

[NorseCelt]

I don't own any kilts in the following universal/district tartans, but they're the ones I really like.
Isle of Skye, Maple Leaf and Norwegian Centennial.

[imrichmond]

But I'm curious about your take on a pipe band. Many in the MWPBA wear a clan tartan. As a matter of fact, several wear MY clan tartan by marriage. I doubt many, if any of them belong to the Douglas clan and therefore wear a tartan that, by the standard you have stated, they should not wear. Yet, it is the band uniform.

Or how about a solo piper, who either does not know their lineage, or comes from one without a tartan? Or one who is adopted? Or who has a strong rift in the family, and choosex not to display the affiliation, but would still like to contknue with the instrument? Or had no Celtic lineage at all, but became a piper for love of the instrument? A tartan kilt is part of the piper uniform. While I think it would be bad form for that person to wear a clan tartan not his own, I see no reason why a universal tartan or a district tartan would not be a reasonable and acceptable choice.

The tartan police generally give a pass to pipe band members. Even in Scotland, it is quite acceptable for band members to wear the band's tartan, even if they have no other connection to it. Could a band like the grade 1 78th Fraser Highlanders even exist if it had to recruit only pipers and drummers who were members of or affiliated with the Fraser clan?

As for solo pipers, if they don't wear a band uniform and don't want to wear a clan or family tartan that they are not affiliated with, there are many others to choose from. In the U.S., most, or perhaps all, states have a designated tartan. This is also true of Canadian provinces. I live in British Columbia, and have a kilt in that tartan. There are also many "fashion" tartans unaffiated with any family name or geographical region. Even those bearing a specific place name, though, are not restricted to inhabitants of that area. Should one wear the Isle of Skye tartan, for example, if one has no family or formal connection to the island? Why not? There is no restriction on the tartan. I have seriously considered wearing it myself. After all, I love visiting Skye, have been there a few times and I even have a sticker on one of my pipe cases that says "I kept time with the Isle of Skye Pipe Band" (which does wear the Isle of Skye tartan). After performing with a North-American pipe band in Stirling last summer, the town council gifted each of us with a lovely tie in the Stirling and Bannock tartan, obviously with the expectation that we would wear it, even though none of us had any other direct connection with the town. (I would rather have received a kilt in the same very attractive tartan, but you take what's offered.) You should have no difficulty finding a tartan you can feel comfortable wearing.

[Liam]

I have four "district" tartan kilts - Saskatchewan, Maple Leaf, Irish National and Tipperary, but I don't consider these to be "universal" tartans. I believe one should have an affiliation with the particular district to wear them. I have a Caledonia and a Black Isle tartan kilts, both which I like, but for opposite reasons - the first because it's use of virtually all colours, and the second because of it's very subdued look.

[mookien]

I have four "district" tartan kilts - Saskatchewan, Maple Leaf, Irish National and Tipperary, but I don't consider these to be "universal" tartans. I believe one should have an affiliation with the particular district to wear them. I have a Caledonia and a Black Isle tartan kilts, both which I like, but for opposite reasons - the first because it's use of virtually all colours, and the second because of it's very subdued look.

Liam: You raise a good point/question - are district tartans universal?

From my rather "liberal" point of view, ie "if you can buy it, you can wear it", then all tartans are universal, except for those very few mentioned by Jock.

If, on the other hand, they are generally not perceived as universal, then woe be it to Strathmore, or any other mills/organizations that design district tartans for the market. I doubt Strathmore could sell that much tartan to just those folks who have a connection with the valley - Strathtummel.

John

[guardsman]

Mine in MacKenzie because of family military ties , I.e. highland light infantry