American tartans

[Mel1721L]

As a non American, I may be out of line but what about the Civil War commemorative tartans. I think they are very attractive. I have many ancestors who went to America and fought on both sides. I'd quite like a CSA kilt but would find it difficult to justify wearing.

[RockyR]

Putting aside the feelings of whether or not people like the American Heritage tartan and other comments, I will say this:

When we showed potential customers the "American Tartan" (http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...ls.aspx?ref=66) or the American Bicentennial tartan (http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...ls.aspx?ref=67), people pretty much unanimously said they were "too bright" or looked like "they were from the 1970's". While I don't think they're all that bad, I recognized as a retailer that the powerful "red / white / blue motif" is a bit much for most men to wear as part of their wardrobe. Also, when you have that much blue and red, where they overlap, you get purple (which for most men is a "love it / hate it" kind of color).

Most men (including myself when I designed the American Heritage tartan in 2006), when given a choice between darker color tartans and brighter color tartans, tend to gravitate toward the darker colors. As that's what most people seemed to prefer (i.e. that's what the customers told us they wanted), that's how we designed the tartan.

That being said, there IS room for more than 1 tartan to represent America! I've done several "American" tartans (including those linked above) for customers over the years, however since they're not readily available in PV cloth (or even wool most times), they are a custom weave which can run upwards of $900 for an 8 yard kilt. If you're not prepared to spend $900 on a kilt (which most aren't), then you're options are the stock tartans that different kilt companies carry. As the OP said he was NOT interested in wool or in a custom run, I've focused on PV cloth.

If you can get enough interest in the American or American Bicentennial tartans for a 130 M run of cloth from the mill (it equates out to about 40 - 50 kilts), then we'd be happy to have it woven for the group. Outside of that, there ARE other bright Universal tartans in PV cloth, like Caledonia, which may be more to your liking.

[Tobus]

I find it oddly ironic that the most popular tartan of all time, Black Watch (in modern colours), is even darker and more drab than the American Heritage tartan.

This thread does touch on a subject that seems to split opinions in the tartan-wearing world. Some folks really love bright, colourful tartans. Others hate it, and want something very dark which doesn't leap out of a person's outfit to slap people in the face. In the old days before tartan proliferation got out of hand, if someone were choosing a universal tartan along these lines, they often would opt for either Royal Stewart (red-based) or Black Stewart (primarily black). Rocky, one of the reasons I think your American Heritage tartan appeals to a lot of people is because it has the same general character as Black Stewart, while being a distinctly American-themed tartan. But obviously, it won't appeal to those who want a bright cheerful tartan. The American (District) and American Bicentennial tartans serve that purpose in their own right.

[Benning Boy]

I am not sure the OP knows the definition of "morbid", but I am very sure I do not understand the term, "American enough".

I most certainly do understand the definition of morbid, and have since my earliest years. But for the benefit of all, here is the first definition of the word I pulled up on-line:

suggesting an unhealthy mental state or attitude; unwholesomely gloomy, sensitive, extreme, etc.: a morbid interest in death.

American Heritage is overwhelmingly black, in remembrance of those who died in the defense of the country. I say it's morbid. Perhaps I should say it's funereal. There's some red, white and blue thrown in to make it American, but the blue isn't even National Blue, but some other shade.

As for American enough, I mean something like American District, just as one example, There's no doubting it's an American tartan. It has vigor and isn't wallowing in despair. It's exceptional. I see it as joyous. It comes closer to representing who we are, why so many wanted to come here, that there is a future for us.

[Cardinal]

Benning Boy,

While I do not share your opinion of the AH tartan, I appreciate the strength of the sentiment and the poetry of your explanation. You've captured perfectly the powerful emotions that are triggered by the most mundane things.

Best wishes in your quest! If you succeed, please let us know what you choose!

RLTW,
Patrick

[Tomak]

Benning Boy, I spent 20 years of life in the Army. I also buried many friends and comrades, so I can understand your strong feelings in that respect. I however, view the American Heritage as honoring their memory, not dwelling on their deaths. Good luck with the search brother.

[Mike_Oettle]

Benning Boy, since the American tartans displease you, have you perhaps looked into a state tartan? There are 40-plus states with their own setts (counting official and unofficial together), so there is a good chance that there is one you can wear – either from the state you live in, or a state you or your family have some connection with.
There are also a good many other district tartans for parts of the US.
Failing this, perhaps you might qualify to wear one of the many corporate tartans that come from your country. If you have served in the military, there are several military tartans, too. (Of course, in the States, a military tartan is not part of a regimental uniform, but one for civilian wear.)
Since you do not want a custom weave, this is the kind of choice you will probably have to make.
Regards,
Mike

[nagod]

have you considered american national?

[Benning Boy]

Here's something I just threw together using the Scotweb designer. It's American without being gloomy.


Thirteen stripes, just like the flag. A dark blue ground, although I made no effort to precisely match National Blue. And a gold stripe representing the American spirit, the streets-paved-with-gold optimism that brought so many here, and American generosity, unto the point of dying to defend the freedom of others.

The red and white stripes are six threads wide. They could be made wider, reducing the blue. The gold stripe is 16 threads wide, but could be almost any width.

[Tobus]

Why must all American tartans have red/white/blue in them? Are we really that fixated on the flag as our only basis of national identity? I'd like to think we have more imagination than that, and can find other meaningful colours - especially since there are already a plethora of American tartans with red/white/blue in them.