State Seal Tartan Collection

[RockyR]

Over the past few years, the topic of US State Tartans has come up on Xmarks. Some states DO have registered tartans, some do not. Of the states that do have them, roughly 1/3 are “official” (approved by the state legislature). Some state tartans are open to the public (meaning anyone can weave them) while others are copyrighted and controlled by an individual or group.

USA Kilts, being inspired by the Irish Crest collection (each tartan taking color and design cues from the county crest), designed a collection of US State tartans. We chose the colors for each state based on the state's official great seal, as shown in the upper left corner of the tartan image (see below). The tartans themselves have no 'official' status with each state as they have not been approved by the state legislatures, but are a fashion collection, designed by USA Kilts, based on the state’s seal. These tartans have all been registered with the Scottish Tartans Authority in April 2013.

After a ‘false start’ with a mill a few years ago, we’ve secured a contract with a mill to start weaving them for us and we’re now moving forward with the collection. I submit, for your perusal, our State Seal collection.

Here are a few examples of the State Seal Collection tartans:

California:


New York:


Pennsylvania:


The full collection can be seen on our Gallery page in the upper right corner of the list under State Seal Tartans ( http://www.usakilts.com/information-...z-gallery.html ) or in our Tartan Picker on any wool tartan kilt page.

[Jim Simmons]

I really like the Arkansas tartan - my State. I now have placed a kilt in that tartan in my "to buy" list.

[Father Bill]

Neat! I note that the offical seal of Hawaii is the "Monk Seal" but it doesn't seem to come with any tartan . . .

[Liam]

Neat! I note that the offical seal of Hawaii is the "Monk Seal" but it doesn't seem to come with any tartan . . .

You're pretty sharp today Padre!

[usonian]

I quite fancy that Maine tartan. My mother's home state and a place I think of as a home away from home. Hmmm.

[seanachie]

I am a little confused, are these alternative state tartans? The Massachusetts tartan looks very different than the official tartan which is was approved by the Legislature. If this is the case, is the issue related to licensing cost or copyright?

[RockyR]

There are about 30 or 35 states with tartans. Some of those are officially approved by the legislatures of those states. Some are not.

Some of the officially approved ones are controlled by a single source (and / or copyright controlled) and some are "open for anyone to weave". The ones that are privately controlled aren't always readily available (often they aren't). It's partially an issue of getting permission (finding the original designer's contact details to GET permission is a job in itself sometimes) and / or a licensing agreement.

Rather than try to contact people / organizations that may not want to allow others to reproduce their tartans, USA Kilts designed an entire collection ourselves, based on the state seals.

I hope this helps to clarify.

[seanachie]

There are about 30 or 35 states with tartans. Some of those are officially approved by the legislatures of those states. Some are not.

Some of the officially approved ones are controlled by a single source and some are "open for anyone to weave". The ones that are privately controlled aren't always readily available (often they aren't). It's partially an issue of getting permission (finding the original designer's contact details to GET permission is a job in itself sometimes) and / or a licensing agreement.

Rather than try to contact people / organizations that may not want to allow others to reproduce their tartans, USA Kilts designed an entire collection ourselves, based on the state seals.

I hope this helps to clarify.

Clarifies in abundance...I can't imagine having to contact 30-35 official bodies/agencies/organizations, especially if they are public agencies, and await their approval. I am sure that would take years to accomplish. They might have to do an environmental impact study on what happens with the waste from your kilt making. :-)

[Stitchwiz]

Nicely done, Rocky!
Finally, a collection of state tartans - done, easily accessible, recognizable with an appeal to the heartstrings - WIN! WIN!
Having lived in PA, as soon as I saw the tartan, I knew it was for PA before I read the name. Mission accomplished in my humble opinion!

No more trying to contact the heir of the lawyer of the designer etc., etc., to get permission to use a tartan...

Just call Rocky at USA Kilts!

Done and dusted!

[davidlpope]

Respectfully, I wish this project had not been undertaken. Fashion tartans notwithstanding, I'm concerned that this will lead to confusion in the general public and less use of the real Carolina tartan. Seems a shame when the Carolina tartan is not available from stock anywhere.