Two Telling comments? The Answer Perhaps?

[Alan H]

Well, Jock you and Alex were the only Scots that I saw in 23 days wearing a kilt, except athletes, pipers and dancers at the Games, and a few pipers busking for money on the Royal Mile. Oh, the male staff at Holyrood wore kilts, as well. Even the workers in the Tartan tat shops in Edinburgh wore pants.

At the Airth Games, I came across a couple of attendees who were wearing kilts. They were from Ohio. Every single Scot at the Games, except for the participants, judges and the Wealthiest Guy In Town, who sponsored much of the events, wore pants.

You have said this over and over and my experience was exactly as you described.

When there, I wore a kilt out to dinner with you, at dinner with Cessna152towser....at the Games as a competitor, and ONE other time, just because I hauled the thing over there, and might as well wear it. I'm sure that the locals rolled their eyes.

I was a tourist. A TOURIST. From California. I don't have a problem being seen as a tourist. I mean, every single person in Scotland with two exceptions in 23 days was absolutely lovely. Nice people, all of them, whether I was a tourist or not. I have to say, why get upset at being a tourist, when I AM a tourist? I was pleasant to people, they were all lovely to me, I spent money at their establishments, and had a grand time. What's to get upset about?

Having seen that in fact, Scots generally don't wear kilts, and thinking that it's mostly tourists that are tartan -crazy, I can understand your young friends point of view.

[Liam]

I have known Harry all his life and have watched him grow up from fairly close quarters, so I think I know him as well as anyone. The short and long answer is yes. Yes I do.

I think there is a real sickness of tartan with everything and general tourist clap trap amongst his generation. They think that Scotland is cheapened by the "biscuit tin" version of Scottish history and think that the Scottish tourist industry should re-invent itself without the Victorian style romanticism.

I cannot deny that they do have a point.

I believe I better understand his (or perhaps your) thoughts....

[Alan H]

I don't understand the revulsion at being called a "tourist" when I am one, though. I find that puzzling.

As a complete aside, Jock.... after reading what you've had to say about tartans and kilts in Scotland....and darn it all, but so far you've been mostly right..... I'm concerned about the future of the Wildcat Tartan. It's a lovely tartan, but I note that the overwhelming number of people who've purchased it so far are from the USA and Canada. (We have one fellow from Finland who bought some yardage!). I think this is because of the nationalities of the participanats in XMTS and the Facebook group. Naturally, because the goal of the tartan is to effect some change and raise awareness IN SCOTLAND I am wondering if we'll really sell very much of the stuff, there. It's Scots who can make changes in policies which will help the cats, not Americans and Canadians. Yet, because Scots, generally, are rather conservative in their tartan choices, will very many opt to buy a "new"...non-traditional tartan?

I suppose we shall see. I am somewhat encouraged by the fact that the Wealthiest Guy In Town in Airth wore a nice Holyrood kilt....not a "traditional" tartan. So perhaps there's hope.

[tpa]

I suppose we shall see. I am somewhat encouraged by the fact that the Wealthiest Guy In Town in Airth wore a nice Holyrood kilt....not a "traditional" tartan. So perhaps there's hope.

There is always hope - that maybe one day funds will permit.

[Cyd]

Alan, you are right. You probably won't sell a lot in Scotland. It isn't apathy towards your tartan, it just isn't on the radar.

Kilt wearing is a formal affair for most Scots. Many of us own one kilt, very few of us own multiple kilts. As a formal garment, it just doesn't make sense to collect a wardrobe full of kilts. Consequently your market in Scotland is pretty much limited to first-time kilt buyers who will go with a clan tartan 9 times out of 10. Not to worry. I suspect the American/Canadian kilt market is actually much larger than that in Scotland.

To the other poster who lamented the tailors on the Royal Mile peddling all sorts, I would say they are businesses looking for a profit, nothing more, and as such couldn't care less if what you are buying makes sense so long as you are buying. Just capitalism, in all its glory. Their market is the tourist trade, and although many have the integrity to provide a good deal of quality, they also know that few of their customers will be returning.

[Jock Scot]

It is a super tartan though Alan! I just don't know if the Scots will buy the Wildcat tartan and I think the only thing that will persuade them to buy a non Clan Tartan kilt on top of the Clan tartan kilt that they have already, will be a stunning tartan attached to a not just a good but great cause. I think that there is a chance that this stunning tartan attached to the Scottish Wildcat might just get the Scots to break a habit of generations....... Perhaps? As you know, I have agonised about having a new kilt made out of that tartan and I can think of many reasons to justify doing so. Sadly though, my conservative tartan thinking, plus a dollop of sound Scottish financial common sense has won through.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with tourists as a whole, but I must confess that the dreaded two hour tartan justification lecture --with added pictures----- does wear pretty thin! In a fairly long life I have not developed a kind way of avoiding them!

I am a tourist on occasion too, but going on some of the antics that I see here from some of our visitors, a very small minority, I do try very, very hard not to behave like some do here and it really is not difficult!. The thing is that I see Scots behaving just as grimly as visitors to other countries. So some Scots are not any better! The thought occurs to me, do the other European countries have to suffer the equivalent of a tartan justification lecture?

[Alan H]

Cyd, interestingly, several of our UK customers have purchased scarves or yardage for a table runner...things like that. I figure, that's still great. The more the merrier, and I hope that the scarves fly off of Paul Henry's shelves. I'm not angry or upset about the likeliehood of sparse kilt sales in the UK, just curious. The whole point of the Wildcat Tartan exercise (for me) is to generate awareness. Like I've written several times...if we sell only six yards of tartan, but 50,000 Scots hear about the issue and become aware of it because of press releases and some celebrity trotting out the tartan on TV, then my little project is a huge WIN in my book. Well, we're going to sell something like 200 yards of tartan I think, when all is said and done. That's a lot more than six yards, so we'll see how the "awareness" thing pans out.

Cyd... Jock has pointed out that most Scots own one kilt, if they own one at all. It's likely in the family name tartan, or if not, in something pretty conservative. The exception to that, that I'm personally aware of is the Heavies. Most of those lads own one for "dress-up" and one to wear "on the field". Jock has also mentioned that in his part of the world, were a lad to show up wearing a new kilt NOT in the family name tartan, then that would be noticed. Nobody would SAY anything, because people are polite, but it would register just a wee bit, that the lad had gone and done an odd thing, by purchasing a new and unnecessary kilt. Again, it's not like people would think "badly" of the man, or confront him about it.....just that the extravegence would be quietly noted.

Cyd, regarding the ongoing complaining about horrible tartan tat retailers "polluting" the Royal Mile, I have to say that I think you're spot on. They're businesses plying a trade to make money off of tourists. M-O-N-E-Y. Period. It's nothing more, and nothing less than making money. There's no moral aspect to it. Tourists go to the Royal Mile. Some of them buy things, and some of the stuff that they buy is junk. Well, people come to San Francisco and buy cheap cable car coffee cups, too. Honestly, I think that the good Edinburgh Gentleman and capitalist, Adam Smith would probably approve of the practice of selling goods to make money.

[Cyd]

...I am a tourist on occasion too, but going on some of the antics that I see here from some of our visitors, a very small minority, I do try very, very hard not to behave like some do here and it really is not difficult!. The thing is that I see Scots behaving just as grimly as visitors to other countries. So some Scots are not any better! The thought occurs to me, do the other European countries have to suffer the equivalent of a tartan justification lecture?

Every country has it's stereotype based on what the loud, stupid, and few do. At university I had a mate that would just shake his head and say "tourists" when he saw, well, a tourist. The thing is we probably passed a dozen unrecognizable tourists before coming onto this particular fool.

So Germans will be known for getting up early and taking all the beach chairs, English girls on holiday will continue to be considered "easy," and Americans for dressing loudly and generally just being, well, loud. It isn't fair but then that was never a guarantee when you entered this life.

[Jock Scot]

I believe I better understand his (or perhaps your) thoughts....

A combination of both, I suppose. As I have discussed the subject with Harry pretty extensively and then added what I have gleaned from others of his age, I think that I have come up with an honest group summery, using my words, of those that have contributed to the face to face discussions that I have had.

[Alan H]

I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would have to collar you, Jock...or anybody else... and launch into a tirade about why they wear whatever tartan it is that they wear. If an explanation is due, then sixty seconds will serve nicely. I suppose you could try to think of it as a sort of compliment. The person who bends your ear for an hour values your opinion, right? See, if you were Norwegian, you wouldn't have to listen to all that!

I think the Wildcat Tartan is fantastic, and honestly, I was quite surprised that you considered a purchase as strongly as you did! I took it as quite a compliment!