Cultural Appropriation?

[Steve Ashton]

This article on Tartan today was written by Brian Wilton, former director of The Scottish Tartans Authority.
Brian is also the author of the coffee table book "Tartans" published by Aurumpress. (It's the book with the Tartan covered VW bug on the cover)

The article is worth the read.

http://www.tartansauthority.com/tartan/tartan-today/

[freep]

If this from the article noted above doesn't say it all, it says most of it:

"The 'old world' of tartan has to take care that it is not hidebound by the past: it may raise an eyebrow but it should not disdain the 'new world' of tartan. After all, the north American 'Kirkin' o' the Tartan' is not too distantly removed from the Gaelic sentiments of spirituality from Carmina Gadelica: the symbolism of colours used in new tartans is not too distant from the Victorian invention of the funeral tartan; the speckled grey of Prince Albert's Balmoral tartan or the blue and green of the Rangers and Celtic football club tartans."
--http://www.tartansauthority.com/tartan/tartan-today/

A professor of Native American history once expressed strong dislike for the statue called, "End of the Trail" which shows a warrior on horseback, his shoulders are slumped, his head hanging as does that of his horse, his lance points earthward. . . It is the end of his people.

Except for one minor detail, his people are still here. They have changed, however. Evolved to meet the needs of time's onward press. They are still here, still proud, still embrace their culture and religion and still Native American.

I kind of see the kilt in the same light. From its inception as a modification of a brat through feileadh mòr, onto feileadh beag, into the modern 'formal' kilt, and thence to utility kilt it has likewise evolved. It is against nature to try to stop evolution, of peoples, of governments, of . . . well, anything. Especially fashion!

So, where will the kilt go from here? Beats me. I do know that I'm probably going to wear my kilts in ways that would cause more than few on this forum to grind their teeth. Sorry for that, but you see, I can't help it. I'm wearing a garment rooted in the past (a past that is partly mine, but truly, that's irrelevant) in ways that make me smile. Not in laughter, but in the satisfaction of doing something that works for me and feels right. I respect the origins of the kilt and its creators and truly believe I do nothing with my kilt that any of those who created, then altered the kilt over centuries have not already done. I do hope it doesn't bother you overmuch. Sorry if so, but again, I can't help it. I'm just an unwitting agent of evolution, right?

Slainte

[Alvin]

I also wouldn't use the adjective to describe myself.

[Jock Scot]

Whilst noting Steve's timely warning, the strength of feeling and divergence of opinion shown here does illustrate perfectly the wisdom of the OP in doing his research. Nevertheless, I cannot see that a corporate tartan should cause upset to anyone, on the other hand as this group that the OP represents apparently has a need to be sensitive to opinion, all opinions and the fine line that they tread, then they may prefer to think again.

[Liam]

I have no issue with the concept of a corporate tartan. I do think that the OP may be over estimating how many of his fellow employees are interested in wearing a tradition kilt made in the tartan. (While it may be hard to believe not all are as enthusiastic about kilt wearing as XMarkers). He obviously is and is very enthusiastic about it, but I suspect he would be in the minority at his work place, just as in the Scottish highlands where kilt wearing is "legitimate" and "normal" at least for special occasions, unless you belong to a pipe band or are participating in Highland games.
Perhaps the OP should consider starting a company pipe band and as a way of promoting the use of the few corporate tartan and the actual wearing of the kilt.
Cheers....

[KyleAisteach]

I do think that the OP may be over estimating how many of his fellow employees are interested in wearing a tradition kilt made in the tartan.

We did actually research that. Without advertising what we were considering outside an inner circle of people who are very active with the organization (and thus trusted not to make any public statements about things the board is considering -- I'm actually sharing a bit more info here than I'm really comfortable with, but I take comfort in the fact that I'm active with several organizations and therefore anyone looking at my CV is unlikely to guess which one I'm talking about), we had enough to break even on having a kiltmaker order tartan and produce kilts and other products for us.

Unfortunately, we subsequently discovered a widespread preference for tartan material that is lower margin for kiltmakers, so we're not going to know if breakeven is possible without gauging interest among the the less-active individuals, which we won't be able to do until we're announcing the tartan (or, at the very least, the plan to create one). So yes, it's quite possible that we will create a tartan but it will never be widely produced.

However, with Scotweb's ability to produce kilts in woven-to-order tartan, I'm sure there are a few of us who will end up with a kilt in the tartan regardless, and I'm sure photos of those individuals wearing the tartan will end up displayed in places that will make it possible to use the tartan for PR, albeit in a limited manner, so I still feel it's worth the £70 registration fee. But that's not going to be my decision to make.