Where to get the weaving done in 2025?

[figheadair]

(with apologies to TS Eliot AND Andrew Lloyd Webber)

While on the GNK website this morning, looking for any news about "The Nursing Tartan," I came across what I assume is a relatively new tartan being sold by them which someone has named "The Holyrood Tartan." That made me wonder just how non-family tartans are named. Did someone at the Scottish Parliament have an official role in that designation? How about tartans named for organizations, such as US States, or branches of the US Military? Or is it "anything goes," so long as it doesn't infringe on another registered design or registered tartan name?

In terms of those registered with the SRT, here's their guidance on Tartan Names.

[jsrnephdoc]

In terms of those registered with the SRT, here's their guidance on Tartan Names.

Thanks for that. I read it, and now I'd like to apply those rules to a tartan I just saw on Gordon Nicolson's website: Holyrood. It's listed as "commemorative," and designed for QE2's Silver Jubilee, so I assume that means it's also a "place" tartan that required someone in authority at Holyrood Palace to create the tartan name.

But what if the Scottish Prime Minister decided that the Scottish Parliament also deserved a "place" named tartan? Or what if whatever governmental agency is responsible for planning and executing events in that region of Edinburgh had the same notion? Could they not design a tartan and include "Holyrood" in its name?

Just trying to learn here. I have neither the software, nor the cerebral hardware/software combination to attempt designing a tartan myself.

And, just to add another wrinkle, what if someone just created a design, asked someone to weave it, and picked a name that conflicts with an already-registered name, would there be any enforceable prohibition against them doing so UNLESS they attempted to register it? I can think of many such tartans created by retailers in a "series" (for example, to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States). Could one American retailer design a series of tartans embracing battle names, or names of the original 13 states, or whatever and have them woven for sale? If they didn't choose to register the names (meaning they DIDN'T attempt to obtain permission in accord with the registry) would another mill other than the one they chose to weave it for them be prohibited from weaving it as well?

Thanks so much,
Jim Robertson

[figheadair]

Thanks for that. I read it, and now I'd like to apply those rules to a tartan I just saw on Gordon Nicolson's website: Holyrood. It's listed as "commemorative," and designed for QE2's Silver Jubilee, so I assume that means it's also a "place" tartan that required someone in authority at Holyrood Palace to create the tartan name.

But what if the Scottish Prime Minister decided that the Scottish Parliament also deserved a "place" named tartan? Or what if whatever governmental agency is responsible for planning and executing events in that region of Edinburgh had the same notion? Could they not design a tartan and include "Holyrood" in its name?

Just trying to learn here. I have neither the software, nor the cerebral hardware/software combination to attempt designing a tartan myself.

And, just to add another wrinkle, what if someone just created a design, asked someone to weave it, and picked a name that conflicts with an already-registered name, would there be any enforceable prohibition against them doing so UNLESS they attempted to register it? I can think of many such tartans created by retailers in a "series" (for example, to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States). Could one American retailer design a series of tartans embracing battle names, or names of the original 13 states, or whatever and have them woven for sale? If they didn't choose to register the names (meaning they DIDN'T attempt to obtain permission in accord with the registry) would another mill other than the one they chose to weave it for them be prohibited from weaving it as well?

Thanks so much,
Jim Robertson

The Holyrood dates to a period before the Register and its rules. There was therefore no authority required.

The Scottish First Minister (there is no Prime Minister of Scotland) could authorise a tartan with Holyrood as part of the name but they could not authorise the duplicate name and have it accepted by the register.

Only names that are registered can be protected. There is nothing to prevent a duplication of a name so long as the name is not protected or already in the register.

[OC Richard]

I can think of many such tartans created by retailers in a "series" (for example, to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States). Could one American retailer design a series of tartans embracing battle names, or names of the original 13 states, or whatever and have them woven for sale?

That's happened quite a bit.

So back in the 1990s House Of Edgar came out with a complete series of Irish County Tartans. What I love about these is that the colours and designs were created purely to look good, in accordance with the Highland weavers of old. The colours weren't chosen for any ulterior purpose, say, like trying to invent a tartan using the colours of a flag etc.

The Irish County Range proved to be very popular and sold well.

Then in the early 2000s ScotWeb came out with their own range of Irish County tartans.

Rather than simply choosing attractive colours, ScotWeb's colours followed each County's crest, which due to each County's GAA teams wearing these colours did mean that the Irish County Crest range used colours identified with the various Counties. This range is now owned by USA Kilts.

So you or I or anyone could come up with our own range of "Irish County" tartans.

About US States, quite a few States have tartans which have been officially adopted.

Also somebody has come up with some tartans based on the colours of the various US States' flags.

Since most of the States' flags are just a big plain blue field there's not much to work with.

And as the numerous attempts at designing a tartan based on the colours of the US flag demonstrate, a tartan trying to look like a flag is pretty much doomed to looking ugly.

[jsrnephdoc]

That's happened quite a bit.

So back in the 1990s House Of Edgar came out with a complete series of Irish County Tartans. What I love about these is that the colours and designs were created purely to look good, in accordance with the Highland weavers of old. The colours weren't chosen for any ulterior purpose, say, like trying to invent a tartan using the colours of a flag etc.

The Irish County Range proved to be very popular and sold well.

Did HoE register them?

Then in the early 2000s ScotWeb came out with their own range of Irish County tartans.

Rather than simply choosing attractive colours, ScotWeb's colours followed each County's crest, which due to each County's GAA teams wearing these colours did mean that the Irish County Crest range used colours identified with the various Counties. This range is now owned by USA Kilts.

My guess is that such "ownership" by USA Kilts is protected by US Trademark law rather than the Scottish Registry. But that is JUST a guess.

Just this morning, my NYC daughter-in-law sent me information about a Scottish retailer selling COMPLETELY contemporary articles made from Scottish Parliament protected "Harris Tweed," which from my simplistic understanding is probably an even thornier thicket than is the Registry of Tartans!

[figheadair]

Did HoE register them?

]

No, they did not, nor could they as the Register did not exist at the time.