Scotland-America Tartan to Celebrate 250 Years of Cultural Ties

[jsrnephdoc]

I'm not saying that commemorative tartans don't exist, or that people nowadays aren't putting specific colours in their designs due to non-aesthetic reasons.

Nor am I disparaging any of that stuff.

I'm just saying that these things are alien to the original/traditional aesthetics of tartan design.

And THAT, of course, begs the question of just what DID qualify as "original" or "traditional."

Long before Wilson's, and probably long before some brown, yellow, and red cloth got buried in a peat bog near Loch Ness, guys whose day jobs meant spending their nights out in the fields keeping warm by lying down next to their wooly charges ostensibly wore predecessors of what we now call tartan, and I think it's safe to say that while much of that VERY early history is highly conjectural, it's safe to say that their spouses who made those multi-purpose garments didn't worry about thread counts or sett size or even just HOW carefully their guys might fold up their blankets and then lie down on the grass so that when they got up ready to walk with their weapons at the ready all the folds they'd made to cover their behinds would line up in some attractive pattern.

So, an evolution to a point where "tartan" evolved TO some connection with family or some other affinity group isn't wrenched into totally foreign or unwelcome territory just because someone producing it came up with the notion of making its colors "mean" something.

[OC Richard]

And THAT, of course, begs the question of just what DID qualify as "original" or "traditional."

With history we just have to follow the evidence.

Peter knows the corpus of evidence far more than we do.

There's Glen Affric, and numerous old fragments of tartan, tartan garments, etc.

The Wilsons' original designs aren't "traditional" for me because traditional implies going back to unknown designers (like traditional songs go back to unknown songwriters). But they do go back prior to the concept of "Clan tartans".

BTW as an artist, designing tartans based of flags etc is a fun challenge.

I came up with this "Nevada flag tartan" in around 10 minutes. (Yes I know there already is an official Nevada State tartan but I didn't reference it for my design.)

For some reason the green in the tartan looks far too dark here.



And in a moment of silliness I made up a "Boba Fett" tartan

[Jock Scot]

I'm not saying that commemorative tartans don't exist, or that people nowadays aren't putting specific colours in their designs due to non-aesthetic reasons.

Nor am I disparaging any of that stuff.

I'm just saying that these things are alien to the original/traditional aesthetics of tartan design.

-----------------

A well respected tartan expert and author, described the situation in your post above as a:

"modern conceit "

[jsrnephdoc]

I can visualise somebody going back in time and interviewing the Wilsons in 1770.

"So, Mr Wilson, what does the red in your Royal Stewart tartan symbolise?"

"What?"

"It must symbolise something. Does it commemorate the blood spilled in the Stuart cause?"

"Whatever are you on about?"

"What about the white lines? Surely you put them in the tartan to symbolise the white cockades worn by the Jacobites in the late rebellion?"

"What nonsense. The red is there because it's red and the white because it's white! Now please go away."

I understand that DEEPLY. In my own case, I don't even own a single piece of fabric or item of clothing in the Robertson (Red) tartan. It just shouts "TOO MUCH RED."

There IS a Wilsons "white line" version, which I really like, but which NO ONE weaves. I've red (oops, read) somewhere that a clan chieftain may have had it designed and woven for personal use some time in the 19th century, but it's not been woven, apparently, for a LONG time. I like it very much, because those narrow white lines break up the sea of red and allow the blues and greens to pop. However, I don't have a budget that permits me to get it woven for my own use.

[Jock Scot]

I understand that DEEPLY. In my own case, I don't even own a single piece of fabric or item of clothing in the Robertson (Red) tartan. It just shouts "TOO MUCH RED."

There IS a Wilsons "white line" version, which I really like, but which NO ONE weaves. I've red (oops, read) somewhere that a clan chieftain may have had it designed and woven for personal use some time in the 19th century, but it's not been woven, apparently, for a LONG time. I like it very much, because those narrow white lines break up the sea of red and allow the blues and greens to pop. However, I don't have a budget that permits me to get it woven for my own use.

Just a kind observation, which may give you some food for thought. I hope that you will not take unkindly with what I have to suggest.

Instead of filling your wardrobe with assorted tartans and attire, why not have the one tartan that you really want, avoid a wardrobe of sundries and just have the correct gear that fits your needs and then, ........... Have the tartan that you really desire to be woven and in passing, will save you money in the long term and make more wardrobe space as well.


It's what I and many Scots happily do.

[jsrnephdoc]

Just a kind observation, which may give you some food for thought. I hope that you will not take unkindly with what I have to suggest.

Instead of filling your wardrobe with assorted tartans and attire, why not have the one tartan that you really want, avoid a wardrobe of sundries and just have the correct gear that fits your needs and then, ........... Have the tartan that you really desire to be woven and in passing, will save you money in the long term and make more wardrobe space as well.


It's what I and many Scots happily do.

Too late. When I was working, I'd wear a "saxon" suit every day. They all vanished in a wildfire, and I learned I could make do with just two going forward, but my affection for highlands attire blossomed at about the same time, so I already possess 5 kilts. I wear one at least 3-4 times per month, and most of those times it's among the same small or large collection of people.

At age 79, I'm still an avid road bicyclist, but I contain my dreaming of new bikes much better than many of my buddies, for whom the classical "cyclist's lament," to wit: "how many bikes do you REALLY need?" is answered by "one more than I actually have."

I only buy a new bike when I've killed its predecessor but not myself (and that outcome's been in doubt more than once), so I'm perfectly happy to indulge myself with what I can extract from my closet.

[Jock Scot]

Get the best that money can buy, is the way to go ---if you can and of course, not everyone can. It is the cheapest option in the long run though. I had that problem with Rule11 equipment. I solved that problem by buying and inheriting the best that money could buy. I never needed to look at another item in that bracket for more than 70 years , nor will my sons!

[jsrnephdoc]

I had that problem with Rule11 equipment.

A web search for "rule 11 equipment" returned primarily a list of exemptions from anti-pollution regulations in San Diego County, CA, USA. I'm guessing there must be some other reference in the UK.

[Jock Scot]

A web search for "rule 11 equipment" returned primarily a list of exemptions from anti-pollution regulations in San Diego County, CA, USA. I'm guessing there must be some other reference in the UK.

You obviously have not read the Xmarksthescot website rules. Rule 11 is about certain "weapons" -----I use that term loosely--------- that cannot be discussed here. It's a shame really, but unfortunately, there are good reasons for it.

[Father Bill]

Forum Rules may be found here: https://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/...q=xmarks_rules or through the link at the top of every page. It's a good idea for all members to re-read them from time to time to avoid ruffling feathers. XMarks is widely considered to be one of the most polite and user-friendly, safe places on the Internet, and the rules and ongoing moderation are likely one of the reasons for that.