Allowed tartans

[Kilts_Knave]

majdan,

I find myself coming back to this Site:

http://tartans.byair.net/index.php

...

for reference. There are many snippets of historical information as well as connections to other tartans,the time they were created and/or discovered, etc. I hope it helps.

~Reece

[Kilted-Marine]

I agree that there are many tartans a person can wear and make a claim to or wear in honor of and those would be the first I would suggest a person get.

But if there is one you like and you have no connection - well if your scottish chances are either they are related to you some how,, OR your families used to steal cattle together at one time or another.

I am a traditionalist in that I think kilts should be tartan, but that is only my preference and I dont think it is wrong to wear a leather one, or a camoflague one, I would never wear one myself but I would never ever criticize a person for wearing one.

I have a MacPherson Dress and wear it from time to time becasue it is a sharp looking kilt. (My great great great great uncle Angus used to steal cattle with William MacPherson)

[ccga3359]

My great great great great uncle Angus used to steal cattle with William MacPherson

There is much to be said about true romance. My great great great great uncle Argyle had to pay a dowry!

[Ozman1944]

My Maternal Great Grandfather was a Stewart, became a Presbyterian circuit rider/Preacher in South Australia in 1800's
My Paternal Great Grandfather was a Welsh Harris; Came to Oz also 1800's.
The 'Harris/Harry/Perry' (Welsh) Tartan looks a bit like a poor man's faded Royal Stewart, which I don't care for, and is hard to get, so compromised with Stewart Black. (Executive decision here!)
Also have Black Watch (Universal they say) and for fun, and because I look cute in it - Irish Saffron. No (official) Irish blood, but I love the Irish!
The Clergy tartan is way too wimpy looking for this guy!

[Phil]

As far as I know it is only copyright tartans that are restricted, ones like Burberry and certain corporate ones like Bank of Scotland and you need to get specific permission to have these woven because of that. Other ones called family tartans such as the Balmoral Matt Newsome mentions or the clan chief's one are simply reserved and it would be considered disrespectful to be seen walking about in their tartan but apart from them making disapproving noises there is no other reason not to. I find it interesting that it is mainly non-Scottish members who have strong views on this matter. Dress Gordon is so widely worn because it is one of the most popular with kilt-hires along with Mackenzie and Royal Stewart. Usually if you see someone in one in Scotland you know they've hired it. I suppose we are fortunate as like cessna152towser we have a variety of family names to choose from but if you happen to have a name with a particularly OTT tartan like Buchanan or a really boring one like Burns then why not go for something more tasteful like Gordon? I know this may upset a few Buchanans but unfortunately it is seen on so many rugs, carpets, scarves, shawls etc. that it looks like you made it into a kilt out of an old chair cover.

[Robin]

I contacted the MacLaren clan society and explained the (faint) link and asked permission to wear the clan tartan. I was granted clan membership, it was more or less "when your name smells like laurel...you're a member"

I now own 3 clan tartan kilts (the weathered still on my wish list) and I don't feel the need to get other clan tartan kilts. My other 3 tartan kilts are Caledonia (Wilson's No.155...basicly a fashion tartan), Isle of Skye (Lochcarron design, regional/fashion...I visited Skye several times and I love the wee island) and the XMarks (well...I'm a member, good reason I guess).

Other tartans on my wish list:
-Dutch Friendship (made by Barb)...a fashion tartan, I'm Dutch...good reason.
-Weathered MacLaren, 16oz from Lochcarron, pleated to the stripe.
-Veere (a Dutch town...only Dutch town with it's own tartan btw) my family comes from the region.
-a Breton tartan (French regional), we often visit Bretagne and my wife's family is from the region.
-MacLaren modern 16oz (Lochcarron), I already have a 13oz modern from the House of Edgar, but the Lochcarron colours are different and I like to own a heavyweight pleated to the stripe also.

Enough to keep me busy for years to come

[davedove]

OR your families used to steal cattle together at one time or another.

Ah, the good old days!

[Tattoo Bradley]

Wow, "night of the living DEAD!"

[Conroy]

There is some thing to be said for bring able to recognize folks from your own family or clan by the tartans they are wearing, at scottish events.

[macwilkin]

There is some thing to be said for bring able to recognize folks from your own family or clan by the tartans they are wearing, at scottish events.

Exactly. Stuart Erskine, in The Kilt and How to Wear It, says:

As for the kilt itself, Erskine advocates the wearing of “rough homespun or some tartan (hill-check)… agreeable in colour and design” for every day wear of the kilt. “Some quiet, unobtrusive tartan or homespun is far more suitable for country wear.” For “games, county meetings of all kinds, and other similar extraordinary undertakings,” he suggests the clan tartan be used. “The public knows (more or less) its clan tartans or liveries, whilst it knows little or nothing of tartan (i.e. hill check) in general; hence it is, reader, that on all occasions in which you may desire to appear branded or labeled as it were with the stamp of your origin, you will do well to discard your hill check.”

This quote is from Matt's excellent article, which can be found here:

http://www.albanach.org/kiltandhowtowearit.htm

Regards,

Todd