Scottish Fashion Council frowns on tartan

[pdcorlis]

How does a culture hold out its arms to the future without turning its back to its past? I think it can be an awkward dance. Modern Scotland is not this or that - it is this and that - thank God!

[macwilkin]

How does a culture hold out its arms to the future without turning its back to its past? I think it can be an awkward dance. Modern Scotland is not this or that - it is this and that - thank God!

Well said, Phil.

Any intelligent person knows that:

a) Modern Scotland is more than tartan, kilts, shortbread tins and tweed.
b) Highland attire's history contains many myths.

BUT, as Phil stated, why does one have to be ashamed of one's past and/or a popular image?

Not every American is a Texan or a New Yorker, but whenever an American character is shown on European TV, those are the only two states in the Union. :mrgreen: Yet I do not begrudge the cultural importance of both areas to American history, even though I am not one of them.

Likewise not every Canadian is a Mountie, or every Aussie an "Ocker" from the Bush.

I live in a region where stereotypes abound of the hill folk -- think outhouses, corn-cob pipes and XXX Jugs filled with "Old Busthead" -- yet behind the myth is a very interesting and genuine culture and deserves respect.

Regards,

Todd

[McClef]

They won't improve what they think should be the image of Scotland by denigrating and minimising what Scotland has already given the to the world.

"Fashion" is ephemeral and what says "Scotland" to the world more than tartan does?