Tartan for tartan's sake - an interesting discussion Rex. I agree that the term "fashion" tartan feels like a pejorative - a poor country cousin invited to the banquet out of pity. So I wonder if its the fact that the tartan is non-representational or the term thats at fault here. After all the much loved IOS tartan trademarked in 1992 was the result of an open competition. My mind spins thinking about the other Isles of Skye left on the cutting room floor. And why was the final color combination chosen if not for the beautiful pallet of colors?

Now here's a real stretch - as a photographer and artist I have asked one simple question of countless dozens of other artists... "Which comes first, the work or the title." The overwhelming answer is of course, the work. The name is almost always added after the visual creative act. I wonder how many other tartans also fall into line here? How many family tartans were first "fashion" tartans in Wilson's Key Pattern Book prior to the great tartan revival?

Personally, I say - should someone create a particularly stunning tartan color combination and later call it - oh say - "Peat and Heather" for its wonderful rich browns and stunning purples would that tartan be any less beautiful? I say no. Would that be a good enough reason to have kilt made of that tartan? I say you bet!