During my two weeks in Scotland last year, when I was kilted every day but one, I wore four different tartans, all in 8 yd 13 or 16 oz UK woven fabrics. Two were district tartans (Isle of Skye and Black Isle----no connections to me, but I like the look of those tartans so I bought them). Two were clan tartans (Forrester modern, a recently developed tartan as of about 1993 of a Border Clan, who should not technically historically have been tartan or kilt wearers----and MacDonald ancient, of which Forresters were an alleged sept, although the Douglases, as fellow borderers, probably have a better claim on that). In two weeks only one Scot innkeeper recognized the MacDonald tartan, and one salesperson at a kilt shop that made custom kilts recognized the IoS, presumably due to its relatively recent fame. No one else really ever even tried to guess them, and most everybody noticed them, commented on their attractiveness and my willingness to wear them as a visitor to Scotland. Many asked what they were, but none seemed more than curious to find out----none seemed to have any secondary motive that I could divine. And, as best I could tell, no disdain for the tartans or my wearing of them.

I think it is likely a lot like Jock says, that most Scots only know their own tartan, and maybe a couple others like the Black Watch which are more famous, but couldn't give a rip what tartan somebody else is wearing at any given time, as long as they are doing so with respect to the heritage in general. (Although I have heard it is not necessarily safe to go sporting your Campbell tartan in certain taverns in the Glencoe area.)

I still have not seen a 4 yd box pleat in person to know whether its appearence is that distinctly different from an 8 yd trad, and know even less about its history or propriety in relation to scottish culture, so I will leave that discussion to the more knowledgeable.


jeff :ootd: