Ponderings of an ancient Scot.

[Jock Scot]

Wow, what interesting replies! I mean it, I am impressed. It is a bit unfair to pick out just one train of thought, but Rocky's surprised me. He is at the sharp end of the kilt world, making and selling kilts, so he knows better than most of us what he can and can't sell, and his confidence on being able to sell "new" tartans, if he could get his hands on them, is very interesting. Thank you every one and keep those thoughts coming.

[RockyR]

[Rocky] is at the sharp end of the kilt world, making and selling kilts, so he knows better than most of us what he can and can't sell, and his confidence on being able to sell "new" tartans, if he could get his hands on them, is very interesting.

My confidence level surprises many, including Kelly. She think's it's a bit too high and likes to humble me on occasion (or at least try).

In all seriousness, it all comes down to knowledge and education about the subject. If I had state tartans to show people (at a 'regular' price), it would open their eyes to brand new possibilities and excite them about new tartans they'd have a connection to.

[Am Bàrd]

Interesting thread....

While I do see a movement to non-traditional and newer tartans, I think that there will always be 'old standbys' - classics that are always around and worn. Perhaps with the rationale that the wearer has a link of some kind, or not. Many folks these days don't feel they need a link to justify wearing a particular tartan - and in reality, who would enforce a tartan's required allegiance? The clan system is no longer functional (though the societies do exist in many cases).

And this draws me into another portion of Jock's post - the term Non-Scots. What precisely makes one a Non-Scot? Surely it isn't determined by blood. We have people on this very forum of pure Scottish pedigree who are looked upon as foreigners simply because they live somewhere else.
Let us also not forget the blood mixed through the ages - Pict, Norman, Irish, Scandinavian - in addition to the 'original' Scotti that people that migrated.

So what is a Non-Scot? Is it geographically bound? If I took a Scot from Scotland and placed them in France, do they then stop being a Scot?

I posit that a Scot can be a person who has a love of Scotland and all things Scottish. A Scot is a person, that if the country put out a call, would send aid in any way they could.

I hope I'm not offending, though I fear I am.
Perhaps we need to institute a new term 'Honourary Scot', or perhaps 'Blood Scot' (if it applies) - for those of us with a connection that we feel deeply.

I do hope I'm not just indulging my North American 'need to belong'.

-John

[NewEnglander]

In all seriousness, it all comes down to knowledge and education about the subject. If I had state tartans to show people (at a 'regular' price), it would open their eyes to brand new possibilities and excite them about new tartans they'd have a connection to.

I know I'd be all about buying a kilt in the tartan of my home state and the states where I lived for any length of time. But until then I'll stick with the tartan of my ancestors (albeit just some of them).

[davedove]

I think before any movement away from clan tartans takes place a general change in mindset must take place.

When most people (those outside this and similar forums) begin to look at the kilt and a tartan they have some general beliefs (right or wrong). They see the kilt as a Scottish garment and believe that to wear the kilt it must be made in one of the traditional clan tartans. They also believe that to wear a particular tartan, they must have a link to the clan it represents (no matter how nebulous). Thus they will try to find the clan tartan for which they can find the closest link.

Now, I have a MacIan tartan because it was my closest link (my grandmother was a McKean). I still wear it occasionally, but I'm finding that I wear other kilts because of closer links - my US Army tartan and my personal Dove tartan. I also have to say that I find myself wearing the dove tartan more than others, because it means more to me.

[billmcc]

In all seriousness, it all comes down to knowledge and education about the subject. If I had state tartans to show people (at a 'regular' price), it would open their eyes to brand new possibilities and excite them about new tartans they'd have a connection to.

I have talked to numerous people who assumed all tartans were clan tartans. Most people have never heard of district tartans. Many stated they would be very interested in tartans with a close personal connection, such as a state or organizational tartan.