Tartans other than your family?

[Jock Scot]

If I only wore my family tartan I wouldn't have a single kilt! ;)

No family tartan? Simple, wear a district, state, unit, universal tartan. Only one though.

[Ryan Ross]

I'd personally rather not wear a random tartan, but if a really good kilt deal was in front of me... who knows? If you do what you're inclined to, you'll not go wrong, I'd imagine.

No family tartan? Simple, wear a district, state, unit, universal tartan. Only one though.

Not to get off topic, but I have to ask- Is it considered odd or bad form to wear both the "standard" and hunting tartans of your clan, would you say?

[Jock Scot]

I'd personally rather not wear a random tartan, but if a really good kilt deal was in front of me... who knows? If you do what you're inclined to, you'll not go wrong, I'd imagine.



Not to get off topic, but I have to ask- Is it considered odd or bad form to wear both the "standard" and hunting tartans of your clan, would you say?

A fair question and I expected it. To your list you could add, a dress tartan and a clan tartan in muted,weathered, ancient and modern colours. No it would not be "odd" or "bad form"----------------extravagant perhaps.

[GG]

Please, don’t think I’m trying to be rude or offend somebody. But I simply must comment on this.

Reading the thread I have got the impression that the kilt should better not be worn south of the Scottish border, that the kilt is still primarily for highlanders, and that these are in general, compared to lowlanders and Englishmen, not very well-off. This combined with the fact that a kilt “must” be made of 8 yards of new wool and sewn by hand by skilled and experienced kilt makers who are living in Scotland makes the possession of a kilt out of reach for most people. And concerning those who can, it should obviously be considered extravagant to own more than one kilt and out of place should they sometimes get the idea of using it as daily attire.

Tell me, please, if I have misunderstood something. I kind of hope I have.

Considering, the Scottish population is no more than 5 million people, and half of them are women, and 30% could be excluded due to age (below 20 and above 80 years old) and only 25% are highlanders it leaves us with hardly more than 400.000 as a gross potential. Some of these men already own a kilt, and since the kilt should last for a lifetime and even beyond, they are per definition not in the market for a new kilt. The rest consists of men having probably lived well without a kilt, or they couldn’t possible afford to buy one.

My conclusion is that the Scottish kilt market, based upon above conditions, is tiny. It must be. Therefore, had it not been for Americans and Canadians and Australians and some Europeans (including Englishmen) and some of them without a Scottish heritage AND the availability of affordable kilts, offered by some kilt shops the kilt should have been stone dead long time ago.

I’m not Scottish, I have no Scottish heritage. But I like kilts. And I like wearing them. I find them beautiful with all their colors and comfortable and versatile. I admit I’m extravagant. I own several kilts, and I do wear them as often as I can. I’m a heavy user, like many kilt wearers living outside of Scotland.

My kilts won’t last a lifetime, hopefully not, because it should have consequences for me. I like buying new ones in various tartans. I have “free” tartans, but I also have clan tartans.

And I don’t feel the slightest guilty wearing them. How could a “monopoly” be maintained and justified if the “owner” doesn’t use it?

My advice: Buy and wear proudly a kilt in any tartan you like. Do it everywhere and whenever you feel like it, provided possible and appropriate.

Greg - kilted Dane

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Not to get off topic, but I have to ask- Is it considered odd or bad form to wear both the "standard" and hunting tartans of your clan, would you say?

Some clans have one tartan, others several (for example Clan MacMillan has ancient, dress, and hunting tartans). In addition to different tartans, these may also be woven in any of three shades: modern, ancient (or old), and weathered. A clansman with deep pockets may elect to have have kilts made in each of his tartans, and in each of the three shades. For someone in my clan this would represent a total of nine kilts-- yikes!

Generally speaking many individuals who have more than one clan tartan to their name will choose one tartan as their "dress" tartan and an other for "everyday" wear. Even in situations where a clan possesses only one tartan it is not uncommon to see it worn in ancient or weathered colours during the day, and with modern colours in the evening.

So, would it be "bad form" to wear more than one of your clan tartans? Certainly not. But it could run to a fair degree of extravagance.

[Ryan Ross]

A fair question and I expected it. To your list you could add, a dress tartan and a clan tartan in muted,weathered, ancient and modern colours. No it would not be "odd" or "bad form"----------------extravagant perhaps.

Some clans have one tartan, others several (for example Clan MacMillan has ancient, dress, and hunting tartans). In addition to different tartans, these may also be woven in any of three shades: modern, ancient (or old), and weathered. A clansman with deep pockets may elect to have have kilts made in each of his tartans, and in each of the three shades. For someone in my clan this would represent a total of nine kilts-- yikes!

Generally speaking many individuals who have more than one clan tartan to their name will choose one tartan as their "dress" tartan and an other for "everyday" wear. Even in situations where a clan possesses only one tartan it is not uncommon to see it worn in ancient or weathered colours during the day, and with modern colours in the evening.

So, would it be "bad form" to wear more than one of your clan tartans? Certainly not. But it could run to a fair degree of extravagance.

I see.

I have and wear a kilt in Ross(weathered), another in Ross Hunting(modern), and a third in a fancy tartan(modern). From what I've read, I'd perhaps be traditionally seen as extravagant, but not "a little off"? I just wanted to take the opportunity to confirm some traditional Scottish ideas on the wearing of multiple tartans, with an eye to what modern Scots' ethic tends to be.

Thank you very much for the input, gentlemen.

[Jock Scot]

I see.

I have and wear a kilt in Ross(weathered), another in Ross Hunting(modern), and a third in a fancy tartan(modern). From what I've read, I'd perhaps be traditionally seen as extravagant, but not "a little off"? I just wanted to take the opportunity to confirm some traditional Scottish ideas on the wearing of multiple tartans, with an eye to what modern Scots' ethic tends to be.

Thank you very much for the input, gentlemen.

To complicate things a tad here Ryan, there are more than some in the Highlands who would regard extravagance as being more than "a little off". Please remember that the Highlands is not generally a wealthy area even by some basic standards and many native Highlanders do not own a kilt for the simple reason that they have other priorities for their limited cash. Those that have money, even a lot of money, see no merit whatsoever in flaunting that fact and in fact, take considerable efforts to keep a low profile..

[Ryan Ross]

To complicate things a tad here Ryan, there are more than some in the Highlands who would regard extravagance as being more than "a little off". Please remember that the Highlands is not generally a wealthy area even by some basic standards and many native Highlanders do not own a kilt for the simple reason that they have other priorities for their limited cash. Those that have money, even a lot of money, see no merit whatsoever in flaunting that fact and in fact, take considerable efforts to keep a low profile..

Thanks for the further insight, Jock. I'm thinking now, should I be able to make a trip to Scotland (the Highlands in particular), that taking along only one kilt would be the way to go. Furthermore, based on other bits I've read, if I really want to blend in among modern Highland kilt wearers, the kilt selected should be a knife pleated eight yard affair.

Very good food for thought, indeed...

[Richard]

You can wear any tartan you like as long as it's not mine.......only joking