Quote Originally Posted by Morris at Heathfield View Post
tripleblessed: My reasoning for making that statement (which was half in jest) comes from the CCSNA website and is as follows:


Emphasis added. The Black Watch tartan is also known as the Government tartan.

OC Richard: All very true, but not really relevant with regard to the current chiefly-approved Campbell tartans—quite the contrary, in fact—with the possible exception of the Campbell of Loudoun tartan, which seems to have taken inspiration from the Sobieski Stuart's "Campbell" tartan.
I am not a member of the Clan Campbell Association, I have read a lot of clan pages to compare in my own mind the different ways in which clans perceive the membership guidelines. The material on the Campbell website happens to be relevant to the discussion, and is clear and concise, and is posted at the behest and approval of the senior peer of the Scottish peerage. In it, the 12th Duke is very clear that there IS no"Campbell Hunting". The current chief says wear any that you have if you like them, just understand they are not tartans indicating connection to the clan, but inventions of weavers to sell cloth. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. The chiefs are very aware of how difficult it is to make a living.

All this (and OCRichard's Allen comments) come in to bearing in this thread in conjunction with the Lyon Court comment that chiefs are the SOLE arbiter of what's appropriate for their clan. The origin of a tartan is irrelevant. Other uses or applications of the tartan are irrelevant. Whatever the chief chooses, for whatever reason, at any time, IS the clan tartan. If tomorrow Lord Lovat awoke and said he had a dream and was told to tell the clan to wear Ancient Duncan or Modern Gunn, that would be the end of the discussion. That's not gonna happen, but it would be binding on the members who follow him. Back to The Campbell's statement on wearing other tartans - wear them if you have them, they just aren't relevant to the clan.

In other words, wear what you like, but be aware of what it is and why YOU are wearing it. Some modern tartans are copyrighted, owned and restricted. Some, while restricted, are allowed (Isle Of Skye), some are not (Oklahoma State U.), but most traditional tartans are not owned by ANYONE or ANY ORGANIZATION and are available to you for wear. It is meet and right so to do. It is also appropriate to do so with awareness of context and understanding of how others may have differing opinions. If you're gonna strap it on, somebody is gonna take issue with it. Period. Enjoy the ensuing discussions, as they will happen whether you enjoy them or not. If you are determined not to have them, wear PANTS.