Tartan Obligation

[Jock Scot]

Being one of the colonials who has ties to Scotland, although they are back several generations, I have no direct line to any one name. While hunting for a tartan for my recent kilt purchase I looked at the tartans connected with all my ancestrial names. Some of these tartans caught my eye, and others made me think "well...." and in the end I chose the Caledonian as much for the district as because I (and as important I suppose my wife) liked the look of the tartan.

To some of the traditionalists on this board this might appear to be a sketchy way to choose a tartan, and for my next I'll certainly choose on connected to a particular ancestor's name. However, that being said I had the thought process that I'd rather be comfortable in getting to wear a kilt that I truely liked over wearing a tartan just because of the name. Just my two cents for what it's worth.

You have weighed up the pros and cons of the tartan you have chosen and all credit to you.You most certainly don't have to justify that decision to me,or anyone else for that matter.Enjoy wearing the kilt and I hope that enjoyment lasts for years to come.By the way, your views are as priceless as anyone else's.

[Standard]

Thank you for the kind words all.

[Howard Clark]

I very much feel the same way about the Clark tartan, same sett as clergy and quite similar colors (the same from some weavers), and I do not want anyone to be confused in that way. My Father-in-law is a minister, and my wife is on the pulpit supply list and preaches fairly often, and there are those who would like to see me try that role, but I am not one of them.

I have thought about having Matt make me a kilt from another different Clark tartan that he was kind enough to point out as not being like the clergy tartan. But, it is a custom weave, as I recall.

As a colonial with no real heartfelt obligations to any particular tartan I wouldn't wear it if you don't like it. I was/am careful to choose those which are literally correct (Smith, it's what I AM, but not my name, and since it was a surname evolved from trade, and I am in that trade,well you see where I am going). I do not have totally solid evidence of Scottish ancestry, but the family names that are most meaningful to me both are MacPherson septs, so that works for me too. And I have a Leslie tartan kilt, because the fabric was MoD surplus on e-bay and affordable.

[macwilkin]

Or with district tartans. I have an Isle of Skye which I think is beautiful...but I'd also like to honor my family's time in Nova Scotia/ Cape Breton Island....but I'm not sure I like either of those tartans well enough...sorry...guess I named some. On my mother's side its the same with the Quebec tartan...

How could anyone not like the Nova Scotia tartan? Not only is it beautiful, but it's also the first district tartan designed outside of the UK.

Ah, well...different horses for courses, I suppose.

Why don't you order a swatch of it, Ron, and see it "in person". My wife's NS sash is a thing to behold.

T.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

When I'm giving people advise about how to choose a tartan to wear, I usually start out with "All things being equal, if there is a tartan associatied with the surname you bear, that is the most obvious choice." Now, a lot is assumed in that "all things being equal" clause. There are all manner of considerations that may effect the decision.

One of them is the issue you raise -- do I even like the tartan? People's reaction to tartans can range from "Oh my goodness, I LOVE that design," to "It's ok, I suppose I like it fine enough," to "Oh, what a hideous tartan, I'd never be caught dead wearing that!" And, believe it or not, people's tastes change over time. Ten years ago, when I first started working in the museum, my favorite tartans tended to be your standard blue/green tartans with maybe a little color, like Hunting MacLeod. I remember just loving that one.

Today, though, after starting at tartan nearly every day for a decade, I tend to like the more unusual or unique designs more. I love Aberdeen, for instance, because not only is it so very different from most tartans you see today, it is also very much in keeping with the style of the eighteenth century, when it was originally designed.

Sometimes you may start out not likeing a particular tartan, but it will grow on you over time.

In any case, I don't think anyone should feel forced to wear a tartan if they just really don't like it. Your goal may be to honor your heritage or your anscestors, but if you are going to cringe and gawk every time you put the kilt on, is that really the way you want to honor them?

The good news is that most clans have multiple tartans from which to choose. For instance, MacFarlane has a red, green, and black and white tartan. Scott has a red, green, brown, and black and white tartan. You may not like the Buchanan tartan, but the Buchanan Hunting might be more up your alley.

Even in a case where a clan has only one tartan, such as Armstrong, you can obtain that tartan in a variety of color schemes, such as modern, ancient, weathered, muted, etc. I know many who do not like the modern Buchanan but love the weathered Buchanan or the reproduction Buchanan.

Lastly, it is not unheard of to have a length of custom tartan run in a personal variation of a recognized clan tartan. I use as an example on of our museum employees, who is a MacGregor. He doesn't like the standard red & green MacGregor tartan. He wanted to have a kilt that was primarily black. So we had woven for him a length of kilt cloth of the MacGregor tartan where the main color was switched from red to black.

Technically speaking this is not a "clan tartan" because he changed it. It's a "personal tartan." However, the basic form of the tartan is still the MacGregor design and he wears it both as a personal tartan and to honor his clan anscestry.

In other words, there are lots of options!
M

[Colin]

How could anyone not like the Nova Scotia tartan? Not only is it beautiful, but it's also the first district tartan designed outside of the UK.

Ah, well...different horses for courses, I suppose.

Why don't you order a swatch of it, Ron, and see it "in person". My wife's NS sash is a thing to behold.

T.

I have to agree. I was not a fan of it, until I managed to pick up a few yard sin fleece for a blanket. It's a great looking tartan.

If all else fails, go for that Weathered MacDonald you have mentioned in the past. http://kiltstore.net/materialfinder....on_id=Qfem73ey

[andyfg]

Ron, that is an interesting puzzle. I think from all the historical research we now have, from a good consensus of folk, from books like "Tartan" by Brian Wilton, "wear what you like" is fairly clear. Yet . . . there is still an underlying "but ought I to wear it?" feeling. This is clearly not about rational argument, but emotional, a very strong underlying feeling. Where does the strong feeling come from?

[billmcc]

Ron,

Don't buy it if you don't like it.

Get a Maple Leaf tartan kilt to honor your Canadian ancestors. That tartan is a beauty.

[Tattoo Bradley]

Ron,

Don't buy it if you don't like it.

Get a Maple Leaf tartan kilt to honor your Canadian ancestors. That tartan is a beauty.

I'm not usually one to say "hey get this" but I've gotta agree here. The reason being: I remember you mentioning the Maple Leaf as being on your list. Just think of it Ron... Maple Leaf.... 16 oz. Strome.... hahahaha.

Man, I have absolutely no Canadian ties, and even I think it's one of the absolute best tartans made (I even place it over the Isle of Skye tartan in beauty.)

I'm one of those who likes to have a tie with the tartan if I'm going to wear it. I've really fought within myself to have a "Loud MacLeod" kilt made. But, I have no ties what-so-ever to it. So, I've just never been able to do it. But, I also discovered a long line of Barclays some time ago. Guess what? The Barclay dress tartan is just as yellow as the MacLeod

But, I also put some of that thought aside when Matt headed up the Carolina tartan custom 16 oz. run. I've never even stepped foot in either of the Carolinas. In fact, the closest I've ever been was probably the Baltimore airport But, the tartan has always been a favorite. Add that to Matt offering it in "special" colors and I'm pulled in like a "Soccer Mom" at Dillard's. But, I finally "justified" my having a kilt made in that tartan with "well, a whole bunch of my people came to the States via N. Carolina." Did I really have to have the justificaiton? Of course not. But, some of us are just hardheaded and have to rationalize everything. So, I feel your pain.

I stick with my first thought on your matter.... M-A-P-L-E L-E-A-F.

[Dalmore]

I have nothing valuable to add here except X3- the Maple Leaf tartan is gorgeous. Cirthalion (a canadian transplant) in our NY kilt group wears it and I can tell you first hand that it is one of the nicer ones I've seen.

I would probably not buy it for myself as I have no connection to Canada whatsoever ...unless of course you count the girls I've dated from Montreal.