Tartan for Tartan's Sake

[george7]

The thing I don't like is the marketing of Pride of _____ (fill in the blank) from tat shops. I do however really like the Irish Pride tartan that seems to be catching on.

[Riverkilt]

Many are designed, few are woven.

My youthful alma mater, Oregon State University, had a tartan design contest and this tartan, designed by Krisja Lorenson, won.

http://www.oregonscottish.org/tartan4.jpg

sorry, can't paste it....but even though its "official" can't find the cloth and knowledgeable sources on line say its not woven yet.

So designing is one thing, weaving another.

Ron

[thescot]

To be perfectly honest, when it comes right down to it, I choose a tartan because I like the way it looks. If it's not pleasing to my eye, I don't want it. I have a Robertson Red great kilt for really dressy occassions, but for the most part, I'm not too crazy about red tartans at all--even that one.

I love my Robertson Hunting and the Weathered Robertson Huntgin, and the Gordon, and the Leatherneck, and the Weathered Ulster cloth that I just received. (Man, is that a great tartan. But I digress.)

Fact is, the names all have a meaning for me, but I would not have ordered any of them if I hadn't liked the way they looked.

So, in effect, they're all fashion tartans in a way. I have no connection to the IOS, but I'd love to have one because I like it. Who really cares about all that. It's mostly about selling material.

[Ealisaid]

Very interesting question. I don't consider "fashion" a pejorative. The first tartans were woven as soon as people figured out looms and the dying of thread-- long before clans took an interest in them. If you don't have a clan bond, you may still enjoy tartan.

I am endlessly fascinated by the combinations of color, line width, and symmetry to the square that comprise tartan. Whichever one I am wearing, I stare at it and get lost in it whenever I have an idle moment.

So whence the idea that a clan tartan is preferable to an open/universal/fashion tartan? People want to feel connected to an ancient and honorable heritage, and perhaps if they have no clan affiliation, they feel less connected. That is not necessary! People of all backgrounds can look to their heritage for strength and pride. One is not less than a clansman if he hasn't a clan. We all have families and literally millions of ancestors!

[pastorsteve]

I think that the wearing of a kilt or tartan is a fashion. A style of dress is fashion- a fashion statement or fashion taste or fashion style. That said, I only wear tartans that I have a connection to - MacDonald currently but I have family that are MacKay also. I would like a solid black or tan tank of a daily wear kilt that's not tartan for the utility of it.

But for me the wearing of a tartan is not simply because I like it, it's because it has specific meaning to me. Therefore - to each his own.

[The Barry]

Maybe it's just me. I never really thougt that "fashion tartan" was a pejorative phrase.

I'm lucky, the tartant affiliated with my ancestors just happens to look amazing!

I will say, I do prefer the "clan" or "family" tartans to ones without an affiliation, I do like the thought of connecting to generations past through this most amazing garment.

That being said, I love it when people from other ancestries wear the kilt. And that's what fashion tartans (as well as the Black Watch and other "universal" tartans) are for.

I would rather that someone who doesn't descend from my clan wear a Black Watch than my family's tartan. It's not a proposed rule, and I'm not talking about pipe bands, so just rest easy now! I just prefer that if I see someone wearing my family's tartan, I can expect to hear an interesting tale of how our lineages are linked.

But, then again, whatever.. It's just fashion, even if clans have adopted certain patterns. So to each their own! As long as their kilted, They're a brother to me!

[Mr. bone]

Excellent thread Rex!

I agree with the "Red-Headed Stepchild" theory. I would be hard pressed to wear a fashon tartan that had no meaning mostly because the very tradition of the kilt as understood by the masses is that "that's your familys plaid color, right?" To my mind, there has to be some sort of meaning. I could totally wear for example Rockys American Heratage tartan, because he has given it meaning. (plus it's a great looking tartan!) I also really really love the Warrior tartan he has. But the deadly "**" means it's just a cool purple plaid. I would feel funny if called upon to explain the rich family history of the tartan and could come up with nothing better than, "it's kinda cool"

But I don't feel funny wearing my only kilt, a UK workmans, even though I still have to answer the kilt question with a simple, "it's kinda cool." But I suppose that's because it's a non-traditional kilt.

If I could ever scrape enough pennies together to acatually purchase a family tartan, my thought process might change. Just gotta get that mortgage paid off. And the car. And the kids car......

[Ryan Nielson]

I have definately felt out of place having no scottish or irish connection at all. I like the idea of having a family tartan so I have gravitated toward some kind of tartan that have a connection to even if it is a slim one. I have a litle bit of welsh from my mother's side of the family and am looking at St. David's or Welsh National right now even though the connection is pretty slim even though I don't like the look of either of those patterns that much.

[Kilted Rogue]

Seams i am going to add my .02 to things.

As someone who doesnt have any direct traceable Scottish Clan / heritage. I look to these fashion tartans as my way to wear the kilt and still connect to places i have been. There is still that question you will have to answer" what clan is that?" ( i have been asked that while wearing my UK Mocker)

I love the kilt, i love wearing it, and for me those tartans that we are talking about give me the opportunity to wear it proudly an not as some one stated above" step on anyone's family tartan toes "

[pdcorlis]

Hey Brother Ron

Why do I keep thinking of Tony the Tiger when I see that OSU tartan?