Tartan for Tartan's Sake

[Jock Scot]

Go for it Rex, I think that would be a wonderful thing to do.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Well, I let more time than I intended to go by here before responding to my own post. I've been working on a project for work that has consumed my attention enough to not be able to assemble my thoughts on this with any coherence.

The reason for my internal deliberation on the matter is having now toyed with a tartan design utility, I stumbled across an arrangement of stripes by my own hand that appeals to me a great deal, though I can't explain why exactly. Sure, I chose the colors before I knew what I was going to do with them because I liked them in the first place, but now having put them in a particular sequence, and varying the widths of each to achieve a certain balance, I like them in combination even more - enough so that I'm weighing the decision to go on to have it produced (should it be deemed weave-able) against other intentions that I had already in mind.

Still, I can't shake the feeling that I'm about to enter into a contract for a surrogate child. So let me step back a bit.

I've probably mentioned it before, but the reason I came to kilts in the first place was because I saw them as an alternative to trousers, which, after taking stock of my closet one year, I realized I was totally bored with. I don't see myself as an iconoclast, just a bit of a clothes horse; I like to have options! In my mind at least, the kilt represented acceptable - if out of the ordinary - men's attire I could enjoy mixing it up with, sartorially speaking.

It wasn't until after I joined this group and began listening to others whose motivations were quite different that I started considering the reasons for wearing a kilt in a particular tartan. Many here are quite resolute that the only tartan one should wear should be their own family tartan. Which is fine, if you're Scottish or Scottish-descended and have a particular family tartan to call your own. (All others need not apply, I hear some of the most adamant imply.) Though it turns out I have what I believe to be a decent amount of Scottish ancestry, I don't particularly identify myself that way. Nevertheless, I enjoy playing along and learning about the customs and culture, adopting and employing elements that suit me on the way, doing my best to be appropriately respectful. I don't quite relate to those who wear their tartans like a flag, but I accept that they do.

Try as I might, I'm having trouble connecting with the existing tartans - mostly because they have meanings already ascribed to them. Of the seven tartan kilts that I have owned, currently- or will soon possess, there is only one through which I can draw a tenuous family connection, and it is a 20th century tartan, at that. Many tartans appeal to my eye, but not my soul.

So, I've concluded that maybe for me the best thing that I can do is to wear a tartan that I have designed myself, so that if someone asks, "Is that your family tartan?" I can say, "It is a personal tartan that I designed, and I wear it because it pleases me."

Regards,
Rex.

Rex,
As an oft' maligned traditionalist-- and fellow clothes horse-- let me say that I completely agree with your last paragraph. When can we see the final result?

Regards,
Scott

[Bugbear]

Rex... you da king.

Good luck, and hope it all works out well for you.

[Kilted Rogue]

here here, do it
Cant wait to see the result

[Rex_Tremende]

When can we see the final result?

Well, with the understanding that it has not yet been vetted by a professional for its suitability for the loom and other considerations like sett size and alignment on the selvage, or similarity to other tartans, the design can be seen here on the Scotweb site. It may be subject to change.

When Nick announces his design utility is ready for production, I'll take the next steps.

Regards,
Rex.

[ForresterModern]

Lovely tartan Rex. Weave it and wear it with pride.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Rex,

I'm impressed.

Scott

[ForresterModern]

Rex
did my own fiddling with Nick's program to develop one to remember my place of birth and where I spent a lot of my youthm as well as where my parents retired to, the state where my family spent several generations.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/WVSpring.jpg

West Virginia Spring

[Panache]

Rex,

I am not a kiltmaker so I'm not sure how well it will translate into a kilt.

But I think you designed a gorgeous tartan

What did you name it?

Cheers

Jamie

[joeybear]

I like what I like and buy what I don't think will offend anyone and would look good. I hope it doesn't offend anyone, but I'm also not asking permission for what I wear or purchase.

I recently finally learned of my family heritage and know that my ancestors were Scottish, then run out of Scotland and went to Ireland. In Ireland, our family name was Kildare and remained that for many years until my great great grandparents arrived at Ellis Island. There, for safety/perosnal reasons (they were forced to leave Ireland), they changed their name to Wright...the same name as the people in front of them at Ellis Island. I have no connection to Wright, other than my grandfather being the first Wright born in the states. Sooo, I don't know to which clan I am a descendant and will wear what I like. I will know some history about the tartan I am wearing at all times as to not offend anyone if questions arise.