Carolina, NC and SC Tartans

**MacWage** · 11th June 06, 11:11 AM

I was at the Greenville Games (SC) yesterday and saw a tent/table hawking North Carolina and South Carolina tartans (NO CAROLINA IN SIGHT). I talked to the guy and listened, cordially, to his speal (SP?). He said they were registered (misleading) and represent each of the two states. The problem is that he implied that they were "official," which they are not, and that they were general tartans (only in "usage," but availible only from a particular mill). The only clue is on the card on the table, which says "Exclusive Supplierof NC & SC Tartan Products." Again, this leads an air of "legitimacy" for the tartans being sold! While the guy seemed "nice" and "friendly," the level of obscurity led to out and out deception. It is evident that he/they designed these tartansand had them woven, with no approval but their own, and seemingly no attempt to do so. I will give the company name only as WARNING-

Scotland the Brand

(which ought to be a warning unto itself.) While the tartans are nice looking I WILL NOT BE GIVING THEM ANY OF MY MONEY!!!!!!!

Regardless, Carolina is THE OFFICIAL tartan of BOTH NC and SC. It is milled more than one mill and is not too bad itself!

The ever diligent, wise, and helpful Mr. Newsome (the Might Matt) had other dealing with this "vender" (deciever) before and at Greenville. His experiences confirm my suspicions. He wrote of it on his blog here:

http://blog.albanach.org/

Matt, I hope you don't mind the link here

I try not to link other people's thoughts and so forth outside their permission, but this was TOO significant not to do so.

Posters BEWARE- all vendors are not what they claim!

(Like noone knew that already! :rolleyes: )

However, I met quite a few really great vendors, Scot-fanatics, other X Markers, and a few Scottish nobles and royal officials (all were REALLY great guys, though with some rather strong, informed, and OFFICIAL opinions). I've even a greater respect for my MacBubba brothers and sisters!- (where else do you think all these guys were?)

By the way, I'm not a "official registered tartan stickler!" I was wearing a kilt made from a fragment of a Belted Plaid/great kilt in a tartan I cannot identify, but is essentially Black watch with an olive green, burgundy/brown replacing blue, and navy replacing black. :rolleyes: It's my "Jedi" Tartan :rolleyes:

I just DO NOT like out and out misleading (which, if intentional, is deceit!) people to think something is what it is not a selling it as such.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 11th June 06, 11:52 AM

No problem linking to my blog. Thanks for the compliments!

There are many states that have unofficial tartans, but what really bugs me in this case is that these new tartans were designed and are being promoted *after* the Carolina tartan was officially adopted by both states. Too little too late!

M

P.S. The perma-link to that blog posting is:
http://blog.albanach.org/2006/06/tar...nc-and-sc.html

**MacWage** · 11th June 06, 06:34 PM

Officer Matt,
You are in the "Tartan Police" :rolleyes:

Your "badge" says so.

(Isn't that what the "Tartan Museum" is? :rolleyes: )

Scary part is that I might be getting close too. I actually know many of the "real" and "fashion" tartans, as well as which tartans I have are "real," which are "almost" real (slight, and not so slight, variations on the correct pattern/count), which are likely not, and which are "just for the colors." I could ID many of the tartans and "tartans" at the games, at least

Maybe some of us should make "Tartan Police" badges for real.

I wonder what "the people" would think?

**Tartan Hiker** · 11th June 06, 09:11 PM

I saw that booth, and walked by it twice thinking "That sure doesn't look like the Carolina tartan...and why are there two?"

I hope the organizers of the Greenville Games (and all the other local games for that matter) have a chance to read Matt's article.

Now I want a kilt in the Carolina...anyone here know a good kiltmaker???