Tartan Question

[bman]

I did some looking and could not find anything that answers this specific question. If there is such a thread please redirect me.

I have already decided my first kilt is going to be a plain contemporary one and mostly have it worked out in my head. Now my second kilt which I know will come after that one is going to be a tartan kilt of some sort. I am wondering how to choose which tartan. I am a typical mutt American, the only claim I have to Scotland or Ireland is side comments from older relatives (who are passed or hard to get to) who have stated that we have such connections way back. I currently do not have resources to trace lineage to verify this but alas love Scottish culture and am getting into kilts for that reason as well as comfort. I have made several post about other topics and received great responses so here we go on this now.

Thank you all and great day to you

Brandon

[Chirs]

There are numerous threads on this subject (but I'm of no help finding them) and, I think, the consensus is: wear what you like. If you have an historical connection, pursue it. If you don't, wear the tartan/design you like, understanding that some are restricted (like a company's logo, as it were - someone may own the tartan and, as such, can restrict its use). The most important point would be to wear any tartan with respect.

[bman]

I did just find a tartan under my last name through tartan authority...odd but not sure if it my group if family

[OC Richard]

There are many beautiful modern tartans which have no family or clan associations, such as Spirit Of Scotland, Auld Scotland, and Isle of Skye.

Here's Spirit of Scotland (modern colours)



Spirit of Scotland (ancient colours)



Auld Scotland:



and Isle of Skye:



Many Xmarkers here have Isle of Skye kilts. I'm wearing one in my avatar. Here's mine:

[bman]

Some really nice colors there. I think I get the gist of it. I just wasn't sure what the guidelines were. I really am glad I found this forum. I am sure kilts will soon become an adiction of mine, just like motorcycles and tabacco pipes.

[Spartan Tartan]

When it comes to fashion tartans, the only limits are your checkbook

As for the clan or name kilts, the only thing to keep in mind is how to respond if someone recognizes it and asks about your connection. Technically you can wear any tartan you want (except restricted as previously noted). But be sensitive and aware that if you are not a "MacOnion" or "Onion" then people may ask why you are wearing that tartan. I'm not saying it's right or wrong to do so, just be mindful of the cultural context so you can speak intelligently about why you wear the tartan you do.

On the other hand, my experience is that people just want to know what the tartan represents and if it's "My family's tartan"...I'm pretty sure that 95% of the people that you come across wouldn't know the name of your tartan. If they do, then you probably ought to buy them a beer and chat for a bit

Just my 2 cents.

[biblemonkey]

You can wear what you like but know a little about the tartan so you can give answers about it knowledgably. To clan gatherings or official Gaelic events wear your clan. If you have no clan then wear a “universal” tartan that is designed without clan affiliation. As has been said here, no matter what tartan you wear, wear it with respect and wear the kilt properly and you’ll be fine.

[slohairt]

There are quite a number of district and fashion tartans to choose from if one is unsure about wearing a clan/name tartan.

Here's some more suggestions:

Caledonia
Highland Granite
Scotland's National
Highland Cathedral

[McElmurry]

If you have any relatives from Ulster, or just like brown



This is Scottish Odyssey



Both kilts were made by Xmark members

[Mike_Oettle]

Brandon, you have had some pretty sound advice here. There are any number of tartans that someone not belonging to a clan may wear.
But since you mention that you found a tartan associated with your name, it could be that you are a clansman, after all.
It is worth checking on that connection.
Regards,
Mike