The stories behind seven of the most popular tartans

[jhockin]

https://www.scotsman.com/news/the-st...tans-1-4685398

[figheadair]

Hmmmm. I'd hardly call the Balmoral tartan popular no matter how large the list of 'most popular' tartans (can there be more than one?) is.

[Tarheel]

A short and sweet article. Left me with the same feeling as getting birthday cake without ice cream. I'm glad there is more meat to these stories here at XMarks. I'd have to read the book to make a better statement.

[Steve Ashton]

You would think that someone writing an article on the popularity of Tartans would do some research and speak to a few of the weaving mills to find out which are be most popular.

[OC Richard]

When I click on that Scotsman link the text in the body of the article is blacked out. I suppose they want me to do something or pay something?

I wonder what seven tartans are listed.

It's come up before, the topic of what tartans are "most popular".

I'll assume for the moment, just for the sake of discussion, the following:

1) by "most popular" is meant "manufactured and/or sold in the largest quantity"

2) Scotland is under discussion

3) We are considering tartan used in kilts, rather than ribbon, carpet, flannel shirts, etc.

Given these, I would think it would have to be either the top hire tartans and/or the tartan worn by the Royal Regiment Of Scotland.

At the height of its popularity it seemed that every hire shop had racks of Isle Of Skye kilts. Multiply that by how many hire shops are in Scotland and you have a very large number of kilts.

Then every shop had racks of Grey Douglas kilts.

Not sure what the current rage is. Here are the offerings of a big Glasgow hire shop

http://slanjkilts.com/kilt-hire

The RRS would account for thousands of kilts, perhaps more than any one hire tartan.

[OC Richard]

the list of 'most popular' tartans (can there be more than one?)

At least we can be glad that the title of the article wasn't

"The stories behind Scotland's seven most unique tartans"

[figheadair]

When I click on that Scotsman link the text in the body of the article is blacked out. I suppose they want me to do something or pay something?

I wonder what seven tartans are listed

Richard, it must be an overseas thing, the link works fine here.

1. Royal Stewart (Agreed)

2. Black Watch (Agreed)

3. MacQueen (Apparently because Alexander McQeen the fashion designer used it!)

4. MacLeod (the Loud MacLeod, I guess because it's popular in the fashion industry)

5. Balmoral (How under any criterion is this one the list?)

6. Fraser (VS sett)

7. Bruce of Kinnaird (What!)

The authors have a fashion background and that was the basis behind the book. They did engage with the STA and we corrected some of the most obvious errors but had no input in this list. I find it infuriating that people like this can come up with an idea, get backing for it and produce a good quality book when I can t find the backing or interest to publish event a fraction of my research. Rant over.

[FossilHunter]

When I click on that Scotsman link the text in the body of the article is blacked out. I suppose they want me to do something or pay something?

I wonder what seven tartans are listed.

It's come up before, the topic of what tartans are "most popular".

I'll assume for the moment, just for the sake of discussion, the following:

1) by "most popular" is meant "manufactured and/or sold in the largest quantity"

2) Scotland is under discussion

3) We are considering tartan used in kilts, rather than ribbon, carpet, flannel shirts, etc.

Given these, I would think it would have to be either the top hire tartans and/or the tartan worn by the Royal Regiment Of Scotland.

At the height of its popularity it seemed that every hire shop had racks of Isle Of Skye kilts. Multiply that by how many hire shops are in Scotland and you have a very large number of kilts.

Then every shop had racks of Grey Douglas kilts.

Not sure what the current rage is. Here are the offerings of a big Glasgow hire shop

http://slanjkilts.com/kilt-hire

The RRS would account for thousands of kilts, perhaps more than any one hire tartan.

There is an option to take a survey to see the rest of the article that then has a skip option.

Anyway, many of the tartans are the usual suspects like 'black watch' and royal stuart. MacQueen was listed but I don't know that I've seen it much in kilts. Those three and Balmoral were the ones I remembered from reading it this morning.

Being one of the largest clans, I would have hoped a MacDonald tartan of some kind would have made the cut, but alas.

[Tarheel]

Each item on the list has an abbreviated reason for making "their" choice. A note at the end of the article states these are short excerpts from the book. I get the marketing (buy our book) but will explore the information another way.

I don't want to discourage anyone from researching tartans and writing their findings (even in the fashion industry) but I'd rather all sources get consideration.

[GMan]

I found that a fascinating read. Although like others, I am perplexed by the selection of tartans.