New Texas Tartan

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I noticed in my inbox this morning a new tartan for the Lone Star State has been added to the National Register. In fact, it is called the Texas Lone Star tartan. Details here:
http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...aspx?ref=10726



I have to say, my first thought was that this is just the kind of tartan that is not needed. I know that sounds harsh, but here is what I mean by that.

First, this is a tartan for an American state which already has a tartan (the Texas Bluebonnet tartan). The Texas Bluebonnet tartan was formally adopted by the State Legislature in 1989. And it is widely worn and recognized as the state tartan by many individuals and Scottish heritage groups within the state. In other words, it has both legal authority and common usage in its favor. So why introduce a competing state tartan to muddy the waters when there is already a legitimate tartan for the state?

Moreover, the designer in this case has fallen into the common trap of obvious color symbolism that I think adversely affects the design of many modern district tartans, especially state tartans. The designer has looked to the flag of Texas for color inspiration -- this is not necessarily a bad thing. However, the colors of the Texas flag are... drum roll... red, white and blue!

Those colors are held in common not only with the US flag itself, but also many of the other state flags including Wyoming, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi, Hawaii, Georgia, Colorado, and Arkansas. When you add in the states whose flags use two of those colors (either red/white or blue/white) that's virtually all of them. Making reference to the colors of a state flag in a tartan loses its significance, in my opinion, when the colors are so common. How many red, white and blue American tartans do we really need?

I note that this tartan was designed by the owner of a celtic shop in Texas and is available exclusively through that shop. It is categorized, correctly, as a Fashion tartan. I wish the owner of the shop much success in selling this tartan, but I hope the marketing for it does not try to downplay in any way the legitimacy or the use of the Texas Bluebonnet tartan.

[macwilkin]

I noticed in my inbox this morning a new tartan for the Lone Star State has been added to the National Register. In fact, it is called the Texas Lone Star tartan. Details here:
http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...aspx?ref=10726



I have to say, my first thought was that this is just the kind of tartan that is not needed. I know that sounds harsh, but here is what I mean by that.

First, this is a tartan for an American state which already has a tartan (the Texas Bluebonnet tartan). The Texas Bluebonnet tartan was formally adopted by the State Legislature in 1989. And it is widely worn and recognized as the state tartan by many individuals and Scottish heritage groups within the state. In other words, it has both legal authority and common usage in its favor. So why introduce a competing state tartan to muddy the waters when there is already a legitimate tartan for the state?

Moreover, the designer in this case has fallen into the common trap of obvious color symbolism that I think adversely affects the design of many modern district tartans, especially state tartans. The designer has looked to the flag of Texas for color inspiration -- this is not necessarily a bad thing. However, the colors of the Texas flag are... drum roll... red, white and blue!

Those colors are held in common not only with the US flag itself, but also many of the other state flags including Wyoming, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi, Hawaii, Georgia, Colorado, and Arkansas. When you add in the states whose flags use two of those colors (either red/white or blue/white) that's virtually all of them. Making reference to the colors of a state flag in a tartan loses its significance, in my opinion, when the colors are so common. How many red, white and blue American tartans do we really need?

I note that this tartan was designed by the owner of a celtic shop in Texas and is available exclusively through that shop. It is categorized, correctly, as a Fashion tartan. I wish the owner of the shop much success in selling this tartan, but I hope the marketing for it does not try to downplay in any way the legitimacy or the use of the Texas Bluebonnet tartan.

Matt,

When I first saw it come "across the wires" this morning, I was reminded of John Cumming's American tartan:

http://www.tartans.scotland.net/tart...an_id=1872.htm

T.

[Cynthia]

I must admit, this design does nothing for me. I prefer the Texas Bluebonnet Tartan. Thanks for letting us know, though!

[Riverkilt]

Dang...my parents eyeballs may have looked like when I was conceived one cold winter's night in Fort Worth...but no way folks. I'm with the Texas Bluebonnet too....and not just because I already have a kilt in that tartan...

Maybe the colors are supposed to represent the Mexicano heritage of Texas....FIESTA!!

[Tobus]

I pretty much agree, Matt. I'm not a huge fan of the Bluebonnet tartan, as I'm not overly fond of the colour scheme, but it is indeed our official tartan and this new one is just superfluous and unnecessary. And I, too, have grown weary of the constant efforts to use colours as symbols in tartan designs. Not to disrespect those who value such symbolism, but I think it's just a tad corny. As Jock Scot is fond of saying on various subjects, "there's a danger that they may be overthinking it." I'd rather just see a visually pleasing tartan without complicating it with too many details or hidden meanings.

I'm familiar with Things Celtic, as they show up at most of the Highland Games and Celtic festivals around here. I think I've even met the lady in question. She has a fairly well established business and a decent reputation. I can't really blame her for wanting to create a tartan that might appeal to her fellow Texans which might give her business a boost. It's not like she's the only one doing it. But, with that said, I think I'll pass on the tartan.

I was curious about the yellow lines. She put them in there because of the yellow fringe on the flag in her school auditorium? Gee, that's meaningful...

[castledangerous]

Nothing, in my opinion, makes a tartan more appealing and universal then adding "gold for fringing on a flag on the stage of [the designer's] school auditorium".