Alberta Modern - Seeking interest

[Taskr]

I have a "great excuse" to have a kilt in Alberta Modern. While 10-12oz is easy to obtain, I've not been able to find 16oz anywhere. An IM discussion with Steve indicates that if I can scare up at least 3-4 kilt orders we could engage a special run at reasonable cost.
So, anyone out there been jonsing for an Alberta Modern kilt?
(image from a Locarron 10-11oz)

[Liam]

Possibly.....
I have never been very fond of the colours chosen for this tartan, but, I do live in Alberta....

[figheadair]

Possibly.....
I have never been very fond of the colours chosen for this tartan, but, I do live in Alberta....

One of the problems with this design is that it breaks the traditional practice of how colours were used in proportion to each other. The shades of those colours will also affect the overall impression. As with most tatans, it looks better in Wilsons' shades/ They of course are not standard and would have to be a special weave.

[Liam]

One of the problems with this design is that it breaks the traditional practice of how colours were used in proportion to each other. The shades of those colours will also affect the overall impression. As with most tatans, it looks better in Wilsons' shades/ They of course are not standard and would have to be a special weave.

That is a considerable improvement!

[Taskr]

Yes. Good advice.
The story of the design might imply traditions of design and colour would not have been foremost. I feel I should, however, remain to the colours as displayed at the AB Legislature, which look a bit better than that of the image on OP. I'm looking for that to post.

[Taskr]

..on reflection, this should have been in the OP
https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/ta...ls.aspx?ref=39

[OC Richard]

One of the problems with this design is that it breaks the traditional practice of how colours were used in proportion to each other.

This is interesting and I was wondering if you could elaborate.

The design has an ungainly look to my eye, and I think I know what it is, the motif (as opposed to the 'ground') having five stripes going narrow-medium-wide-medium-narrow in a simple stepwise size progression (ignoring the narrow dark lines which function visually as borders).

No changes in colours will overcome that.

To my eye the original as woven in the cap above appears a bit pale and not really suited for a kilt. The woven version in the jacket above appears stronger. Peter's WOB colours are stronger yet. None really appeal to me.

For my eye the CGI example from the tartan register, though a bit garish, has the best colours, and I think it would look softer and more integrated if woven.

It's an interesting design challenge, to see if one could come up with a selection of colours that makes the design work really well.

[figheadair]

One of the problems with this design is that it breaks the traditional practice of how colours were used in proportion to each other.

This is interesting and I was wondering if you could elaborate.

Traditionally yellow, light blue and light red were generally used as highlight colours in tartan. It's unusual (I cannot think of an example) to band these three together in the way that they are used in the Alberta. They also tended to be used sparingly whereas the yellow and blue in particular dominate this design.

If it had been me I'd have used a darker blue and arranged the colours in a different order, such as this for example.

[CMcG]

It's fine to discuss the relative merits of the Alberta tartan's design in a hypothetical fashion, but let's not forget that it is a registered sett that was officially recognized by the province in the 1960s. It is what it is, although there is also an Alberta dress tartan that became official in 2000.

The thing about an official design is that it is iconic. Changing it makes it into something else, which could lack the recognition of the original. Imagine someone saying, "hmmmmm... the red in the USA's flag is too dark. Let's make it pink!" or "hmmmmm.... the blue in the Saltire is too light. Let's make it navy!"

That is to say, discuss away, but please respect the provincial tartan!

From the Legislature:


Government website with the Emblems of Alberta:
http://culture.alberta.ca/about/emblems-of-alberta/

Personally, I would get a kilt in the Alberta tartan, if a new kilt was in the budget.

[OC Richard]

The thing about an official design is that it is iconic.

Yes I suppose for better or worse that's true.

On the other hand the fact that some body or other has adopted a tartan doesn't make it a good design, and as an artist I'm interested in good design, and couldn't care less about politicians and their actions. In other words political approval legitimises things in the eyes of some, but not for me.

A perfect example of this is the West Virginia tartan. The real actual traditional tartan is an old relic brought from Scotland by an early settler. The tartan approved by the State is the same, but changed in a clumsy awkward ugly way. I utterly reject the bastardised tartan as being both false and hideous.

In any case my approach would not be to change the Alberta sett, but rather adjust the colours to make something as pleasing as possible. The sett is what it is, as you say. My understanding is that a sett is subject to changes in colours, and to a certain extent proportions, without invalidating the sett.