Where to get the Harley Davidson tartan?

[athensohkiltguy]

Hey folks,
Wondered if anybody had a bead on where to purchase the Harley Davidson tartan? Scotweb has it as "corporate restricted" and apparently unavailable. I googled for it a little and didn't catch anything obvious.

A biker buddy said jokingly that he'd wear a kilt if I made it in black, orange and white. He was partly serious, so of course I looked up the tartan and found it had been registered with the STA in the last few years. I can't just let such a challenge go, ya ken?

[McMurdo]

Here is a link to the Scottish Registry of Tartan

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=1599

They say there that it is woven by Fraser Kirkbright here is their link
http://wooltartan.com/

[Spartan Tartan]

If it is "restricted" then you need permission from the company to get your hands on it. I would bet, that it was made as a 1-time promotional piece and they made scarfs, hats, perhaps knitted gloves, etc...

In all likelihood, there has probably never been a run of this tartan in a kilt weight material. Even if there was at some point, I am sure it was limited and not for general use.

That all said, you do have the option of researching who/where within the HD Corporate HQs has the ability to grant copyright approval for a custom run of this tartan. I had to do this to get my Michigan State University tartan custom run and then made into a kilt.

Some helpful advice: Be patient. When you start emailing enormous company like HD to ask about permission to make some of their "restricted" tartan, it may take awhile to even find someone that knows what you are talking about. Also, realize that each email might be days, or even weeks, before reply from the company.

Next piece is they will want to know the EXACT specifics of what you intend to do with their Restricted tartan. Bear in mind, they copyrighted it for a reason...to ensure they make money everytime it is produced or sold. That being the case, don't be surprised if you need to pay THEM just to get permission to weave the tartan. Add in the cost of a custom weave (and that prices of wool just went up a few months back) AND that most mills are limiting their custom runs to a trade merchant (not the end customer like you and I are)...and you can see the process will not only be lengthly, but likely VERY expensive.

Question: Are you willing to spend over $1000 for a custom woven kilt for this guy? Because that very well might be the price range you are dealing with (give or take maybe a couple hundred dollars).

I don't say all this to discourage you, not at all. Just sharing my personal experience with doing something similar for my own "restricted tartan" kilt (i.e. SPARTAN TARTAN ).

Good luck! I have heard there are other tartans that feature black and orange...you might consider looking to see if any of those are non-restricted. ..just another option.

[Spartan Tartan]

Here is a link to the Scottish Registry of Tartan

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=1599

They say there that it is woven by Fraser Kirkbright here is their link
http://wooltartan.com/

This post showed up while I was typing my own response. If, indeed, they have the tartan in stock, you might be able to get your hands on it--but you will still need the company's permission--for me, that was the longest part of the process...just waiting to get the right person to authorize my use of their restricted tartan to make a kilt. After that, it was just waiting for my kilt maker to get the material and make my kilt.

Again, Best of luck!

[madmacs]

Shoot an email to the Scottish Harley dealers, West Coast Harley is in Glasgow, and I'm sure theres one in Edinburgh too (certainly used to be one in Leith)...

If it was made I'd guess it was for promo use... Probably sitting in a store room taking up space

[xman]

I believe we went through this just a few months ago. Harley Davidson is usually quite good about allowing people to weave and wear their tartan, you just need to get permission. It is not stock woven so you would need to get a bolt done by F&K. The sett size is quite small and this puts some people off.

[Tartan Tess]

I'd buy at least 8 yards of it from you if you did have to get a bolt "reasonable price"