Wearing another clans Tartan?

[Downunder Kilt]

Hi Rabble,
I was wondering what the etiquette behind wearing another clans tartan in the form of a kilt.
It's something I know that would irritate me, but sometimes I stumble across a deal that is SO hard to pass up but it isn't always in Fraser or Patterson colors. It makes me feel guilty the idea of it, and I wanted to get the official scoop so I don't commit a kilt faux-pas
Seasaidh(Jess),

It would be rare indeed to find a kilt in Pat(t)erson tartan for two reasons:
1. There is no official tartan(as in recognised by a chief) because there is no Clan Chief.
2. There are unofficial Paterson tartans out there but they require a custom weave.

I have 2 of them
http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=5094
and
http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=3301

[Jock Scot]

To give a Scots perspective and speaking generally.

You can wear nearly any tartan you wish. Whether you should, or not, is entirely up to you. However, we generally wear the one Clan tartan only, the wife wears her husbands tartan and the children wear their fathers tartan. I could, if I so choose, wear ten , maybe more tartans, but I don't as it is not the Scots way.

Many people quite rightly point out that most Clan tartans are at best, some two hundred years old and tend to scoff at the way that many classic tartans were designed------well someone had to do it and for me, it all adds to the history of tartan, but one thing to remember is that many tartans are still older than some countries.

[TheOfficialBren]

J
Some very interesting and valid points have been raised. Great discussion, gentlemen!

[creagdhubh]

To give a Scots perspective and speaking generally.

You can wear nearly any tartan you wish. Whether you should, or not, is entirely up to you. However, we generally wear the one Clan tartan only, the wife wears her husbands tartan and the children wear their fathers tartan. I could, if I so choose, wear ten , maybe more tartans, but I don't as it is not the Scots way.

Many people quite rightly point out that most Clan tartans are at best, some two hundred years old and tend to scoff at the way that many classic tartans were designed------well someone had to do it and for me, it all adds to the history of tartan, but one thing to remember is that many tartans are still older than some countries.

***

[RockyR]

It would be rare indeed to find a kilt in Pat(t)erson tartan for two reasons:
1. There is no official tartan(as in recognised by a chief) because there is no Clan Chief.
2. There are unofficial Paterson tartans out there but they require a custom weave.

I have 2 of them
http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=5094
and
http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=3301

Not quite true... the following is a Patterson tartan that is held as stock by one of the mills which can easily be obtained:

[Jock Scot]

A question for Downunder Kilt.

Do you know if the Australian Cultural Attache, Les Patterson has a kilt made in this tartan?

[Downunder Kilt]

A question for Downunder Kilt.

Do you know if the Australian Cultural Attache, Les Patterson has a kilt made in this tartan?

Jock, if Sir Les is anything like his good friend Dame Edna, then he would not only have a Patterson tartan or two, he would also have conned Her Majesty in giving permission for him to wear the Balmoral tartan.. I think he would do an outstanding job in outfitting himself and wearing it with all decorum due, say at a night where he was attending a function as Minister of the Yartz


He would probably be ostentacious enough to wear his CBE too.

[RockyR]

I find it interesting that the waters get murky when it comes to:

1. Pipe Bands
2. Military

When you're in a pipe band, people seem to be happy to put aside their objections to wearing another's clan tartan. I wonder why this is when some have such strong opinions of it in other circumstances. The same goes for MacKenzie, Campbell, Cameron (Erracht), Stewart Royal, etc tartans in Military settings. I'm not poking fun or making a backhanded statement... I truly wonder how this dichotomy sits with those who wear them, but wouldn't wear a MacDonald of the Isles Hunting kilt b/c it's not their clan.

With the vast amount of universal tartans out there now, most held as stock tartans at a mill, I'd think most pipe bands, especially in Scotland where wearing another's tartan isn't generally done, would be looking to change their uniform to a Universal / District tartan OR have their own tartan designed and woven. I would think this especially true of new bands just forming and looking for a tartan to wear.

[Jock Scot]

I find it interesting that the waters get murky when it comes to:

1. Pipe Bands
2. Military

When you're in a pipe band, people seem to be happy to put aside their objections to wearing another's clan tartan. I wonder why this is when some have such strong opinions of it in other circumstances. The same goes for MacKenzie, Campbell, Cameron (Erracht), Stewart Royal, etc tartans in Military settings. I'm not poking fun or making a backhanded statement... I truly wonder how this dichotomy sits with those who wear them, but wouldn't wear a MacDonald of the Isles Hunting kilt b/c it's not their clan.

With the vast amount of universal tartans out there now, most held as stock tartans at a mill, I'd think most pipe bands, especially in Scotland where wearing another's tartan isn't generally done, would be looking to change their uniform to a Universal / District tartan OR have their own tartan designed and woven. I would think this especially true of new bands just forming and looking for a tartan to wear.

Easily explained Rocky, we are talking CIVILIAN kilt attire, not military and OK civilian pipe bands are in betwixt and between Military and civilian wear, but as pipe bands lean towards the military in how they operate then it seems to be recognised that the band tartan is worn without a fuss.

Interestingly, I had an uncle in the Black Watch and he always maintained that he could not wait to wear "his" tartan when on leave.

[McElmurry]

FYI

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-tartan-56450/