Irish Ancestry tartans

[M. A. C. Newsome]

This comment made me think, too, the Registry would do well to have a designation other than Fashion tartan for these. Perhaps just me but I draw a negative from that. Heritage, one that came right to the front of my mind, or something else would seem a better fit to me.

'Fashion tartan' is a term that has been used for quite a while (the National Register did not invent it) to mean any tartan that was designed and produced for the trade, but does not have any formal authority behind it. It is not meant to be derogatory, but simply to distinguish these tartans from those that have the formal approval of whatever/whomever the appropriate authority might be (clan chief, city council, CEO, state legislature, club president, etc.).

[OC Richard]

I just went on Rocky's site and I don't see those under "Irish tartans" or under "exclusive tartans". Did I just miss them?

In general, purely as works of the tartan-inventors art, I like the House Of Edgar "Irish" tartans. Evidently freed from any preconceived constraints and guided purely by aesthetics, they designed several lovely and striking tartans.

Those "county crest" tartans are generally mediocre designs in my opinion. Of course the designers were hamstrung by having to use colour combinations which are in most cases not ideal for designing attractive tartans. It's the Allan Brothers "tartan as heraldry" thing all over again. (It was perhaps their most fundamental misunderstanding of tartan design, and one which we in the 21st century seem determined to perpetuate.) But even given the rather garish colours, better design, balance, etc might have been employed.

It's difficult, I think, when not sitting at a loom (as the 18th century tartan designers did), but rather sitting at a drawing table (as the Allen Brothers did), or at a computer (as we mostly do today), to keep in mind the fundamental nature of tartan as cloth and not let the designs feel diagrammatic or graphic.

[RockyR]

'Fashion tartan' is a term that has been used for quite a while (the National Register did not invent it) to mean any tartan that was designed and produced for the trade, but does not have any formal authority behind it. It is not meant to be derogatory, but simply to distinguish these tartans from those that have the formal approval of whatever/whomever the appropriate authority might be (clan chief, city council, CEO, state legislature, club president, etc.).

Matt... this is an issue I've taken issue with (had long discussions with Brian Wilton about it). The problem, in MY MIND is that the 'rules' are not applied evenly. Example: The House of Edgar Irish County range came out in 1995. They were designated as district tartans. When the County Crest range came out in 2003, they were not even acknowledged at first. Only later were they acknowledged and then put in as "fashion" tartans. Neither set is official. Neither of them have approval from any governing body. Why is 1 listed as District and the other as Fashion?

That is simply 1 example, but there are dozens I can site. You're correct in that "fashion tartan" isn't meant to have a negative connotation and that it has existed for quite some time.

I just went on Rocky's site and I don't see those under "Irish tartans" or under "exclusive tartans". Did I just miss them?

SNIP

Those "county crest" tartans are generally mediocre designs in my opinion. Of course the designers were hamstrung by having to use colour combinations which are in most cases not ideal for designing attractive tartans. It's the Allan Brothers "tartan as heraldry" thing all over again. (It was perhaps their most fundamental misunderstanding of tartan design, and one which we in the 21st century seem determined to perpetuate.) But even given the rather garish colours, better design, balance, etc might have been employed.

Those tartans aren't listed on our site (nor will they be) for 2 reasons... 1) they're not woven yet & 2) they're going to be stock tartans anyone can order, so they're not our exclusive designs (though we did design them). Any kiltmaker will be able to order them.

Keep an eye on the Irish County Crest range over the next year. I agree that many of the colors originally used were a bit garish and many of them are being 'toned down' over the next year.

[seanachie]

Matt... this is an issue I've taken issue with (had long discussions with Brian Wilton about it). The problem, in MY MIND is that the 'rules' are not applied evenly. Example: The House of Edgar Irish County range came out in 1995. They were designated as district tartans. When the County Crest range came out in 2003, they were not even acknowledged at first. Only later were they acknowledged and then put in as "fashion" tartans. Neither set is official. Neither of them have approval from any governing body. Why is 1 listed as District and the other as Fashion?

That is simply 1 example, but there are dozens I can site. You're correct in that "fashion tartan" isn't meant to have a negative connotation and that it has existed for quite some time.
.

Rocky, you read my thoughts, that is what I was talking about. And to the earlier comment that Fashion was not meant to be pejorative I understand that. I just think there is a negative connotation and a more applicable and better suited name would be better.

[Carlo]

It's kind of off topic, but since it's been been mentioned here and the design owner (Rocky) posted before I will still ask here.

I quite like the Ireland's National tartan.
I have no connection to Ireland other than that I like the music and that the colours (Orange/White/Green) have a deeper meaning to me (but not as the Irish flag).
There is a dead horse (Clan tartan) being beaten elsewhere.
Do you think it is appropriate for me to go for the Ireland's National tartan?

[RockyR]

It's kind of off topic, but since it's been been mentioned here and the design owner (Rocky) posted before I will still ask here.

I quite like the Ireland's National tartan.
I have no connection to Ireland other than that I like the music and that the colours (Orange/White/Green) have a deeper meaning to me (but not as the Irish flag).
There is a dead horse (Clan tartan) being beaten elsewhere.
Do you think it is appropriate for me to go for the Ireland's National tartan?

In a word, yes.

[rmccool]

In a word, yes.

***. This is definitely a case of, if you like it, wear it.

[John_Carrick]

Carlo
Wear it. You could walk around any town in Ireland and nobody will have any idea what tartan it is.
I have a cheap Irish National kilt from Heritage of Scotland and no one here has ever thought it was anything other than a Scottish tartan.
John

[denmcdough]

It's funny how all these Irish Tartans came about. I assume it was a ploy by the Scottish mills to drum up new business, and it worked with the diaspora. Hmm, wonder why it never caught on in Ireland?

Anyway, I do not particularly like the Irish Crest Tartans, but I do like HOE's county ones. In fact, I have a tie in the County Waterford and it's very dashing. I get positive comments on it all the time, so I'm thinking of a kilt in it, also. Wondering if any of the rabble has a kilt in Waterford???

[artificer]

Those tartans aren't listed on our site (nor will they be) for 2 reasons... 1) they're not woven yet & 2) they're going to be stock tartans anyone can order, so they're not our exclusive designs (though we did design them). Any kiltmaker will be able to order them.

Keep an eye on the Irish County Crest range over the next year. I agree that many of the colors originally used were a bit garish and many of them are being 'toned down' over the next year.

This is exciting news, Rocky!

My wife's family comes from Longford Co., but the tartan as-is is very "bright",



Is the below the new toned down version?(found with the tartan ferrett) If so, it might be just the ticket to get me into a new kilt and her into a sash.



Now I'm off to start hoarding pennies

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