Wearing of kilts and tartan outside of Scotland

[AcuteEnigma]

I have searched for previous threads on this topic but am not sure what terms to search on. "Tartan", "Wearing" and "wearing tartan" all return too many hits. Hence the new thread.

In another thread Matt said "So, all those grumpy old Highland kilt wearers who think the kilt should only be worn by Highlanders in the Highlands should raise a dram in appreciation to all those outwith Scotland who buy from their favorite Scottish suppliers, enabling them to keep the doors open for dour Scots traditionalists! :-)"

Also EnglishBloke said " I've also met Scots who have expressed vociferously a strong objection to me wearing it [the kilt] because I'm "not Scottish"."



Why do those who think so, think that way? I'm trying to break it down into parts so I do not make any assumptions.

Do they object to tartan being worn by non-Highlanders?
Do they object to any kilts being worn by non-Highlanders, even single-color ones?
Do they object to tartan kilts being worn by non-Highlanders?
Do they object to specific Clan tartan kilts being worn by non-Highlanders?

What is the objection and why?

Thank you.

[guardsman]

Now now , bit contentious

[Spartan Tartan]

This thread is opening pandora's kilt... careful what you ask for, you just might get it (and a closed thread).

[CDNSushi]

Dear AcuteEnigma,

I commend you for trying to find an answer using the search function before posting your question. I realize it's not always easy to know the best keywords to use. Personally, having been party to a number of threads where this has been discussed very thoroughly, I used the keywords "outwith Scotland" and returned some of the following results. This is just a SMALL cross-section of the threads out there covering this particular topic.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...t-scots-71367/
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...dentity-68555/
This is a sticky, by the way. Searching would not be required to find this one: --> http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f99/kilt-kops-68828/
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...elction-73138/
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ericans-76991/
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ditions-59327/
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-attire-72692/

Also, you may wish to read the two most recent threads currently in the Cooling Off Corner section.

Hope that helps answer your question.

Dear Rabble,

This moderator is feeling just a WEEEEEEEE bit frazzled at the moment, having had to deal with numerous flags in the past few days, and issues which are not yet resolved. With that in mind, please consider this a warning shot fired across the bow of this thread.... Consider your response carefully before you hit the "Post" button....

1. Is my response NECESSARY?
2. Is my response on-topic?
3. Is my response helpful?
4. Is my response respectful to other opinions
5. Is my response KIND and thoughtful of others?

If the answer to all of the above is "YES" then it's likely that you're on the right track. But if you're being honest with yourself and the answer is "maybe" or "no" to any of these, I strongly recommend pouring yourself a dram, watching some cat vids on Youtube for a few minutes, re-writing your response, and repeat from step 1 as necessary, until your self-evaluation comes back all "yes" OR you fall asleep peacefully with a belly full of single malt, at which point it may be a good idea to repeat the process in the morning.

Thank you kindly for your co-operation,

JD

[MacCathmhaoil]

Got me a comfy chair, big bowl of popcorn and a cooler of beer! This should be good.......

[English Bloke]

I view of the recent upsets I'd leave this for a while, it's a bit of a powder-keg topic. I'd advise you let all the dust settle before you bring it up again. I'd wait a month or few though.

Have a re-read of the other heated threads front to back. You'll find most of the answers in there.

[California Highlander]

I think this horse is way dead. Let's bury it and move on.

[English Bloke]

Sorry Jim, we cross posted. Your research is better than mine I'll grant you.

[TheOfficialBren]

I think this horse is way dead. Let's bury it and move on.

Agreed.

[Cornet]

Now now , bit contentious

I cannot see why the basic question is a contentious issue. There are undoubtedly people who have some proprietary feelings, but the Scots are a canny, pragmatic people. Upon seeing the failure of local economies, the Scots have very cleverly created an international market for their products. My husband's family were actively involved in the promotion of "Scottishness" in international markets as a vehicle for selling the very superior loomwork and tailoring that that goes in in Scotland. I would have thought that anyone who comes in to forum like this would understand its international nature. By suggesting it is contentious, I feel it undermines the intelligence of this international community. No intelligent person rejects moves that both promote their culture and promotes industry that bring commerce to them. By its very nature of an international forum that promotes tartans, kilts and related ephemera, and the discourse surrounding them, the members here effectively admit to the fact that tartans and kilts are worn worldwide. There are some tartans that are proprietary. The belong to families, whose chief have the right to say who may wear them. Some are copyright and may only be woven by specific weavers. Some belong to organizations, who may dictate who and how they may be used and displayed. The Scots are very, very proud that their symbols or honour and dignity have been adopted world wide, and are recognized by so many people. Of course there are a very small number of uneducated and untraveled people who will make one spurious objection or another. There may even be a few who hang around the internet like Gorbals louts loitering outside a pub, ready to chib some unwary tourist for having the temerity to drink their hang Tennants. But I cannot see that here.