Anothers tartan

[Nathan]

I come from the school of thought that it is in the best taste to wear only a tartan to which one has a legitimate connection. I am a MacDonald of Clanranald and so I wear the MacDonald of Clanranald tartan.

Like the Chattan example Jock provided, I also wear the Clan Donald modern tartan. Any MacDonald, regardless of branch (we have several), can wear that tartan. In fact, although my own chief's kilt is in the Clanranald 1914 tartan, his day plaid and tartan trews are in the generic Clan Donald tartan. I got my first kilt used and it was in the generic MacDonald tartan. It was also, conveniently, my regimental tartan. When I was having a kilt sewn up by my brother Xavier, for my brother Cory's wedding, I went with Clanranald modern.

Although Jock correctly points out that most Scots own one kilt in their own tartan, being on xmarks promotes an addiction I like to refer to as HKAS (Highland Kit Acquisition Syndrome). Therefore, although knowledgable, the Rabble should not be considered, the norm.

To the point of legitimate connections combined with HKAS, although it would be an unnecessary extravagance, I would have no objection to also wearing any other kilt to which I had a similar direct connection such as:
Cape Breton Island
Nova Scotia
Maple Leaf

I have dozens of other Highland and Scottish names in my family tree, Thompson among them, but wouldn't wear their kilt. For me, it's a question of who I'm representing. I choose to rep my own clan. The fact that I also have MacDougall, MacNeil, MacInnes, Thompson and a boat load of others, while interesting, does not change my clan affiliation.

One man, one clan. One clansman, one chief.

If you're not of Scottish heritage, there are many generic tartans from which to choose. Those in the Commonwealth have HRH EIIR as their Chief so all subjects can happily wear Royal Stewart or the government sett.

There is, of course, the notable exception of uniforms. Wearing the tartan of your pipe band or military regiment is perfectly acceptable.

A final note about the permission above. Although there is nothing stopping you from wearing the Thompson tartan, a random Thompson clansman doesn't have the authority to grant you any type of permission regarding the affairs of Clan Thompson. As with any clan, that right is reserved to the chief. Similarly, joining a clan society doesn't make you a member of that clan.

Only your name by way of adoption or bloodline can make you a member of a clan. This goes for sept names also who are descended from a person loyal to the clan chief.

That is not to say that you can't wear a tartan without the chief's permission. You certainly can and nobody will arrest you. You just shouldn't. It goes against the nearly 200 year old tradition of clan tartans. Why wear the kilt if you don't respect its enduring traditions?