After being somewhat concerned on this issue, but getting a response back fromt he chairman of Clan Macnaughton that said "we don't give permmission to wear our tartan, no-one does. People wear whatever tartan they choose" I'm pretty much convinced that it's a non-issue.

Still and all there are so many non-clan tartans out there and the choice is huge that ifyou're not entirely comfortable with it, then don't wear a clan tartan that you're not affiliated with. It's no big deal. However, there are not all that many non-clan tartans in, say poly-viscose material. There are tons of them in cotton and other synthetics and so on (See the SportKilt website and USA Kilts for example). so if you want a wool-like higher quality kilt, but not wool, it seems like your choices are a little bit limited.

If you can afford, or are inclined to buy a wool kilt, then the choices are tremendous. Note that getting a kilt made in the tartan of one the the US States or armed forces means you pretty much have to go with wool...well, Sport Kilts does offer a budget kilt in the Leatherneck tartan.

Personally, I really like the Ramsay blue tartan and my next kilt (after Bear makes my MacNaughton kilt) will probably be a Ramsay Blue....but I don't have the ghost of a connection to the Ramsay clan, whatsoever. I just like the tartan.