A question to stump the tartan experts.

[macwilkin]

Was the person at Wilsons who designed and promoted this tartan trying to make money for the woolen mill? Certainly yes, that was his job -- just like the people who design new tartans today for Lochcarron, House of Edgar, Strathmore, Marton Mills, and all the rest. You wouldn't have any tartan cloth to wear if they did not.

Was the person who designed the Merilees tartan trying to pass this off as an authentic "gypsy" tartan that hearken back to the anscetral roots of the gypsies and that anyone with gypsy descent should wear it? I see nothing to suggest that. It seems they were just trying to tie into a popular novel. There have been tartans designed today to spin off of popular movies and TV shows. It's the same thing.

If you are looking for companies trying to make a buck off of people by passing off a false heritage, try the Welsh Tartan Center -- they completely invented the idea of Welsh families having tartans, and invented all the tartans as well. I wonder how many people buying from them realize that the Welsh never wore kilts or had family tartans?

My point is that while some of what you complain about does go on, I think you are directing your angst in the wrong direction.

Hear, Hear Matt! Well said.

Cheers,

Todd