prohibited tartans

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I did not mean to suggest that the Campbell of Argyle that I wear is the only one available as you correctly pointed out. The one readily available has yellow as part of the pattern. Although it appears in the tartan registry it is not recognised by the Campbell (Argyle) clan. My ancestory is via Argyle Campbells and as there is a plaid available with the Argyle name I chose it despite it not being a recognised CLAN tartan. It was worn with pride at Hogmanay. I also wear the Campbell Family tartan. There are 37 Campbell tartans registered. It is a wonder anyone can chose other than by colour and pattern preference.

A lot of people wear that tartan for the same reason, because of the name. They are a Campbell, their cheif is the Duke of Argyle, they see a tartan called "Campbell of Argyle" and so they wear it. Sounds legitimate.

But that is the exact point that present and past Dukes of Argyle have attempted to make. The so-called "Cambell of Argyle" tartan is not recognized by the Duke of Argyle.

If one wanted to wear a tartan indicating one has ancestry from Argyle, I would recommend the Argyle district tartan (which happens to be the same tartan as Campbell of Cawdor).

If one wanted to wear a tartan indiciating one has ancestry from the Clan Campbell, I would recommend the Campbell tartan (or one of the recognized branch tartans if one is descended from one of those particular families).

But the fact is, no matter how often the Duke of Argyle reenforces this point, the mills still produce the Campbell of Argyle tartan because it continues to be a popular seller. And people continue to buy it, because the mills continue to produce and offer it.

The only way to fix the problem is to educate enough Campbells about their clan tartans so that the popularity of the Campbell of Argyle tartan is reduced to the point where the mills no long wish to produce it as a stock tartan, but this may be a long time coming.