clan crest motif marketing idea

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I agree with Sandy. I think there is a fine line between "motif" and "heraldry." I can see someone who belongs to a clan such as MacKenzie, with a stag head crest, utilizing the stag's head as a motif as an homage to his clan.

For instance, it is common to see things such as sgians dubh, sporrans, etc., decorated with a stag head. The intent is not to claim this as "a crest." And of course anyone may choose to wear a sgian dubh or a sporran with a stag head emblem on it. But when someone is also a member of a clan whose chief uses a stag head in his heraldry, it does take on an additional layer of meaning.

One can buy neck ties, etc., with ebroidered stags on them, and likewise I don't think anyone seeing you wearing one would assume you are assuming that design as a personal crest. The assumption would just be that you liked the stag motif!

However, it can be overdone. I think there may come a point where if you play it up too much it might give them impression that you are acting as if the stag (or whatever it is) is part of your personal heraldry. However, I also think there may come a point when a motif is carried too far and it becomes tacky. To many the latter is a far greater offense than the former! :-)

But I agree, I like those hose!

[OC Richard]

Oh I readily admit that this clan crest thing is overdone.

I see people out at Games with their clan crest cap badgelike logo stuck on just about everything: an actual cap badge on their bonnet, but also miniature versions on their necktie, their cufflinks, their belt buckle, their sporran, their kilt pin, their sgian, even on rings and tattoos.

I don't care for that look one bit myself. The cap badge is plenty for me.

But those hose are very cool, and the one thing besides the cap badge I can see myself wearing are hose.

And, most significantly, I think such hose would sell, to these very same clan crest badge-wearing people.

Another use: Dunfion Bagpipes on the Isle of Arran makes pipes with the Highland clan galley carved into the wood of the drones.

About the propriety of this usage, I wouldn't know about that. But the usage is very widespread.