Time for a New York State tartan?

[Wompet]

I like the looks of it, but if I may make three points:

1. The colors are an almost perfect match to the Buffalo tartan. You might consider different shadings so the two tartans are more dissimilar.
2. I personally would go with a slate gray instead of the morning grey - to me it better evokes the architecture of New York's cities - solidity with style.

3. Do remember that anything that you save using the Scotweb tartan designer automatically belongs to Scotweb, though. That means that, if you should be able to push this tartan all the way to the top and get it adopted by the state, Scotweb will be the only one who can weave it legally.

   Just wanted to reiterate this. You may want to make further revisions using a different tartan designer - Matt Newsome recommended this one in his blog, and there have been a couple of others mentioned around the forum.

[Woodsheal]

The Buffalo tartan looks quite different to my eyes.

Is the the slate gray darker? I'd like to see how that looks....

[Brian K]

I like the looks of it, but if I may make three points:

1. The colors are an almost perfect match to the Buffalo tartan. You might consider different shadings so the two tartans are more dissimilar.
2. I personally would go with a slate gray instead of the morning grey - to me it better evokes the architecture of New York's cities - solidity with style.
3. Just wanted to reiterate this. You may want to make further revisions using a different tartan designer - Matt Newsome recommended this one in his blog, and there have been a couple of others mentioned around the forum.

Thanks for your input, Wompet, I do appreciate it.

I took a look at the Buffalo tartan and I don't really see much similarity. Perhaps the color range is similar in some respects, but that could be said of a lot of traditional tartans. Look at how many are based on the Government Sett.

As regards your concern about Scotweb's weaving rights, please see my reply to Ryan above.

I don't know if you've ever used an online tartan designer, or any tartan design software, but I have not found a designer that is as user friendly as Scotweb's. I have tried several others and they're generally wonky and clumsy to use. Scotweb also has a greater variety of colors available to work with. The Croft Weaver you provided a link for is nearly as nice, but even its advanced color selection pales in comparison to Scotweb's. Maybe it's just me, but I am not really comfortable with any other designer.

[Brian K]

Wompet,

I forgot to mention in my reply to you that I considered a darker grey for my design, but I thought it was too dark. In any event, slate grey is not a standard color at Scotweb (and since they have a vary large selection of standard weaver's colors it's perhaps the case with most weavers) and a special color makes a tartan more expensive. Besides, the grey I was looking to match was that of concrete, which is a much more common grey in today's cities than are those of slate or other natural stones.

Regards,

Brian

[Woodsheal]

So, what's the next step? It seems to me: registering the tartan, then going after the legislators to introduce a bill or resolution, and Scottish societies to lobby in support of the effort....

[Brian K]

So, what's the next step? It seems to me: registering the tartan, then going after the legislators to introduce a bill or resolution, and Scottish societies to lobby in support of the effort....

I like your enthusiasm, Brian, but so far there have been 10 responses from members besides you and me and I've had one private message dealing with the issue of using the Scotweb tartan designer. Of the 10 posts supporting the idea only 7 were from New Yorkers. Is that enough support to proceed and are we sure mine is the design to go with?

Assuming this is the design to go with, the next step would be to try to drum up some support and get someone in the legislature to sponsor a bill. The Scottish register of tartans will not accept a registration for a tartan for an organization or political entity (or a clan or family, for that matter) unless the registrant is actually entitled to decide that said tartan represents them. If that were not the case anyone who decided to design and register a New York State tartan could do so and there would probably be a dozen of them.

I presume that if the legislature approves the tartan then only the Secretary of State of the State of New York would have the standing to actually register the design as the official NYS tartan.

One hurdle could be that members of the legislature might want to see some of the actual cloth woven -a request that would be reasonable - and I can't even afford a kilt, let alone having special order cloth woven.

If there's anyone here who's been involved with this process it'd be nice to hear from them

Regards,

Brian

[Seumas52]

[QUOTE=Brian K;878455]I like your enthusiasm, Brian, but so far there have been 10 responses from members besides you and me and I've had one private message dealing with the issue of using the Scotweb tartan designer. Of the 10 posts supporting the idea only 7 were from New Yorkers. Is that enough support to proceed and are we sure mine is the design to go with?

I am a New Yorker and I like it, and would be proud to wear it. I say go for it.

[ccga3359]

I like your enthusiasm, Brian, but so far there have been 10 responses from members besides you and me and I've had one private message dealing with the issue of using the Scotweb tartan designer. Of the 10 posts supporting the idea only 7 were from New Yorkers. Is that enough support to proceed and are we sure mine is the design to go with?

I'd think if just one person wanted it and with the support of a enthusiastic legislator then you could get it passed. I would think this is how the Ontario tartan was passed a few years ago. The ensign of Ontario was designed in 1967 and it seems was was the unofficial "official" tartan of Ontario all this time. It's even shown as that on government websites*.

As a proud New Yorker do you not have a right to have a tartan to show that pride? In short go for it, if no one else is submitting a design you might as well get yours adopted. A description of the meanings, an acknowledgment of the Scottish heritage and contributions of New York. It'll cost you nothing to submit (except time and effort) and mere moments to pass. Perhaps I shouldn't be throwing in my opinions but I wish to support my closest neighbours.


*It appears that they've recognised the new official tartan but they still show Ensign of Ontario.