Quote Originally Posted by McClef View Post
True, I am not a Chief Rex which is why I used "if".

I am not aware that I have ever met and chatted with any Chief, whereas you may well have had that opportunity.
Yes, but only a dozen or two, Trefor

I have argued that in an age of communication that it is available for Chiefs to publicise their general principles upon this issue, if indeed they have them. This is different from their known and defined powers which, as we concur, do not cover this area. They may define which tartans are officially of their Clan but it is the case that many of their clans-folk may not always be aware one way or the other.
I understand, but if you are thinking that the Standing Council should assemble those general principles, that is not the role of the Council. If you think individual chiefs should do so, then I must go back to my earlier statement: some give enormously of themselves, some do not and that is their individual right.

Take the case of the "MacMillan Black." This tartan was retailed by the woollen mill as such and I purchased one and did a review. I was then informed by MOR that this tartan had specifically been declared by the Chief of that Clan as NOT authorised by him as a MacMillan tartan.
Yes, the black version is not an accepted MacMillan tartan and so I suppose Marton Mills sold you a bill of goods called a fashion tartan. That is not the responsibility of the chief, surely. The recognised Clan MacMillan society lists those tartans that are accepted as MacMillans.

There could have been some people who had written to the Chief seeking permission, not being aware of this. It is possible they may not have received a reply and therefore decided not to wear the tartan. I have on more than one occasion been approached by MacMillans who genuinely thought it was theirs.
In the case of the MacMillans, the clan's hereditary chief is still active even though now in his eighties, I believe. I think that had you written to him he might well have passed your enquiry on to the association that has been formed from the clan. That is true for many chiefs and clans, but for even more there is no structure for them to fall back on even if they want to.

The Tartan Registry categorises tartans as clan/family, fashion, corporate, etc. Perhaps that's where tartans should be researched to discover their authenticity and/or acceptance.