Wearing kilts of other tartans than your clans.

[werewolves]

Here's my issue:

I would personally lean toward respecting clan tartans. Unfortunately that places a vast majority of tartans out of my reach. I am Irish by pure patrilineal descent, German and Norwegian by percentages. So there are a few national tartans I could wear, or I could go with the Oregon tartan (if I can find it). But those are rarely listed in the "stock tartans" on most sites, so the cost goes up. Other than that, I can go with a few generic (most of which I don't like) or fashion tartans (also rarely in stock).

This makes it pretty tricky if I want to buy anything but a "Nightstalker" if I want a standard SWK. All of the others are family or Marine tartans, so I don't feel right.

What's a guy to do? Oh well, it'll probably be a while before the wife lets me buy another kilt anyway

[Morris at Heathfield]

Surely no one can ever be completely bereft of suitable tartans, even if all clan tartans are shunned.

No, not completely. That thought occurred to me even as I posted that bit of hyperbole, but I decided to let it stand for some reason. And, in my case at least, shunning clan tartans would make my choice for a first kilt a bit easier, as I'd have a smaller selection to choose from.

I guess my point should have been that, for those of us who have non-Scottish surnames, there are no obvious choices, only a number of non-obvious choices. Of course, this is more of a problem for the Scottish diaspora than for those who have remained put. This all assumes you think it's a good idea for people to wear the kilt outside of Scotland, but I think most people here, at least, would agree on that matter.

But allow me to make an appeal to authority: Scots Kith & Kin, published by Collins, authored by Anonymous, that well-known authority on an endless variety of subjects. Printed in London and Glasgow, for those (including me) to whom such things matter. I quote:

It is an old Highland tradition to encourage guests to wear our unique mode of dress. We should regard it as a compliment. For the wearer who has no tartan associated with surname, there are certain options available:
1. Wear that which is connected to your maternal or any other of your family lines.
2. Wear the sett appropriate to the district from which your family comes or in which your surname was known.
3. Wear the Jacobite or Caledonian setts, or even the Government or 'Black Watch' pattern if you are not pro-Stuart.
4. Wear whichever you prefer, but but remember that when you sport a tartan you are proclaiming allegiance to that chief and his clan. Your loyalties may be tested!

Note which item comes first in the list. I'm not sure if the anonymous author intended it that way, but I do get the impression that the list was intended to be read as if it were in descending order of importance. I note, though, that the author appears to discount the wearing of a variety of tartans.

What about the famous MacSourgrapes tartan?

That's it! You've found my tartan! What's its ITI number?

[macwilkin]

Here's my issue:

I would personally lean toward respecting clan tartans. Unfortunately that places a vast majority of tartans out of my reach. I am Irish by pure patrilineal descent, German and Norwegian by percentages. So there are a few national tartans I could wear, or I could go with the Oregon tartan (if I can find it). But those are rarely listed in the "stock tartans" on most sites, so the cost goes up. Other than that, I can go with a few generic (most of which I don't like) or fashion tartans (also rarely in stock).

This makes it pretty tricky if I want to buy anything but a "Nightstalker" if I want a standard SWK. All of the others are family or Marine tartans, so I don't feel right.

What's a guy to do? Oh well, it'll probably be a while before the wife lets me buy another kilt anyway

Kevin,

If you're interested in the Oregon State Tartan, you should talk to Matt Newsome, Barb T. or Kathy Lare -- all three can order small runs of tartans from weavers. That was how I got my Iowa tartan kilt from Matt.

I like the Oregon tartan, btw. It's one I could wear, as some of my Scottish ancestors moved to Portland from Iowa after the Civil War.

Regards,

Todd

[werewolves]

Kevin,

If you're interested in the Oregon State Tartan, you should talk to Matt Newsome, Barb T. or Kathy Lare -- all three can order small runs of tartans from weavers. That was how I got my Iowa tartan kilt from Matt.

I like the Oregon tartan, btw. It's one I could wear, as some of my Scottish ancestors moved to Portland from Iowa after the Civil War.

Regards,

Todd

Yeah, it is a nice tartan. Hmm, 8 yards, pleated to the yellow stripe.... [sigh]

At any rate, that sort of illustrates my point though. Any tartan I "have a right" to wear is likely going to cost quite a bit more than an off-the shelf Gordon (for example). Well, no use complaining about it, it's not like there is a law stopping me from wearing a clan tartan, in the end it's my choice to do it or not. But man is that Weathered Mackenzie SWK tempting...

[macwilkin]

Yeah, it is a nice tartan. Hmm, 8 yards, pleated to the yellow stripe.... [sigh]

At any rate, that sort of illustrates my point though. Any tartan I "have a right" to wear is likely going to cost quite a bit more than an off-the shelf Gordon (for example). Well, no use complaining about it, it's not like there is a law stopping me from wearing a clan tartan, in the end it's my choice to do it or not. But man is that Weathered Mackenzie SWK tempting...

I think you'd be surprised at the cost, though...is it going to be more expensive than an "off the peg" kilt? Yes -- but, look at it as an investment. All three kiltmakers I mentioned have excellent reputations for producing quality garments that can be passed on as a heirloom.

Regards,

Todd

[Carolina Kiltman]

Most Scots I know don't actually own a kilt - they hire one for weddings, balls etc. and the tartan will be whatever is available. I own 2 kilts, the first one is a family tartan but the other is my father-in-law's which I didn't want to see going to a charity shop after he died so had it altered and wear it regularly. If anyone thinks I am posing then that is their opinion.

I was told that there are three ways to become a clan member. 1, Born into it. 2, Marry into it, 3, be assimilated into it. (And the more single malt one drinks, the faster the assimilation) I, for examples have chosen my Mother's clan, as on my Father's side the Scots connexion is some distance back, but there is Leslie (my middle name) Ross, Boyd, and others both Irish as well as Scots, but here we are talking two to five generations back

[macwilkin]

I was told that there are three ways to become a clan member. 1, Born into it. 2, Marry into it, 3, be assimilated into it. (And the more single malt one drinks, the faster the assimilation)

There's a very similar process in Cajun folklore:

The Three ways to become Cajun:

1. By the blood
2. By the ring
3. By the back doon

I am Nos. 2 & 3. :mrgreen:

T.

[flairball]

I like the Oregon tartan, btw. It's one I could wear, as some of my Scottish ancestors moved to Portland from Iowa after the Civil War.

Understanding you're a traditionalist, I see this a bit differently. The Oregon tartan is one you could wear because there is nothing in place to stop you. It is also one you wouldwear because some of your ancestors moved to Portland from Iowa.

The difference between conventional, and un-conventional in a nut shell.

[michaelbeeman]

I started off nearly 7 years ago with strictly Utilikilts. Stayed that way for about 5 years. Then I found SWK and picked up a Saffron and a Irish Nation as Pops was of Irish descent. Then a 8yd tank in Moms clan, Crawford. I have another Crawford on order with young Mr. Newsome. My wishlist has several tartans on it, all have some measure of connection. After that, I see no reason, as long as it's worn with respect, not to start looking at tartans of other clans. But then again, I'm a Yooper and that's how we do things!

[Jack Daw]

I have two different MacIntyre setts that I prefer to wear over all the others. I also had made a kilt in the Campbell of Breadalbane tartan because Duncan Ban MacIntyre wore it as a B. Fencible. I also have other tartans for piping gigs. Sometimes, when I wear my MacGregor kilt, I roll around in the grass and writhe in pseudo-drunken convulsions to tarnish their name.