Can anyone wear any tartan?

[Dean]

Hmmm.

I have read other threads on this forum that encourage non-Scots to wear the kilt. Even Hamish and Mathew Newsome have said that it is OK for anyone to wear the tartan of their choice.
(See Mathew's article: http://www.scottishtartans.org/advice.htm )

This thread seems totaly different...am I correct in thinking that the opinion of many is that many of us do not have the "right" to wear tartans of a clan that we do not belong to? (I am not Scot at all...American with German / Sweedish roots.)

I agree that if I wore a tartan I would at least know the name and a little background before I wore it, out of respect, but if I really liked a tartan and it was available to wear, I would wear it. (With the exception of anything that was illegally copied.)

[Jock Scot]

Hmmm.

I have read other threads on this forum that encourage non-Scots to wear the kilt. Even Hamish and Mathew Newsome have said that it is OK for anyone to wear the tartan of their choice.
(See Mathew's article: http://www.scottishtartans.org/advice.htm )

This thread seems totaly different...am I correct in thinking that the opinion of many is that many of us do not have the "right" to wear tartans of a clan that we do not belong to? (I am not Scot at all...American with German / Sweedish roots.)

I agree that if I wore a tartan I would at least know the name and a little background before I wore it, out of respect, but if I really liked a tartan and it was available to wear, I would wear it. (With the exception of anything that was illegally copied.)

No need to worry Dean,99.9% of tartans are free to all and can be worn as and when you like. In the Rare event,perhaps in the case of the Balmoral tartan, of a tartan actually belonging to an individual say for example "Jock Scot" ,then no cloth will be produced unless "JS" specifically asks a weaver to make it and of course "JS" has to PAY FOR IT OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET. These private transactions are not for the public at large and it is down to the owner to do with it as he/she pleases. The weaver who usually produces umpteen yards of tartan to sell on the comercial market is also playing to a very different set of rules when producing a privately commissioned cloth. So these privately owned, privately commissioned, privately designed, privately woven and privately financed tartans, rare though they may be, are and should remain, well, private, if that is what the owner wishes.

So let me say again:"you can wear NEARLY any tartan you wish."

[Tommy Hunt]

Hmmm.

I have read other threads on this forum that encourage non-Scots to wear the kilt. Even Hamish and Mathew Newsome have said that it is OK for anyone to wear the tartan of their choice.
(See Mathew's article: http://www.scottishtartans.org/advice.htm )

This thread seems totaly different...am I correct in thinking that the opinion of many is that many of us do not have the "right" to wear tartans of a clan that we do not belong to? (I am not Scot at all...American with German / Sweedish roots.)

I agree that if I wore a tartan I would at least know the name and a little background before I wore it, out of respect, but if I really liked a tartan and it was available to wear, I would wear it. (With the exception of anything that was illegally copied.)

We all agree that it's ok. It's allowed. No one will stop you from wearing most all tartans. But some here, including myself, have suggested that just because we can doesn't mean we should. In other words some of us wouldn't do it and for a variety of reasons - ethical being one of them. It's up to you.

[Mingan]

I think it would be simpler to state that even if you wanted to have a kilt in Balmoral tartan, you'll find no weaver to make the tartan for you, since most of them are in England/Scotland, and could possibly get them in inordinate amount of trouble.

[Blinki]

We all agree that it's ok. It's allowed. No one will stop you from wearing most all tartans. But some here, including myself, have suggested that just because we can doesn't mean we should. In other words some of us wouldn't do it and for a variety of reasons - ethical being one of them. It's up to you.

WOW, So if you wear a tartan that you have no connection with you are now somehow unethical?

One of my very good friends is Korean not a drop of Scottish/Celtic blood in him and wears an Armstrong kilt. But he loves it. Hes been to Scotland more times then I can count and is just crazy about the culture, so I should tell him "You shouldn't be wearing that! Sell it and get a non Clan open pattern"? Whats the next step your not a Celt, Scottish, 100 percent Scottish?

Why am I going to make somebody feel like they don't belong just because they are wearing "My Clan tartan" or any other Clans tartan and have no connection to it? Ive run across many people who wear my Clan Tartan with no ties to it. Just because they liked it. Some wore it well others not so well but it was always an opportunity to start a conversation. Most of which end up in the person wanting to know even more about Scottish Clans and Scottish things in general. That is never a bad thing. Personally, I'm glad when I see any one of the tartans (Clan or no Clan) I'm allowed or not allowed to wear out there.

My take on it is just because you can exclude someone doesn't mean you should. Just my 2p.

[Tommy Hunt]

WOW, So if you wear a tartan that you have no connection with you are now somehow unethical?

That's not what I said. I said for some (me personally and I'm assuming for others as well) it would be unethical.

[Cassidy]

WOW, So if you wear a tartan that you have no connection with you are now somehow unethical?

One of my very good friends is Korean not a drop of Scottish/Celtic blood in him and wears an Armstrong kilt. But he loves it. Hes been to Scotland more times then I can count and is just crazy about the culture, so I should tell him "You shouldn't be wearing that! Sell it and get a non Clan open pattern"? Whats the next step your not a Celt, Scottish, 100 percent Scottish?

Why am I going to make somebody feel like they don't belong just because they are wearing "My Clan tartan" or any other Clans tartan and have no connection to it? Ive run across many people who wear my Clan Tartan with no ties to it. Just because they liked it. Some wore it well others not so well but it was always an opportunity to start a conversation. Most of which end up in the person wanting to know even more about Scottish Clans and Scottish things in general. That is never a bad thing. Personally, I'm glad when I see any one of the tartans (Clan or no Clan) I'm allowed or not allowed to wear out there.

My take on it is just because you can exclude someone doesn't mean you should. Just my 2p.

IT'S A PERSONAL CHOICE.

He never said someone who does wear a tartan representing a clan they have no connection to is unethical. But he personally would not feel comfortable with it, and would feel as though he were violating an UNWRITTEN ethical code he's set for himself.

I personally would wear only tartans of clans I'd want to pay tribute to- Wallace, Bruce, and Stewart come to mind. But for a formal event or somewhere where they'd know the difference, I'd wear nothing but Buchanan, as that is "my" tartan.

As my wrestling persona, I wear whatever I think will look good in the ring, as Kyle Cassidy can have whatever heritage I say he does. :-P

Like I said. Wear what you like, but if you wear a Gordon tartan and run across and elderly gentleman from Scotland who wears it because it's his family's heritage, it might lead to an awkward conversation. Or not. Because everyone views it differently.

[Dirk Skene]

I do not wear clergy or US military tartans. But that is just me. I am not a clergyman & because of a childhood injury I was never allowed to serve my country. Not that I did not try I got caught at the physical. No big deal.

[Blinki]

No problem Tommy and Cassidy I get what your saying. Thanks for the clarification.

[Carolina Kiltman]

Mt tuppence worth (again?) If you want to wear a specific clan tartan and have no connexions to that clan, In most cases, you can join the clan association anyway, then you have a connexion, just not blood is all.