WEAVE YOUR TRUTH WITH TRUST
TARTAN - a pattern of interlocking stripes.
(often mistakenly known as “plaid")
Originally from the Gaelic word for blanket, plaid is normally used in the context of Highland fashion referring to a large length of material. This blanket-like cloth is commonly gathered & belted at the waist, creating the original kilt. Plaids were most often made from a tartan cloth, making the confusion between the two terms very understandable.
Tartan came to be extremely popular in Scottish Highland culture, especially in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Its importance in the Highland Gael became so prominent that the British government even prohibited the wearing of tartan in 1746, after the Battle of Culloden, in an attempt to suppress the rebellious Scottish culture. If you love Outlander as much as I do, this info is old news. Nowadays, tartan clothing is seen as a symbolic characteristic of Highland dress & has found its way into wardrobes all across the globe in many shapes & forms. I happen to have some pretty amazing tartan pieces of my own & decided that a full tartan look was OH-SO-NECESSARY. I also had no clue what the hell I was gonna write about to accompany such a look, but after a few quick google searches the pieces came together & I was on my way.
Here's what I discovered:
1. Tartan originated in the late 15th century in Scotland.
2. Scotland is made up of a whack load of clans (...like I tried to find how many but there was no actual answer!)
3. Being in a clan is a BIG deal.
4. Many clans have a tartan that is emblematic of their family/group.
5. When a tartan is worn, it is a representation of what the wearer is identifying themselves with, be it a clan, district or organization.
6. There are no rules saying that you can't go ahead & have your own tartan, as long as it truly represents your clan.
With that in mind, here's the definition that I've decided to go with...
TARTAN - an oath to owning what you represent.
When wearing tartan, there's an etiquette - of course. It's not entirely about who can wear it & who can't, although there are some world famous tartans that are protected by trademark law, but there is a certain kind of entitlement when it comes to wearing specific tartans. For example, the Black Watch, Caledonian, Stewart Royal & Jacobite tartans are all traditional tartans that can be worn by anyone. Whereas the Balmoral tartan is claimed to be strictly "off-limits" to non-royalty, as the tartan is attributed to the British Royal Family & the British Royal Family only. The "Burberry Check" of the English fashion house, one of the most recognizable tartans in the fashion industry, is also an example of a protected tartan. The concept of ownership of a specific tartan dates back to the ruling of Lord Lyon & was enforced when he stated that a clan tartan should only be worn by those who profess allegiance to that clan's chief. Although it is possible for anyone to create a tartan and name it as they wish, the only person with the authority to make a clan's tartan "official" is the chief.
Here are some examples of the tartans mentioned above:
So basically, what makes a tartan “official” or “authentic” is not age or antiquity, but whether it has the approval of the governing body for that tartan. A clan tartan is one that represents YOUR clan. Not your friend's clan, or your neighbour's clan, or even your beloved cat's clan - but YOUR CLAN. The tartan that your ancestors would have worn hundreds of years ago isn't necessarily the tartan that you choose to wear now, & that's part of the beauty of this pattern! Tartans carry immense meaning, & when you wear a tartan you're identifying yourself with what's most important to YOU. The only person who has the authority to decide exactly what those values are is in fact yourself.
Tartan had made its way into the fashion world in the Victorian & Edwardian eras. By this point in time, it had shifted from being a main component of men's clothing to an important part of women's fashion. In consequence of its association with the British aristocracy and its involvement in the military, tartan developed an air of dignity and exclusivity in society. Due to this prestigious status, the pattern has made reappearances in the world of fashion several times & has honestly never gone out of style. This timeless piece of cloth weaves in & out of trends as it pleases, associating itself with various groups, cultures, causes & eras. In the late 1970's, tartan played a large role in the British punk scene. Punk music was a way for youth to voice their discontent with the ruling class, & their eccentric fashion choices were simply another avenue of expressing their emotions. The unorthodox use of tartan, which had been previously associated with authority & gentility, was now seen as a sort of rebellion against modern society. As it was worn unconventionally, it became a symbol of anti-establishment for outsiders across the globe. In some ways, the punk scene in the 70's mirrored the same rebellious culture of the Scotts many years before. Tartan had made its mark in the world of rebellious fashion & continues to inspire those who simply won't conform to societal norms.
When it comes to fashion, there really are no rules - the clothing you put on your body represents a part of who you are & that is the only stamp of approval you'll ever need.
So let's take a quick recap.
YOU ARE THE CHIEF OF YOUR OWN DAMN CLAN - YOU CALL THE SHOTS!
THERE ARE NO RULES - BE AS UNORTHODOX AS YOU WANT!
BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU REPRESENT - THIS TARTAN IS ALL YOURS!
SO wear it with honour & weave your truth with trust.
This heraldic motto “weave truth with trust" comes from the Scottish Tartans Authority, "a Scottish-based organization dedicated to promoting the knowledge of Scottish tartans", & is displayed on their coat of arms. The motto was borrowed from one of the most ancient weaving guilds in Europe, The Worshipful Company of Weavers. I stumbled upon the phrase as I was doing some research for this entry & felt the need to dig a little deeper to gain some sort of meaning. As if the play on words wasn't adorable enough, (cause ya know it's a weaving company lol), the demand to "weave truth" spoke of something far more symbolic than just textiles. Truth can be described as "a fact, belief, or idea held to be real or correct", a promise, an undertaking, a commitment or a pledge of loyalty. Truth has the potential to be seen as a subjective or objective proposition, thus has the potential to shape shift in various situations. Your truth, what you believe to be true, can be & most times will be different than somebody else's truth. To "weave truth with trust", to me, symbolizes the connectivity between being self aware & trusting yourself. It reminds us to trust in our own intuition, & commit to leading a life that reflects authenticity & integrity. It means to weave the values that you find of importance into all aspects of your life & trust that you can make no wrong decision when guided by such strong morals.
Weaving truth with trust means to have faith in the unknown & being able to do so thanks to living in alignment with your values & finding the courage to proudly wear the colours that represent your true authentic self.
...so basically, embracing your inner empowered highland goddess.
Who knew such a simple cloth could strike so much meaning.
If there's anything you should take away from this bold pattern, it's this -
You are your own governing body.
You don’t need permission to be yourself.
Take pride in your own clan.
Remain true to what you represent.
xx C
PHOTOGRAPHY: BOUCHRA ASSOU @feu_marcheavecmoi
OUTFIT ANTHEM: DEEP WATER - STRAWBERRY SWITCHBLADE* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3LtPgO4ZI4
*they're a bomb ass polka-dot-wearing Scottish pop duo from the 80's - you're welcome!
OUTFIT DETAILS:
LOOK 1
FLOOR LENGTH TARTAN KILT - TIGER ALLEY CLOTHING
TARTAN ROBE - EVA B VINTAGE
EARRINGS - PUNJABI VILLAGE VANCOUVER
LOOK 2
FLOOR LENGTH TARTAN KILT - TIGER ALLEY CLOTHING
LEATHER JACKET - EMILY ROSE DESIGN
LEATHER CUT-OUT BRALETTE - EMILY ROSE DESIGN
EARRINGS - ALDO ACCESSORIES
PLATFORM BOOTS - TIGER ALLEY CLOTHING
https://celticlife.com/the-history-of-tartan/
https://wholecloth.org/2017/09/09/weave-truth-with-trust/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan#Origins
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