Welsh Tartan Is Super Fake (but pretty)

Tartan! Plaid! That fun pattern kilts are made of! You may already associate it with traditional Highland Scottish costume, but have you heard of Welsh tartan? Many in Wales have started to wear the “cilt” and sporran in tartans that claim to represent the most cmmon family names of Wales, rather than clan names of the Highlands and Islands.
Join me as we have a look at the long history of this iconic piece of Scottish fashion history, in Met gala week no less, and unwrap the pleats of its secrets and the history of it that you may not know…
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[@Odontecete]

Can I just say that Welsh women tying the kids to the men when they went to the pub is freaking GENIUS!

[@andrewbutler7681]

You've reminded me of a joke I heard in Inverness about tourists in a particular shop: "Please don't expect us to identify your clan tartan instantly if your surname is Yablonsky"...

[@julianshepherd2038]

They'd sell you the Polis, the Sobieski-Stewart or the Krakow one. Others are available. If you have money then your dog can have one.

[@BloodWolfXZ]

​@@julianshepherd2038if your business is to sell "clan" tartans, then hell yes everything has a clan tartan. There'd probably be a Korean tartan with thousands of years of "definitely real, trust me mate" history if it'd make money.

[@miku103100]

"Notable Gael Prince Albert" The snort I let out of me 😂

[@julianshepherd2038]

If you wear a sporran to a wedding, remember to wear the kilt too.

[@P-Mouse]

not dissimilar to how Tiffany and other jewelers would have different charts of birth-stones, they had a meeting to standardize it in the early 1900's

[@Poohze01]

This isn't a bad format for a good rant, but I do miss your expressive & engaging face-to-camera. And *seeing* you rant is even more fun than just *hearing* you rant...

[@_Michiel_]

I wholeheartedly agree! Jimmy's expressive face is a joy to behold! 😊

[@annebigelow4096]

My sentiments too!

[@azteclady]

Welsh tartan "not a thing....still not a thing..." I love your solidarity with your fellow expolited and subjugated Celts. Boo! Hiss! to cultural appropriation. Format: I like both, but I prefer whatever is most comfortable to you. Thank you, Jimmy!

[@johngough2958]

Australians have "good ol' days" events - you would be surprised how many of them prefer to wear colonial era upper-class dress rather than a prison style uniform with a ball and chain!

[@brennaanderson-dowd3557]

"Happy Welsh noises." ngl, that's literally how my brain interprets spoken Welsh. 😂

[@stellaandginger]

"Notable Gael, Prince Albert" absolutely sent me to the floor This was so cool, though! I knew that "clan" tartans were an invention of the 19th c., but I wasn't aware of the Welsh expansion.

[@namewithay]

I enjoyed the format. I imagine it'd be good for low spoons days when you can't film but need/want to make a video.

[@antrazitaj5209]

I've seen some lovely utility kilts, but it is undisputed that they are a modern thing.Never heard about the Welsh claiming kilts as their own

[@lajoyous1568]

I love seeing utility kilts around town. No reason for such a versatile garment to be lost to history 😊

[@katwitanruna]

I was taught that tartans were just what was woven in that area until the Victorians (ahem) standardized it. Ah Victorians. Such cosplayers.

[@ivanheffner2587]

“Gate keeping”

[@SionedMills]

There's a rich and beautiful tradition of Welsh Weaving - brethyn, carthenni, Melinoedd gwlân! I'd love to see another video like this about the Welsh wool tradition, which is an actual thing (with associated tragic history of clothing enslaved people in the US with Welsh woollens at one point), as opposed to the sheer marketing NONSENSE of 'Welsh' tartan!

[@TheWelshViking]

Mae fideo arni ar y gorwel!

[@crystallinecrow3365]

"but men are cowards, and will not do this" 😂 😂 say it louder, Jimmy! You're the best! 🖤

[@Kelli.Hicks.5]

"Happy Welsh noises." 😂 Thanks for another great video.

[@Shannis75]

I think this format is fine for a shorter video, but with longer (in-depth) videos I prefer seeing your face. You're very animated, it's fun to watch your expressions and body language, and see you rummage around looking for things, etc. It makes the video feel more intimate & personal. OTOH, this might just be me. You do you, Jimmy! (Also, an interesting topic. Thank you for talking abt it and taking a stance against cultural appropriation.)

[@Nessi-dances]

I once got a lovely tangent from an Irish kilt maker (she used the word kilt, not sure if it's the same word in Irish). She said that Irish kilts aren't patterned (not tartan), but are a twill weave and one color. Still 5+ yards of pleated fabric though! 💜

[@ivanheffner2587]

Also: IIRC Irish kilts are another 19th century invention/adaptation as part of an attempt to create a unified Gaelic identity. Traditional Irish kilt colors are Kelly green or saffron. Then in the late 20th century (again: iirc) county tartans were created for each county in Ireland.

[@richardbuttner1989]

Great video, very interesting! Coming from bavaria, I know a thing or two about fake traditions and costumes (Oktoberfest...). The style of the video with just pictures was fine for the main part, but it is nicer to see your "talking head" when you're directly addressing the audience.

[@GooberFace32]

Watching this while learning to knit Shetland lace.

[@katieb2931]

Yindyssagh! I once made a christening shawl in 2ply wool but not as fine as a Shetland. Well done you.

[@chrisball3778]

Someone should make his'n'hers shawls and stovepipe hats a thing for weddings. That would be a baller move, and at least they're really Welsh.

[@caspenbee]

I LOVE the blue kilt I picked up in a thrift shop, mostly because it introduced me to Prince George Duke of Kent, fabulous crossdresser and messy bisexual. It's all just fun. Something doesn't have to be *ancient* to be fun history!

[@caspenbee]

Clarification: it was a tartan pattern made for him. ✨

[@lindsaydrewe8219]

The all picture format must be handy for bad hair days. I enjoyed this very much, miss your handsome dial though😁 I’m idly wondering how much history had been altered by posh boys starting ‘a thing’?

[@amymyers5503]

Great historical information and good use of photos of the tartan fabrics. Quick Good Omens fun fact: The costume designer had a special tartan made just for Aziraphale. The pattern is beautiful, cream and light blue with gold threads. It's his bow tie and printed on his thermos. Later his angelic tartan is seen on the blanket Aziraphale gave to Gabriel to wear.

[@cuttwice3905]

The oldest piece of tartan like cloth I can think of is from around 800 BCE. It was found is a salt mine at Hallstatt. It resides at the Natural History Museum in Vienna, Austria.

[@RowanWiccae]

1) fun rant. learned something new today 2) I like the recording of u chatting with photos popping up beside u. It's more interactive that way

[@I-the-red]

Something interesting is that the modern Norwegian word for 'blanket' is "pledd", and is derived from the word plaid. Not really relevant to the broader discussion, but it was something I realised while watching.

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

Tartan, as a way to weave cloth, is ancient. Specific setts are not. It often depended on what dyes were available and what setts Granny liked. If it was a bad year for Madder, then no red.

[@norbertlewandowski6035]

Excellent episode!! If you think the kilt "history" gets embellished in the UK, you don't want to hear what they say in the USA😅. Thank you for setting things correctly.

[@anieth]

Hm, breac just means "speckled." More like a tweed? My MacDonald cousins love wearing the kilts to the Highland Fairs, but they also play the pipes and drums and worship Rob Roy. I'm not so crazy! :D

[@TheWelshViking]

Has several meanings, and is cognate with the Welsh “Brychan”

[@katwitanruna]

My exsquared not only wore a great kilt around events but put on demos on how to pleat and put on. He enjoyed pointing out how big you can make your „pocketses“.

[@lexp6099]

I like the pictures; they add another layer of understanding and with enshittification gumming up web searches, access to images I might not have found myself. Also shoutout to Verillas and Versatta kilts!

[@ID-Entitet]

I too missed the dragon intro. Otherwise I'm fine with whatever format, I just appreciate what you do.

[@sallyp8476]

I assumed that the reason why things like ‘Welsh tartan’ and other explicitly non-Scottish tartans exist is so that people can wear highland dress to Scottish themed events (usually weddings) without having to appropriate a Scottish tartan they have no claim to. I’ve been to a few Scottish weddings where this has happened. It seems like a useful compromise? So long as people aren’t, y’know, pretending it’s their own ‘ancient’ clan tartan…

[@tamaiofthesea]

You know it’s serious when jimmy doesn’t show his face

[@personwhohasnoname]

The slideshow style video is okay as a quicker (I assume) video, but I definitely prefer more filmed footage. I have family who have been taken by the clan tartans in a big way and has spent thousands of dollars kitting the whole family out in "our" tartan, our heritage is Scottish so it isn't as terrible as it could be, she doesn't want to know real history, she just wants to be able to play dress ups and have an instant community and sense of belonging.

[@dogmaticpyrrhonist543]

I think I managed to become aware how much of it is fake before I was ever wealthy enough to burn money buying any tartan. Esp as I learned about the big wrap a long time ago. Buying a kilt is expensive, but buying a feileadh mor makes it look cheap. And living in Australia.... if it's designed for highland Scotland, it's going to be heatstroke time here. So, learning I should be this sub-branch of this other clan for my tartan felt kinda odd, and some research helped me save my pennies.

[@ivanheffner2587]

Oops. I thought this was a Kilts & Culture video. I’m a proud kilt wearer; nothing but kilts since about 2018. But I’m an American who may have had some Scottish heritage several hundred years back. I don’t claim that I’m reconnecting with some heritage though; I just like the kilt. It’s comfortable and versatile.

[@m.p.k.125]

I love tartan! I think it's one of the most beautiful ways to make fabric. As someone who's both in the punk and metal scene where tartan and kilts are very iconic pieces of fashion I love how it's still adored and cherished to this day (even though it's generally not connected to historical practices) :)) Tysm for your rant on the topic, 'twas very interesting!

[@gadgetgirl02]

The slideshow format worked very well, but count me in as someone who missed your direct address to camera. Maybe just record the intro and outro as video, and then slideshow the rest?

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

"Happy Welsh noises" 😄 Love it!

[@katykat139]

I haven’t gotten to that bit of the Duolingo course yet - but I can’t wait for the module on happy Welsh noises

[@gozerthegozarian9500]

The caption 'Notable Gael Prince Albert' made me laugh out lord for real!

[@coreygilles847]

I 100% love that welsh fathers took their kids to the pub…freaking brilliant ❤ that is a good husband material right there

[@profeseurchemical]

A video on traditional welsh dress would be cool. like what that blue flannel suit looks like in action. sidenote, never know how to feel about tartan.don't like the college of arms telling people what they can and cant wear, especially for an 1800s invention, but im not a highlander, so what they decide to do with that fabrication or not is completely up to them. The whole thing about how tartans used to be whatever was to hand is cool and id like to explore that more, as its closer to real stuff and further from that posh boy stuff and imperial jingoism.

[@JustSaralius]

I like the format, but I think a mix of photos and video is the best (personally). Doesn't have to be a lot of video footage, because I do really like seeing the illustrations of what you are talking about, but it is nice to see you too Jimmy (although, no pressure to be on camera either).

[@Joy_56]

accredited handcrafted kiltmaker here...Well done Jimmy, far too much nonsense spouted about kilts, but..... we're just happy that folks want to wear them, whatever fantasy tartan they choose.. also nice to have a variety of content styles, i llike them all..

[@phillipbernhardt-house6907]

Brilliant video, as always! However, given a choice, I'd love to see you in addition to whatever photographic and other visual content you're presenting for us! ;)

[@luaths]

Haha, I sold kilts and tartan and all kinds of heraldry stuff in Canada for five years and myself have a Llloyd tartan skirt. Folks tend to latch on to the idea that their crest or coat of arms or tartan are ancient and immutable, but yeah, you can have a tartan made up and registered yourself (as long as you have the $$$$). The Canadian provinces all have tartans! There is at least one tartan for a hockey team! I have a sash in the Scottish Odyssey tartan! Tartan is fun and pretty! Kilts looks great on everyone! And you'll never have to wear pants at a formal event again! But most of it's just made up and that's totally fine.

[@MorganRhysGibbons]

I'm deeply curious what Welsh folks wore in the middle ages and earlier- where can i go to see images or depictions of those clothes? I always turn up 18th century stuff, and that's it.

[@TheWelshViking]

You can’t, reliably, sadly. We have some images of Welsh people from c14th copies of the laws of Hywel Dda, but that’s basically it

[@MorganRhysGibbons]

@@TheWelshViking Thank you for your reply! I'll check this Hwyel Dda out.

[@cymro6537]

​@@MorganRhysGibbonsThere is also a brief description of Welsh dress of the the late 12th century in the writings of Gerald of Wales.

[@dustinDraig]

Great video. Love the facts and the honest truth. People into tartan and kilts shouldn't be forced to be purely reënacters. Wear whatever you want because it is comfortable or looks good, and remember that all "traditional" anything had to start with someone doing it first.

[@sarahwatts7152]

I knew a bunch of this already, but not that Wales was selling its own tartan kits. As a lady, I like the shawl/big old hat look and would love to know a bit more about it

[@lowri.williams]

I can guarantee you will never feel more badass than when wearing a big ol' Welsh hat and shawl. I think everyone should try it at least once.

[@linr8260]

Suddenly very tempted to go weave myself ten meters of Aggressively Fantasy Colours tartan and then wrap it into an outfit so I can tell people who ask how long people have been wearing fantasy tartan lol. As for the format, I think I do have a slight preference for seeing your face but both are fine. You really managed to keep the pacing and humour that I associate with your videos. Would having hybrid formats where you do an intro and outro "in person" and then switch to images and documents for the, well, more document-driven parts in the middle be an option?

[@lenabreijer1311]

Yes and a couple of strands should be lurex and glitter. Maybe one of those LED threads that light up?

[@linr8260]

​@@lenabreijer1311I *could* spin some glittery accent yarns 🤔

[@lenabreijer1311]

@@linr8260 I just remembered but in the late 60s I made a skirt of this tartan that was mainly neon barbie pink with a few other pinks and beige in it. It was garishly bright and had matching neon pink yarn I used to knit a skinny ribbed top. I probably glowed in the dark...

[@luaths]

May I recommend Scottish Odyssey for a proper registered tartan with fantasy implications? Or any of the excellently bright highland dance tartans? They're legit (though obviously modern inventions) but so much fun!

[@mirjanbouma]

I prefer video Jimmy over picture Jimmy, but if at any point the latter means a video instead of not, i wont complain 😊

[@CleoHarperReturns]

Another great video Jimmy! But I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss your face in your video. We love the culture but honestly we can find that almost anywhere. We come here for your delivery. Think of it this way: We show up for the booze but we stay for the bartender, do we not? Everyone sells booze. You are *the* necessary part of the equation. If you need to take a break, by all means, take it. We'll still be here. But please don't just stop showing up altogether.💜

[@bast713]

Your rants are wonderfully informative. Pictures or video are both cool, I say do whatever is easiest for you. I was chatting with a friend from the local Renaissance Fair one day at a bar and it hit me - it was the first time in about a decade of knowing him that I had ever seen him wear pants. Typically he wore a kilt everywhere but work. He was of Scottish ancestry and had a beautiful piece of plaid made to fold into a great kilt.

[@JanLegris]

A fun rant. No problem making the time to watch/listen :) The picture format is fine. I prefer seeing you animated (enthusiastic for those who thought cartoon Jimmy!) but that's just me :)

[@peggythomson8146]

Yes, I enjoyed the pictures, but even more the exhortation to not appropriate Scottish culture. Thanks for a rather concise addition to the history of kilts.

[@charlymicky1722]

Pictures is also good, but you are also very entertaining to watch when you explain something, especially if the surroundings are interesting or outside. Do whatever suits you best, your videos are all very interesting

[@bnhietala]

As a knitter, I've read about there being specific family patterns of Aran and Gansey sweaters. I'd heard about clan tartans being a more recent concept, and I can't help but wonder if the same is true about these family sweaters? Either way, I love doing cables.

[@natmorse-noland9133]

Yes, the idea of "family cables" to identify drowned fishermen is a modern fabrication.

[@katelickfield5980]

I think I prefer the videos with you in them, because I personally enjoy watching people be physically excited by whatever they're talking about (even if that excitement is anger or frustration). But I do like the picture-voice-over videos, and wouldn't mind seeing more of them crop up. Especially if they're easier for you to produce - do have mercy and don't make life harder on yourself if you can help it.

[@mikehart5619]

Yes, the pictures work but you could have a little of you at the beginning and the end.

[@inkymunster1591]

I like the format but my dream format would be for you to sweet talk Terry Gilliam into doing some pythonesque animation.

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

LOL happy Welsh noises. I'd prefer to see your face but the disembodied Jimmy voice over photos is fine for when you're not feeling up to the camera ... or when pretty much the whole episode is showing pictures of something anyways.

[@GallowglassVT]

Next, you'll be telling me that Scots weren't wearing kilts and blue warpaint at the Battle of Stirling Bridge (which for some reason isn't even a bridge in Braveheart. Only way to enjoy that film is to think of it as a fantasy film, fr).

[@cennethadameveson3715]

As a child fifty years ago, a teacher told how the "ancient" Welsh had worn a "crys coch". A long woolen tunic "dyed red" held at the waist with a belt. Couldn't find anything in any of the books I have and Google wanted to sell me rugby shirts. Ant truth in it?

[@TheWelshViking]

Nope! But a nice little tale :)

[@SAOS451316]

Every dyslexic in Wales might have a problem with 'cilt'. But more seriously the whole "reclaiming the past" thing is both old and silly. Everyone wants to replicate their fantasy of the past to feel some connection when their world is most disconnected. It tends to happen in waves when there are major changes afoot. For example there's a reason why neopagan and occult movements in Europe begin in various places during the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and post-WW2. The Chinese people's love of their history vastly increases after the Cultural Revolution. So on and so forth. People need comfort in something stable, no matter how accurate it may be. Tangentially it's fascinating that it's the same times in history that contain almost all celebrity chefs. Something about food preparation and culture brings them around like heralds of delicious uncertainty.

[@michellecornum5856]

The occasional slide show is just fine. Very informative. Thank you much.

[@margotmolander5083]

Psst, if you love the idea of a kilt but don’t want to help yourself to anyone tartan, there’s always the American creation, the Utilikilt! They’re the general shape of the little kilt, but in khaki or camo or maybe denim, and have built in pockets.

[@DrachenGothik666]

They make amazing leather ones, too. They look great. I so want one. Expensive, though. Definitely a splurge item.

[@shannonmoore2795]

You're good in front of a camera, thats a hell of an asset. Mixing in pictures is good, it keeps people watching.

[@KenZchameleon]

Hi Jimmy! This was enlightening and gave me the sads. I tracked my maternal grandfather's family back to 1550s Scotland and was excited at how pretty the family tartan is. I was considering buying something, but I'll save my money. I like both formats, but I think the topics you're really passionate about come across better with side pictures and your expressive-ness (is that a word?).

[@darthbee18]

Don't worry Jimmy, I enjoy this kind of slideshow video too! 😺 I didn't know that (some) Welsh people are trying to have tartans too, though I do know about the (sadly fake) clan tartan thing. Good thing tartans and kilts stayed afloat throughout the 19th century, though in a markedly different way from the previous centuries 😅😩🙈 Speaking of just about anybody wearing kilt, I remember seeing Jesse Grant (youngest son of Ulysses S. Grant) wearing the whole kilt suit (yeah, the one with the charlie jacket) in a painted family portrait. He was such a cutie patootie in that suit 😺🥰💙✨ (Grant is a Scottish family name, right? ...right??)

[@DawnOldham]

I actually enjoyed the pictures as a change of pace! Your voice is pleasant to listen to, so you do a nice voice over. (Says a person who listens to Audible books each day!) But I wouldn't want the videos with you in them to go away. That's how we connect with a channel's owner! I enjoyed this topic, so thanks for all the prep it took!

[@axbrax5697]

Love the picture/ rant format, especially if its less production and post production effort for you, which means we may get more content!

[@sophieinspired]

I think the pictures did perfectly fine to get the message accross. I didn't even realise it was not a "video" until you mentioned it 😅 happy noices to you too!

[@penihavir1777]

👍 Ah, marketing. I agree, if you’re acknowledging it’s not actually your heritage, have fun. But also (shops) don’t try sell me stuff based on a fictional tie. Be honest, so I don’t feel bullied or cheated.

[@MickeyCuervo36]

I loved seeing the Welsh tapestry blanket at roughly one minute in. What's the history behind that? Is it from the 17-1800s too? Does the pattern have any significance beyond being nice to look at?

[@JC-ri5mc]

Greetings from across the pond! My Welsh Ancestors came to the coal mines of northeastern Pennsylvania and brought with them: the gift of song, the love of poetry, amazing food (especially Welsh biscuits 😋), work ethic, the blessing of springtime daffs, and a sense of humor. I am honored to carry on all of these aspects of my Welsh culture. Never heard tell 12:14 of Welsh tartans or kilts. I do remember stories of traditional dress that you have shown and also woven shawls. Thanks for clarifying this for folks.

[@Pippis78]

Pictures are informative, but looking at your face is very nice too 😁 Nothing wrong with making different sort of videos depending what works best for the subject of the video.

[@skhootman]

Tres Ken Burns. This was fun, but please also do live video things, too.

[@georgeeast1]

Nice one Jimmy about time there was some actual history of tartans out there. The format works but your expressions often say more about about the content than the words do . 🙂

[@gwynedwards8526]

Was best man at a "Davies Tartan" wedding, it looked really good but really pricey to rent, I was also handed a swatch of "Edwards Tartan" in the shop. It was horrible mix of mustard yellow and ketchup reds, genuinely awful, if you're going to make up over-priced outfits at least make it appealing.

[@ulrike9978]

This is vaguely similar to the problem of what people think of as traditional Bavarian dress - just minus the deliberate suppression/reclaiming aspect in that case. Clear case of invented tradition, that one. (Not necessarily a bad thing, to be clear. I'll happiliy wear a Dirndl myself, I'm just well aware that this tradition is about a hundred years old at most. Doesn't stop me from side-eying the weird touristy versions, though)

[@Which-Craft]

I really prefer the video vs the pictures, although the pictures are wonderfully informative. Perhaps a mix of both?

[@fionaellem4379]

I loved the Welsh blanket in the beginning. The photos were pretty good, too, as they linked directly to the ppints you were making. I prefer the video, as it comes across as a conversation, where this is more like an information report. But whatever is easiest for you is fine. Not dictating one way or the other!

[@BinBinBinBinBinBinBinBin]

It's honestly pretty sad that our traditional menswear is just Working class garments (essentially clothes of Indentured servants), or a blue flannel suit (which personally sparks absolutely no excitement or happiness whatsoever), it really does just make me realise more that our possible culture has just been ripped from us in Wales. Forgive my Nihilism but it just feels depressing to think about.

[@TheWelshViking]

We express our culture in more intangible ways. It’s vibrant and alive and defiant. It just isn’t colourful cloth.

[@BinBinBinBinBinBinBinBin]

@@TheWelshViking That's fair yeah, I just kind of wish our culture could've had the chance then to be colourful rather than just constant defiance for the right to exist, because I feel as though that does little to help with creating new culture, just trying to keep together what we already have. Obviously I don't mean this as in like a bad way or a dig or anything I'm sorry if it came across like that I love what we have already, I'm merely experiencing Hiraeth for what could've been

[@radred609]

​@@BinBinBinBinBinBinBinBin Waistcoats and old school style hats can be cooler than we think... just a lot harder to style. (as in, it's literally harder to find non-costume quality examples since they haven't been as comercialised over the last two centuries ) The upside of this, is that we can still incorporate all sorts of other welsh symbols (be they historical *or* modern) into contemporary fashion. Dragon Broaches, Welsh/Celtic Knot embroidery, Leek Hat Pins or Cufflinks, etc.

[@TheWelshViking]

Idk, I think a distinct language, Europe’s oldest continuous poetic tradition, distinct folk and choral music trads, dance, the most highly literate populace on the island in the 17th and 18th centuries leading to a fully separate religious development to the rest of the island, a fully developed neo druidic tradition used nationally as an honours system, King Arthur, and Y Mabinogion are fairly colourful aspects to start off with. Also defiance I guess.

[@n.grundmann8645]

@@TheWelshViking could you/would you want to do a video (series) on all of that? I never heard about any of these facets of Welsh culture besides King Arthur (my bad I know). Especially the literacy-religion link sounds interesting and having high literacy in a poverty stricken area sounds like a massive feat on its own. I enjoyed the picture format btw

[@teoz21]

I liked this style of video a lot! I also like the usual in person videos, but I imagine this is easier to make? Thank you for another awesome video! I'd not heard of "Welsh tartan", so this was fascinating! 💜

[@MacAisling]

I’ve heard the word kilt is derived from the Norse word for fold. This seems to be an example of the Viking impact on the English language and would suggest that some form of the garment was in use in the highland region during the period of Viking migration. A great kilt can be quite comfortable hiking wear but 9 yards can feel pretty bulky when driving a car.

[@beth_winegarner]

Even though the Scottish clan tartans are a marketing invention, I'm happy to see the Nisbet tartan here (my grandmother was a Nesbitt). I rarely see it, usually in favor of more "popular" clan names/tartans.

[@kathywinn2617]

I just miss your animated dragon intro. Anything else is fine. You do you. We're with you!

[@jacobdeakin1260]

Diolch, this has always been a massive bugbear

[@pacman1386]

Love the video and format! If I ever get married it will be themed after agatha christie's Poirot with the fashion. (Also helps I look like him)

[@JustSaralius]

Nice!

[@rainydaylady6596]

That sounds wonderful. 🙂🖖💕

[@mikeymullins5305]

The photo format work, especially for these fashion heavy episodes. I would like to contend that perhaps all traditional clothing is made up, so maybe if welsh people keep wearing kilts, in two hundred years or so, it will be "traditionally welsh" but at the moment.... No. I would love to hear more about welsh costume!

[@magdagrabka24]

The Sobieski Stuart surname made me really laugh since Sobieski is a surname of one of Polish kings of XVII century. So dubble royal

[@julianshepherd2038]

Bastard sons of James Stuart, king. Sobieski-Stewart Tartan is a thing

[@chrisball3778]

Charles Edward Stuart (AKA Bonnie Prince Charlie) was descended from the Sobieski family through his mother, Maria Sobieska. That's why the fraudsters picked the name. He was half Polish, was born in Italy and lived most of his life there. He spoke multiple languages, but not English, Scots or Gaelic. Nationality was a complicated thing for 18th century nobles.

[@SarahGreen523]

I wasn't aware of Welsh cultural dress prior to this. After your explanation of what they wore, it makes perfect sense to me. Working class people don't have the time or money for fashion. The ladies with their stove top hats and frilly kerchiefs underneath (or is that some type of tall collar?) reminds me strongly of artwork I've seen of Mother Goose. I wonder if there's a connection, or if it's just a case of the Welsh still wearing their older fashioned clothing out of necessity and thriftiness. I've never seen a Welshman pictured in a kilt. I'm always supportive of you when you call out the bs that's trending.

[@m.maclellan7147]

Oooo, I hope Jimmy does some digging on the "Old Mother Goose" connection. As soon as I read your comment, I went, "YES!" I had a vague memory and that's what it was ! Often children's stories have quite a bit to say about the culture of the time !

[@willpithers1474]

Tartan has such a fascinating history, and I hope we see greater interest in other regions of Britain for reviving our own traditional garments, coming from the North of England we had the Maud, which I think would be really nice to bring back as an item of clothing more broadly.

[@maegn]

Noooope! Miss your pretty face!

[@scribbleknit]

Fabulous video! I like both formats and appreciate the content greatly. The advantage of photos is that we are able to get more visual information from the documents. Either way, I really appreciate you and your channel.

[@Nekog1rl]

As someone of mixed Scottish and Welsh heritage, thank you for this video. Indeed, Highland culture has gone through the wringer a couple times; we've had enough, thank you. Didn't know about blue flannel being a particularly Welsh thing though! Nor the red and white stockings. Anyway, yes; plaid is for everyone, but tartans belong to the Scots. As for the video format, the quick succession of photos makes for a snappier pace, but it also feels dated; I'd prefer a side-by-side, with the slideshow on one half of the screen and a video of you narrating it on the other. But that's obviously a completely subjective opinion. You do you, dear Jimmy!

[@katfinzen8235]

I love both types od video, but this ine definitely got your point across! I didn't even know that Welsh tartan was supposed to be a thing 😅

[@Mommamacnz]

This was really interesting and I liked the format but I also like the video format with you talking to us. Maybe a combo could be done of both together, or one of each. Sorry, not making a lot of sense as I'm tired. My husband has Irish ancestry (well, so do I but I know very little of that side of my family history) and he says that his ancestors had kilts of a type but they are not colourful like the Scots tartans.

[@katieb2931]

Last Saturday (Moghrey Jesarn) I was in my Gaelg (Manx) class and someone mentioned Manx tartan. Our teacher pulls no punches and more or less said the same as you Jimmy. No such thing as a Manx tartan! I'll still keep the draught excluders I made in 'Manx Hunting ' tartan though.