Everything to Know About Mackenzie Tartan

Posted by Maris on 20th May 2024

Everything to Know About Mackenzie Tartan

The Seaforth Highlanders, who were founded in 1778 by Mackenzie, Earl of Seaforth, adopted the Mackenzie Tartan as their regimental tartan. Wilson's 1819 design book lists several cloth weights and widths appropriate for the regiment's various ranks. A certified sample, signed by Mrs. Mackenzie of Seaforth in 1816, is housed in the Highland Society of London's collection. The Mackenzie tartan, as it is known today, is a military tartan that was created by Mackenzie Lord MacLeod's 73rd Highland Regiment (and later by the Seaforth Highlanders). The black, white, and red lines were added to an early Black Watch design, which was created around 1729. As the military Highland Independent Companies popularized the idea of utilizing the pattern for identify between 1725 and 1739, most clan tartans that exist today were really created during that time. With very few exceptions, tartan patterns were not utilized for clan identify before 1700. Instead, the hat badge—typically a plant or ribbon—was used for identification. Nonetheless, there is proof that there were local tartans. This would account for the sight of various tartans worn by the same clan during the Culloden fight.

Mackenzie Tartan Collection


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