how kilted is Seattle?

[pbpersson]

Just how kilted is Seattle?

I could spend the entire day in downtown Phoenix and never see another kilted guy. I hear the same is true in Chicago.

Someone said that in Seattle they are everywhere.

However, I wonder what that means. If I spent the day walking the streets of downtown Seattle, would I see one guy kilted besides myself, or 10 or what?

Also, has the interest in Utilikilts in Seattle caused an increase in the number of guys wearing traditional kilts in that city?

Are there any other US cities where kilts can be considered common instead of a very rare occurance?

[Kilted KT]

Just how kilted is Seattle?

I could spend the entire day in downtown Phoenix and never see another kilted guy. I hear the same is true in Chicago.

Someone said that in Seattle they are everywhere.

However, I wonder what that means. If I spent the day walking the streets of downtown Seattle, would I see one guy kilted besides myself, or 10 or what?

Also, has the interest in Utilikilts in Seattle caused an increase in the number of guys wearing traditional kilts in that city?

Are there any other US cities where kilts can be considered common instead of a very rare occurance?

answers to your questions ( and I've not even been there!)

1. Yes, it is more kilted than the avg. US city.

2. Yes, With Utilikilts being based in seattle, there are going to be a hell of a lot more people wearing kilts. As I've found it to be true for many people here, the UK is a gateway kilt. That means a lot of people buy a UK first, then eventually migrate up to a traditional kilt. With UK being only a few years old, I am sure many people have not yet made the leap to traditional kilts due to the cost of a quality kilt.

3. I'm not sure you will find any city where a kilt is a "common" occurance, unless you qualify it by asking about cities with prominent kiltmakers there. Even with the growing number of kilties here in the states, the kilt is still very much far from common.

is there anyone from seattle who can back me up on these?

[Andrew Green]

I live near Seattle, and I haven't necessarily seen many people in kilts of any kind. I have seen a few though, and yes those do tend to be UKs... not that a UK is a bad thing, but I cannot justify a non-tartan kilt (for myself) except for maybe a Neokilt, with a tartan swatch incorporated into it...as that looks fairly neat. But to be sure, kilts are still in a minority, and will likely always be so. I am all for the concept of using it as everyday attire... but it isn't for everyone.

[Yaish]

A friend of mine just got back from Seattle. He had no idea UK was based their, but just couldnt wait to tell me how popular kilts were up there. He said he saw several every day.

[cavscout]

All I can offer is,

While on a cruise in the Caribbean I was wearing my UK Survival and a women stopped my wife to ask if we were from Seattle because "everyone" wears kilts there.

[auld argonian]

...and if you see someone in a kilt in Chicago, it's probably me. At the comic-con last Saturday, the only other kilt-ee was a guy working in one of the clothing vendors...he had a Utilikilt...he was busy so I didn't get a chance to talk to him.

I suppose that the only thing that you can do is to hope that you're being a good influence and that being seen in the kilt influences others to think about it and to try it. I note that most forum participants are not shy about recommending "entry level" kilt sources to those who express an interest. This past weekend I was out and about amongst a whole lot of guys in those baggy cargo shorts and flip-flops (hey...lolllapalooza was in town!) and, as usual, got a couple of gaggles of them laughing and pointing but noticed a couple who had that "Hey...that looks good...wonder if I should get a kilt" look on their faces. Have at it, dudes...

Best

AA

[Streetcar]

Are kilts "everywhere" up here? I suppose it depends on your definition of "everywhere."

Yes, you are much more likely to see a Utilikilt than any other type of kilt. As a result, the general population is a little more educated to what a non-traditional kilt is. In general, you are more likely to hear "nice utilikilt," rather than "nice skirt."

As far as proliferation, it really depends on the neighborhood. I think you are much more likely to see a kilt in some of the more "artistic" neighborhoods - such as Freemont, the University District or Capital Hill. They are less likely in some of the more affluent neighborhoods.

(In fact, I recently wore my U.K. to a mall in a nearby north suburb. A woman exclaimed, "A Utilikilt? Cool! You must be lost..." )

Unfortunately, I have rarely seen a tartan kilt outside of a specific event.

[jfellrath]

The preponderence of kilts, Utili- or otherwise, does NOT extend across the Puget Sound, though. I've worn my UK, my Irish American, and my Clark Ancient in Bremerton on a couple of occasions during my trips out to visit the in-laws, and not only was I the only kilted person, I actually had someone ask me where I got the UK.

[TechBear]

They're common enough. I wear a UK on the weekend and on other occasions where I would otherwise wear shorts, and I know a number of other people who do the same. Also, I live in a neighborhood called Capitol Hill, which is the epicenter of both Seattle's gay community and alternative music community, so I'm definitely not the only one walking around kilted. It is... not common, but certainly not unusual, to see guys walking around in UKs.

[morrison]

I live in Seattle, Belltown. I see kilts similar to my own. Most frequently it's UK. I wear the kilt nearly always when in town. Otherwise I have shorts on. Typically I see a kilt on a man each time I am in town. Occassionally I see tartan.