What is the future of the Kilt?

[Monkey@Arms]

One thing I note, when some members feel that the "kilt" police don't consider one style or another to be a kilt they get quite upset. I honestly don't understand this. In most cases I haven't seen opinions that say you shouldn't be allowed to wear it, that I would understand, but it seems to get people upset if their garment isn't considered to be a kilt by some others.

I admit I don't consider all the garments I see on these boards to be kilts, but I will vigorously defend anyones right to wear them. I don't mean to offend anyone with the question but I am curious as it is a theme I have seen repeated often on these boards.

Well I think the answer is quite obvious. If you deny that a garment is a kilt, which we all agree is a garment designed for, and traditionally worn by, men, then what is the alternative? In Western society I think we all know the answer.

Your statement that you'll defend some ones right to wear any garment they please rings hollow, if at the same time you effectively label said person a cross-dresser because their "kilt" doesn't meet your subjective criteria for what is a kilt.

Best regards,

Jake

[Aggie]

Since forum rules indicate that threads or "topics not related to kilts" may be deleted, it is up to the forum staff to decide what a kilt is. If it is not a kilt topic or related to kilts the staff will let us all know.

[Colin]

The reason I haven't locked it (I don't think we delete threads to often) is that I voiced my opinion in the Tripp thread. It would be unfair of me to be the one to police it at this point.

Here is how I see it. The traditional kilt has survived for centuries and will continue to survive and be worn be thousands of people. The newer versions of kilts may fall into the class of "kilt", but their future is not tied to the traditional kilt any longer (if it ever was) as they are finding their own niche markets. It's up to the people buying the entry level kilts, the tweaked kilts, the goth kilts, the utility kilts, etc,etc,etc to decide what the future of those kilts ends up being.

I know what the future of the kilt style I wear holds.

[The Wizard of BC]

Ok, let's see. I see the future of the kilt getting even more blurred than it is. I don't care if the Tripp garment is called a kilt or not. I don't care if UK is a kilt or not. I know that Steven V. does not call his garment a kilt or credit any Celtic or Scottish inspiration for it. As new designers catch on that there is a market, there will be new and different definitions of "Kilt".

What I do know is that it is quite possible that in the very near future you will see UK's in a wider retail environment. WalMart? Probably not. But there are a lot of people who would like to see a UK, or something like it, sold in stores other than one location in Seattle. OK, there is a market, and I'm sure Steven will make even more money servicing that market.

Do I want to see the kilt priced near the cost of a pair of jeans? No. I like being different. Will I buy a Tripp garment? probably not. But that is because it is not my style of garment. I probably won't buy a silver Lamme kilt either.

What I do wish is that I could find some way to get the price of my custom made kilts down to where almost anyone who wishes to wear the kilt can afford one.

The growth of membership of just this forum is one indication that kilts, in all their variety, are here to stay for a while. Probably all the rest of this week. If this current boom in kilts busts I guess I'll be out of a job. Again. I don't see that happening. I see a day very soon when this forum seems passe because kilted men won't be so uncommon. It is already not unusual for members here to see another kilts in their town. Rare, but no longer shocking.

I can't remember the last time someone gave me that look that says "OH my, he must be a cross-dresser." The kilt is recognized and appreciated for what it is. Even if it is Camo fabric and worn like baggy cargo shorts.

The only thing we need now is more of the current X Markers who have made a kilt or two to step up and start their own business and get more and different versions of the kilt out there.

[JimB]

Maybe.....someday

[bikercelt1]

I believe that the topic at hand was "what is the future of the kilt"? It seems to me that whatever introduces a person to wearing a kilt and convinces them to continue to purchase additional kilts is a good thing. When I began wearing kilts I tried several garments that I no longer even consider to be kilts because I didn't want to spend a fortune without knowing what I was getting into. Now I am more than willing to spend whatever it takes to get the quality of Kilt and ancillary clothing that I've come to know and enjoy. If I hadn't had the chance to start with those substandard garments I might not have gotten to this point.

Last year I found myself myself being verbally assaulted for wearing my "utlilcrap" on St. Patrick's day. The sanctimonious buffoon has one kilt that he wears about six times a year (and yes, I do know that for a fact). This kind of high and mighty attitude and the fearful "skirt" comments of insecure men who have never tried wearing a kilt will have a far grreater chilling effect on the future of the kilt than a cheap garment in a goth clothing department can ever have. After all, if the kid buyiong a Tripp kilt likes it he will probably graduate to the real thing, If he doesn't like it or can't stand up to the guff he'll soon leave it hanging in the back of the closet. Either way, it can't hurt us and may in fact help us.

The future of kilt wearing may well hinge on cheap kilts as an entry point for some folks. I say let's give them encouragement and advice to move foreward.

Jamie

[Kilted KT]

I feel that the future of the kilt is exactly what we make of it. Groups like us are keeping the Kilt alive and making advances in not only kilt design, but availability of quality kilts of all kinds to all people. Defining a kilt is up to the maker. If they call it a kilt and the public buys them as kilts, then they are kilts. If they take a table cloth and put frilly stuff on it and call it a kilt, the public as a whole will decide if it is a kilt or not.

I'm wearing a whole lot of wool wrapped around me waist, and it feels like a kilt to me. I'm simply happy that we have so many different ways to wear the kilt, and people all over the world who wear a kilt to congregate with!

How will the kilt be viewed in 10, 20 or more years? I have no idea...and I'll be wearing my kilt the whole time as I wait to see.

[RockyR]

The future of kilt wearing may well hinge on cheap kilts as an entry point for some folks. I say let's give them encouragement and advice to move foreward.

This is exactly the point that Steven V. (UK), Robert (R-Kilts), Steve (FK), Bear (Bear kilts), Me (USAK) etc. talk about... the more people wearing kilts, the more people see kilts, the more accepted they become, the more people have the guts to wear them. If someone's wearing something that's a "lessor quality" kilt (in your opinion), don't insult them... educate them and / or talk to them. They may have a "tank" at home. They may be alergic to wool. They may be a poor college kid that spent his last $100 on the only kilt he could afford. They may be the owner of the company's kilt their wearing!

While all of the people mentioned above have a STAKE in whether or not kilts succeed on a "mass market scale", this is a market with a pretty frickin' open door policy. I've shared dinner with Robert (RK), Barb T and Steve (FK). I've had Steven V. (UK) sleep on my couch. I've sent people to Mike Butler (AK) and Jerry (SWK). I've gotten several customers from Jeff's (PK) website referrals. How many other industries can say that company owners interact like that?

Bottom line... we're all in it to have fun, make a living (not to be RICH, but to have a few dollars in our pockets) AND promote kilt wearing, even if we don't have what the person is looking for. The more people wear kilts, the more people want to wear them. It's a catch 22 (to a degree). No one likes to be the first one... the one that gets pointed at. However, with brave and confident individuals like we have here, we can help start the trend as DAILY WEAR.

[Erisianmonkey]

The only thing we need now is more of the current X Markers who have made a kilt or two to step up and start their own business and get more and different versions of the kilt out there.

Believe it or not, Steve, I've been looking into doing just that. I thought this was going to be a nice hobby. Then it became an obsession. I drift off to sleep at night thinking about making kilts. With that kind of motivation, I decided it was time to jump in and make a business plan.

Returning you to your regularly scheduled thread, I can say that I may not know what the future of all kilts is. But I do know that I will be in that future either as just a wearer or as a maker.

[Blu (Ontario)]

The kilt has survuved and will continue to survive. It won't become mainstream - at least for the forseeable future. But that's not going to stop me from enjoying it.

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