Had a friend pose a question today: He heard somewhere that there were only 7 pleats in the first kilts, representing the original (?) 7 clans.

I have never heard anything like this, and it doesn't seem plausible to me. But could there be some basis in fact? Or could this be one of those legends having something to do with box pleats (of which I assume there would be a lesser number on older military kilts than is commonly used today)?