Evolution of the Modern Kilt

[figheadair]

This is a variation on the story that the kilt was 'invented' by an Englishman named Rawlinson who ran the Glengarry Iron Smelter in the early 1730s.

Not only are there are earlier images showing the feileadh beag but the basic story demonstrates a lack of undrstanding of how 18th century plaids were made. In short, the single width material had to be joined in the first place in order to made a plaid. It doesn't require much though simply not to join the two lengths in the first place. Social-economic changes towards the end of the 17th century are much more likely to have been the catalyst for the development of the feileadh beag than anyone 'inventing' it.