New keltoi in official Ontario tartan

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Several months ago I got a new job and decided to order a new kilt. I wanted a heavy weight, 8 yard 'tank' specifically for wearing in winter. The closest I had to that was my 16oz Newsome box pleat. Beautiful work as my Newsome is it just wasn't warm enough when the mercury dipped. As you know I have no family tartan but I'm more than lucky enough to have my pick of district tartans. To compliment my 5 yd CCK Maple Leaf I've always wanted to show my pride in my home province of Ontario of which I have a choice of several. My first introduction to an Ontario tartan was that of 'Ensign of Ontario' (STA 2032, 1965). it get's it's colours from our provincial flag. As much as I liked this tartan further searching I discovered the official Ontario tartan (STA 6627, 1995). It was this tartan that I decided upon. Unfortunatly being an official tartan it is a rare tartan and only availiable in 13oz. The colours are green for the forests, blue for the waters, red for our first nations and white for the sky above (must've been an overcast day when the designer looked outside when designing it). Having spent more than a decade with the Coast Guard Auxiliary I felt a deep connection to this tartan. I had to have it. A call to John at Keltoi, a long story short, he could get Ensign of Ontario now or a custom weave in 16oz from D.C Dagliesh and a long and unknown wait.

It was worth the 7 month wait indeed. I may have missed this past winter but I now have in my collection an outstanding kilt. John did an absolutely flawless build with 27 pleats to the white stripe. John reports that the material was a joy to work and with razor sharp pleats to attest to it. Also included were complimentary flashes and hat badge backer. Extra effort on his part was the communication, pictures and explanation of his thoughts on pleating and complimentary colours of hose and garters. Claret Lewis hose are on order which has the added bonus of going with the colours of my Maple Leaf.

My many thanks to John who had to 'compete' with my Matt Newsome box pleat in quality of build and eye for correctness, a very high standard indeed that all Newsome owners know and expect. I'm happy to say that my Keltoi is in every bit equal. This kilt is the most essential kilt for me, I'm fortunate that John was able to honour that.

Official Ontario tartan front:




Pleated to the stripe:



Trillium kilt pin (provincial flower) in leather, purchased 6 months ago for this kilt: