Is Fringe a benefit?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I'm probably one of the few kiltmakers out there who does not automatically include a fringed apron as standard on the kilts I make. Why not?

Well, considering the styles of kilt I specialize in, I model them as much as possible on the earliest tailored kilts. This is an example of that.

While the absolute earliest kilts did indeed have a fringe (on both aprons, actually), it was a self fringe. These kilts were built without any tapering in the pleats. Likewise the aprons were not shaped at all. So the edge of the apron was simply the cut edge of the cloth. The threads along the edge would unravel (or more likely be pulled intentionally) leaving a small, single fringe on the apron edge.

When kilts began to be a little more tailored, and shaped from waist to hips, the cloth at the apron edge was folded over and finished - with no fringe. This is the style that I model my kilts on.

I'm happy to do a fringe if my clients ask for it, but when I do it will be a single fringe rather the the double or triple fringe which is common today on modern kilts. While I still taper the apron by shaping the edge, giving a finished edge of the apron (not a self fringe), the single fringe looks more natural and evocative of the earliest self-fringed kilts.

Either way I do it there is exactly the same amount of overlapping fabric (and therefore weight) at the apron edge. So that's not a factor in the slightest.

And whether your kilt is box pleated or knife pleated, or made from 4, 5, or 6 yards of cloth makes no difference as to whether or not it can or should be fringed.

In fact, the only factor that needs to be considered is this -- do you want/like a fringe on this kilt? :-) Pretty simple.

As for me, most of my personal kilts have no fringe, but a few do, mainly for variety. When I do fringe my own kilts I tend to do so on the higher yardage ones. I've never thought much about why. But none of my four yard box pleated kilts are fringed.

And in all my years wearing them, I've never had anyone say, "Hey, how come there is no fringe on your kilt?" I doubt anyone ever notices, actually!

[TheBrus]

I do like fringe, but in the interest of something that's truly different from the other kilts in my closet, I'm going to pass on the fringe for this kilt. I had a few kilts in my old collection (military ones) that were fringeless, and you didn't miss it.

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

[Dale Seago]

All of my made-to-measure kilts are made either by Rocky at USAK (5-yard wool) or by Matt Newsome (6-yarders). I have four of each right now. The USAKs are all fringed, and the New House Highland kilts are all unfringed. I find I have no preference either way.

I've also found that no one has ever noticed that (a) my USAKs are "low-yardage"' or (b) my Newsome kilts are unfringed.