The kilt cannot be universally accepted

[Bluethunder90]

Why do we bother? Frankly, for those outwith Scotland, I have no idea!


I have said it before here and will say it again. I think anyone wearing the kilt out of its natural surroundings is asking for trouble, snide comments, frowns et al from all directions when they wear the tartan kilt and the Utilikilt style of kilt is only making the matter worse in some people's eyes and minds. Wearing the tartan kilt poorly cannot help either. And yes, there are parts of Scotland still, where the tartan kilt-------and those wearing it----- are regarded with suspicion. I take my hat off to all who do wear the kilt outwith its natural surroundings who may even get a kick out of doing so. But for certain sure, I am not prepared to make that sort of higher profile of myself. Besides I don't have to, I very rarely wear the kilt outwith the Highlands.

It has been a year or more since I commented in these forums, largely because my plans of purchasing a kilt came to naught (as a great many of my plans seem to do), but when I first joined these forums, I put forth the question of the reception of the kilted community to a black man, with no known Scottish heritage, wearing a kilt, and the response I got from these forums was nothing but positive.

Having said that, as a black man living in Hawaii, I would definitely be wearing the kilt out of it's natural surroundings, but I would do so because for reasons I really can't explain, I have a strong interest in the Scottish culture, to include a love of bagpipes (I swear I'm not just making that up), because the garment looks comfortable, and most importantly because I have always marched to the beat of my drummer, and I tend to do what interest me and makes me happy, despite whatever negative thing anyone would have to say about it.
The one thing I will take care to do when I do purchase and wear a kilt, is to research what I am buying, and how to wear it properly so as to not offend anyone of Scottish heritage by wearing a Tartan that I have no right to wear, or by wearing the kilt incorrectly. Those of Scottish heritage, whose heritage I would be appropriating, are the people I would be concerned with offending, anyone else with an ignorant opinion, I really couldn't care less.