No more Kilts for me

[Chris Webb]

Raphael, thanks for a sincere question. Every American except the American Indian came from somewhere else originally. My family heritage includes Scots, Irish and American Indian. If I was from Scotland I'd be Scottish. Instead, being a long time, ie. generations, in America I'm what I'm calling a Scots-Irish American. Think African-American.

A Scotish kilt is made, born if you will, in Scotland. A kilt made in America and that deviates from the original Scotish norm, like material, is what I'm calling a Scotish-American kilt, Scottish in origin but American made. So, a Scotish kilt made in America and mixed with American innovations = Scotish-American kilt. Does this help?

As for the kilt being 'Americanized' in order for it to gain popularity I can only offer this: Before kilts became Scotish-American they were too hot, too expensive and too complex in their accessories for most men in the U.S. to wear except for formal events and festivals. The Scotish-American kilts are way less expensive, cooler, easier to take care of, easier to get and can be worn all by themselves without any extra accessories ... thus kilts in the U.S. have become more popular.

As evidenced by posts on this forum there are even increasing numbers of men of no Scotish, Irish or even English heritage that are taking up kilts. No doubt that Scotland 'owns' their National Dress in its original form ... some men with absolutely no ties to Scotland would be uncomfortable 'stealing' it for their own wear, although Scots likely wouldn't hold it against them. The rise of Scotish-American kilts has allowed those with no 'Scotish' in their 'American' blood to slip easier into kilts without the psycological strain of somehow feeling they don't have the 'right' to wear one.

Simply stated: The Scotish-American kilt has a wider appeal than a Scotish kilt. If this were not true then more and more of us would not be buying and wearing kilts exclusively made in the U.S.

It would be interesting to find out via a pole what percentage of men here own a truly Scotish kilt. I mean no insult to Scotish kilts, Scotish heritage or traditions or those men here who hold them dearly ... but, really, are there not more American kiltmakers reviewed here than Scotish kiltmakers, or Even English kiltmakers?

It is the Scotish-American kilt that has bolstered the numbers of kiltmen in the U.S. and there is nothing wrong or insulting about it, it's just the way it is. It is the trend of the kilt becoming 'more American' that is fueling the increase in the kilt market. Scotish-American kilts simply have a broader appeal and thats ... OK.

Kilt On.

Chris Webb