why do they make kilts?

[Martin S]

It appears that Utilikilts sell their mugs by the thousand in North America, an ongoing succes story, from what I have heard.
Judging by the enthusiastic comments about Usakilts and Stillwater kilts (on this forum at least), there must be thousands of happy wearers sporting their products around that part of the world.
I could go on mentioning, as if it were necessary, all the other northamerican vendors of modern mugs.

Yet, though I live in a town where a large number of English-speaking expats live and work, and although I travel at times to the more important capital cities of Europe, I have yet to catch a glimmer of any of these so popular garments. Where are the satisified customers hiding themselves?

Perhaps the weak dollar is keeping the American tourist at home these days, but American companies are still sending their employees around the world. Do they become more conventional when abroad?

Recently, I have been staying on the south coast of Spain, where the accents, the pale pink skin and the predominance of fish&chips on the menus, leave me in no doubt that this is yet another British colony. Yet only on new year’s eve did I see another kilt.

It would seem that both the providers of traditional Scottish garb in GB and the makers of the modern variety elsewhere have been working to fill people’s cupboards rather than the streets or other public places.

So much busy sewing for nothing ?

I too have a cupboard full of kilts, but they all get worn regularly -- I have nothing else to keep my backside warm!

Martin,
still enjoying the sun with kilt pulled up well above the knees !!

[Hamish]

It appears that Utilikilts sell their mugs by the thousand in North America, an ongoing succes story, from what I have heard.
Judging by the enthusiastic comments about Usakilts and Stillwater kilts (on this forum at least), there must be thousands of happy wearers sporting their products around that part of the world.
I could go on mentioning, as if it were necessary, all the other northamerican vendors of modern mugs.

Yet, though I live in a town where a large number of English-speaking expats live and work, and although I travel at times to the more important capital cities of Europe, I have yet to catch a glimmer of any of these so popular garments. Where are the satisified customers hiding themselves?

Perhaps the weak dollar is keeping the American tourist at home these days, but American companies are still sending their employees around the world. Do they become more conventional when abroad?

Recently, I have been staying on the south coast of Spain, where the accents, the pale pink skin and the predominance of fish&chips on the menus, leave me in no doubt that this is yet another British colony. Yet only on new year’s eve did I see another kilt.

It would seem that both the providers of traditional Scottish garb in GB and the makers of the modern variety elsewhere have been working to fill people’s cupboards rather than the streets or other public places.

So much busy sewing for nothing ?

I too have a cupboard full of kilts, but they all get worn regularly -- I have nothing else to keep my backside warm!

Martin,
still enjoying the sun with kilt pulled up well above the knees !!

Oh, Martin, this is indeed a puzzlement! The only time I have seen a Utilikilt being worn here in the UK (other than on myself - I have 11 of 'em) is when I've been with one or another of my kiltie friends who also own some of them. I know quite a few Utilikilt owners across the United Kingdom but, as I say, have never seen one being worn by someone I do not know! Also, I have worn them on day-trips to France, as I have my traditional tartans, but never have I seen another kilt, of any description, over there.

In June and July 2003, I made a grand tour of the USA, spending time in NYC, Washington DC, Portland OR, Seattle WA and then back to NYC. Apart from the times when I was with assembled groups of kilties in those cities, at the Utilikilts HQ in Seattle and at their Birthday Bash held nearby, I did not see another kilt!! (Oh, I tell a lie! The barmen at the St. Andrews Bar in NYC were wearing traditionals!) I often hear that one cannot walk the streets of Seattle without bumping into a Utilikilt wearer - but it did not happen to me. Eighteen months ago, I spent two weeks in and around Vancouver; it was the same story. In October I was in Palm Springs, California for two weeks (where there is even a branch of The Celtic Craft Centre, Kiltmakers, etc. on Indian Canyon Drive - the main shopping street), but the only kilts I saw were being worn by my pal Jim and myself!

One appreciates the fact that folks like you and me are fairly unusual because we wear our kilts daily but, with the huge volume of kilts of all types that ARE being sold thesedays, one might expect to see one being worn by a stranger somewhere in this wonderful world of ours.

PS: I envy you your sunshine! Here we have seemingly had weeks on end of grey skies, heavy rain oir drizzle, and strong winds storms ..... but it is exceptionally mild for the season. I was even out yesterday in shirt-sleeve order (but with an umbrella), and this is January!!!

[Belegnole]

Unfortunately I believe that finding a person who wears a kilt has got to be one in a million....ok I might be wrong there but I don't believe that the odds are that good. Add to that the chances that your one in a million is a daily kilt wearer and the odds of actually seeing a kilt are much worse.

Stepping outside the bounds of "style" when many see it as cross-dressing is much harder than most believe and WE just happen to be those few....

[Monkey@Arms]

I've only seen two UKs in the greater San Francisco area outside of a Celtic event or X-Marks gathering, and one casually worn traditional. (I guess that makes me a freak when I wear mine out and about ) Of course from this, and other forums, I know that there a few more out there getting frequent wear.

Its particularly puzzling that one doesn't see more UKs in this area, given their popularity with Burning Man Festival attendees, and the large number of "Burners" from these parts.

UK has hopes of distributing their kilts to retailers this year. If it really happens, maybe we will starting seeing more street wear.

Best regards,

Jake

[laotou]

I've worn my kilt in a country of over 1,313,973,713 people, and never saw another, however, if they ever catch on in China.....Damn!

[Tartan Hiker]

I've worn my kilt in a country of over 1,313,973,713 people, and never saw another, however, if they ever catch on in China.....Damn!

I don't think we'll have to worry about this. As I go about kilted I get the stares and occasional question/comment, juat like we all do. But in my four days in Edinburgh, Scotland it was almost a certainty that when I passed a group of Asian tourists, the women would stop dead in their tracks, stare, point, and LAUGH. The consistency of this reaction was quite remarkable, and eventually became somewhat amusing to me and my family.

Is this the kind of reaction you got in China, Laotou?? If so, I doubt there will be a growing kilt market in China anytime soon

And back to Martin's original point...I have a bunch of contemporary kilts in my closet, but I never even considered taking one to Scotland. Perhaps that isn't so unusual.

Bill

[laotou]

I don't think we'll have to worry about this. As I go about kilted I get the stares and occasional question/comment, juat like we all do. But in my four days in Edinburgh, Scotland it was almost a certainty that when I passed a group of Asian tourists, the women would stop dead in their tracks, stare, point, and LAUGH. The consistency of this reaction was quite remarkable, and eventually became somewhat amusing to me and my family.

Is this the kind of reaction you got in China, Laotou?? If so, I doubt there will be a growing kilt market in China anytime soon

And back to Martin's original point...I have a bunch of contemporary kilts in my closet, but I never even considered taking one to Scotland. Perhaps that isn't so unusual.

Bill

No Bill, that is nowhere near the reaction I get when kilted in China. I get smiles and waves and thumbs up, shouts of 'Hello" and "Welcome Welcome!"and my favorite "Be-U Tee ful!" If I am in one spot for very long a crowd will gather and sart lining up to have photos taken with me. Makes you feel like someone famous.They are polite, curious and respectful. The young "Alternative" folks are very interested, so I would not be surprised if some day......
Its great fun! Highly recomended.
I you go, I know a great taylor in Beijing that does a very nice Kilt jacket with vest, two for $150. USD

[cessna152towser]

Judging from the number of kilt shops in Scotland, there must be plenty of kilts made and sold but I think there are many men who maybe own one or possibly two kilts which are only rarely worn, possibly for country dancing or piping and not out and about as everyday wear, possibly because they lack confidence to wear them every day. My next door neighbour recently bought his second kilt, yet I probably see him going out kilted less than once a month. For years I also an occcasional wearer of the two kilts which I then owned and it took a leg injury four years ago, in January 2003, when I was unable to get into trousers for two or three weeks which forced me to wear a kilt to work for the first time and into wearing kilts as casual wear too as it was midwinter when it was too cold for shorts. Having thus discovered kilts were not only very comfortable but also very acceptable for everyday wear, over the past four years I have increased my kilt collection. With kilt number twelve currently on order I now own more kilts than trousers and wear them more often too - in fact the last day I wore trousers was Christmas Eve - been kilted every day since. I've noticed kilts becoming more common when I'm in Glasgow or Edinburgh, including some single colour non-tartan kilts. Living in Britain though I have yet to see a Utilikilt - I may get lucky and see my first sighting at the Dumfries Burns Supper.

[davezero]

So this may seem odd..... Here in southern Arizona, I see Kilts pretty often. Other than myself and O'Neill, I have met at least two other people wearing kilts in my town, plus I have two other friends that (either live here or visit often) that also wear kilts. Mostly what I see however, here are Utilikilts, and one awsome leather Union Kilt. It seems strange to me that in Europe, they are not as common.

[Pour1Malt]

... Living in Britain though I have yet to see a Utilikilt - I may get lucky and see my first sighting at the Dumfries Burns Supper.

aye ya will...

ai serve breccy in mine e'ery morni'...