why do they make kilts?

**thescot** · 9th January 07, 01:21 PM

There may be enough business right here to keep many of them in business.

**Tartan Hiker** · 9th January 07, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by 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!

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

**bikercelt1** · 9th January 07, 01:50 PM

I don't see many kilts on the streets of Portland even though there is a very large community of kilt wearers at the Portland Highland Games. I've seen a fair number of games attendees show up in trousers, change into their kilt on-sight and then change back into trousers before they leave. I don't get that.

When my daughter was an University in Seattle I would occasionally see people in Utilikilts and only a couple of times in traditional kilts. Everybody seemed to know about kilts and accept them, they just didn't wear them.

In the little town I live in there are still people who get "shocked" when they see me in a kilt. The local young men still feel the need to laugh, point fingers and make disparaging remarks on occasion, but for most people (especially the folks who know me) my kilt wearing is a non-event. I fear that I'm just considered an eccentric (or a degenerate by some) rather than a harbinger of a more enlightened way of dressing.

Jamie

**arrogcow** · 9th January 07, 02:38 PM

A while ago I posted on the UK yahoo group an estimate of how many people owned UK's. While I don't remember (and can't find) the actual numbers I worked out, it came to something like 1 in every 300,000 people in the US own a kilt that they wear regularly (meaning at least once a week, as opposed to just to Celtic events). Sure enough in Cincinnati that translates to about 8-10 guys in the area. I personally know of about 6-7 (some on this board), and have only once run in to someone in a kilt accidentally (ie just going about daily business). On the other hand, I have personally sold well over 100 UK's and the Cincinnati, Dayton and Dublin Celtic festivals, and given away several 100's of cards on the streets (and talked to others about PK, AK, SWK and USAK as well as XMarks).

The kilts are out there, but we're still a very small minority. My prediction then was that it would be at least 10 years before seeing a kilt randomly was at least a weekly event.

Adam

**Hamish** · 9th January 07, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by Kilted KT

there is a very simple answer...Kiltmakers sew up all these kilts to keep Hamish and Riverkilt entertained!

Well, at least we do WEAR them, KT, and don't tuck them away for special occasions!!

**Warlock** · 9th January 07, 06:28 PM

I've only seen 1 utilikilt. That was in Nashville!

**michael steinrok** · 9th January 07, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by arrogcow

A while ago I posted on the UK yahoo group an estimate of how many people owned UK's. While I don't remember (and can't find) the actual numbers I worked out, it came to something like 1 in every 300,000 people in the US own a kilt that they wear regularly (meaning at least once a week, as opposed to just to Celtic events). Sure enough in Cincinnati that translates to about 8-10 guys in the area. I personally know of about 6-7 (some on this board), and have only once run in to someone in a kilt accidentally (ie just going about daily business). On the other hand, I have personally sold well over 100 UK's and the Cincinnati, Dayton and Dublin Celtic festivals, and given away several 100's of cards on the streets (and talked to others about PK, AK, SWK and USAK as well as XMarks).

The kilts are out there, but we're still a very small minority. My prediction then was that it would be at least 10 years before seeing a kilt randomly was at least a weekly event.

Adam

That is an awful lot of kilts, but weekly? Doubt it. Why are they not here?
I have seen a couple people wear them around the south bay but very few.

**arrogcow** · 9th January 07, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by michael steinrok

That is an awful lot of kilts, but weekly? Doubt it. Why are they not here?
I have seen a couple people wear them around the south bay but very few.

That was my point, there are several hundred UK's in closets in the Cincinnati area, and several hundred tartans (I've seen them at festivals and Burn's nights), but I only know 6 guys who wear them regularly (self not included), and 4 of us are members here.

Adam

**auld argonian** · 9th January 07, 07:28 PM

Isn't that strange...I know that there are not a few pipe band members around here and I'm probably the only guy that wears a kilt casually. They must have to keep their kilts neat so that they don't gt marked down at competitions...but you'd think that they'd have a spare to wear around...but nooooooooo...

Best

AA

**laotou** · 9th January 07, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

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