Please explain...

[RobertsonII]

Do these non-tartan kilts tick you off?

First let me begin by stating that Mr. Newsome you are someone I truly respect. I have to take time to really reflect now upon what I said. To answer your question no these listed pictures I do not take offense to. I was refering to others. I am trying to watch how I word things because I know I am walking on a thin line here. The kilts and prints I was refering to is the utility kilts with cargo pockets in a veriety of colors. I believe I mentioned the one sold at Hot Topic as well.

You need to be very careful in painting with broad strokes as you are. Condemning anything other than wearing a kilt in your own bonifide clan tartan while calling on "tradition" to back your opinion is not justifiable. There is a lot more in the realm of traditional Scottish attire than clan tartans.

I hoestly did not bring up tradition. I know that family tartans in the history of kilts are somewhat recent. I also know some of the history of the kilt as I have visited your site and blog often . I also know what would happen if a Campbell was wearing Robertson Red and walked by a Clan Donnachaidh tent at a highland game. That being said let me appoligize to you and some of the others here for my wording (not my stance). I meant to open this thread for debate not act like I was bashing anyones choices.

[Panache]

...That being said let me appoligize to you and some of the others here for my wording (not my stance). I meant to open this thread for debate not act like I was bashing anyones choices.

Roberston II,

Their are plenty of staunch traditionalists here at XMTS (we even have a forum for discussion of nothing but tradtional kilts) so you will find yourself in good company.

Asking why people are drawn to Modern Kilts is fine.

Debate is fine.

Disagreement is fine as long as it does not become disagreeable.

A favorite phrase of Todd (cajunscot) is "different horses for different courses"

We are lucky here at XMTS to have such a diversity of kilt wearers.

Let the thread continue in the spirit of good fellowship that distinguishes our forum.

Cheers

Jamie

[M. A. C. Newsome]

First let me begin by stating that Mr. Newsome you are someone I truly respect. I have to take time to really reflect now upon what I said. To answer your question no these listed pictures I do not take offense to. I was refering to others. I am trying to watch how I word things because I know I am walking on a thin line here. The kilts and prints I was refering to is the utility kilts with cargo pockets in a veriety of colors. I believe I mentioned the one sold at Hot Topic as well.

Thanks for clarifying your position. Saying "I don't like Utilikilts or kilts with cargo pockets" is fine. This is more specific than your original posts, which seemed to indicate disfavor of anything other than a kilt worn in the correct clan tartan.

It's also fine to say you don't like solid kilts at all. It would be perfectly legitimate for one not to favor the style of kilts worn by the USMC pipe band or the London Scottish, for instance. What kilt to wear is essentially a personal decision and each will have their own tastes and preferences.

There is a difference, though, between not liking a particular fashion and condemning those who do like that fashion.

Frankly, I agree with you in that I don't like Utilikilts. Why? Primarily I just don't like the way they look. It's about that simple. Not my thing. So I just don't hang out here in the "Contemporary & Non-traditional kilts" category. No big deal.

But if you do come here and post a question asking why people choose to wear this style of kilt.... well, expect their answers! :-)

M

[The Wizard of BC]

OK, here is my answer to your question.

First, a message from our sponsors. I own and wear Traditional Style Kilts, I own and wear Casual Style Kilts, I own and wear Contemporary Style Kilts, I own, but don't wear anymore, MUG's.

The Traditional Style Kilt that is my hands down favorite is my Barb Tewksbury in 16oz Highland Granite. I guess this would come under your category of non-real kilt because the Tartan is a fashion tartan. It has no clan or even district affiliation.
Why do I wear this kilt? Because it is the most wonderful feeling garment I have ever owned.
What do I dislike about this kilt? I have no where to put my keys and change, no where to put my hands. I also dislike the process of hand washing this kilt.

My favorite Casual Style Kilts are my two USA Semi-Trads.
I like them because they are almost as nice as a full traditional. I can wear them casually or dressy equally well. I also like the machine washability.
I dislike the fabric weight. P/V is a lightweight fabric. It doesn't get really cold here in Victoria but I often feel chilly in my P/V kilts.

My favorite Contemporary Style Kilt is my 6 Color Desert Camo, Cargo Model Freedom Kilt.
I like that It has pockets. 7 of them to be exact. I have a pocket for my paperback book, one for my coffee mug, one for my pipe and tobacco, one for my keys and change, one for my wallet one for my cell phone and still have one left over.
I dislike that I don't have 35 of them. One in each fabric I carry in stock.
My second favorite is my Tartan Model in the X Marks Tartan. In this kilt I have the best of both worlds. A kilt with pockets and my Clan Tartan.

This paragraph deleted

Does this adequately answer your question?

[davedove]

I'll turn the question around and ask why you would wear a shirt of a particular color, unless that color had a specific meaning to you. Although many on the forum choose a tartan kilt because of some affiliation, others wear a kilt simply as a garment. The kilts I wear most are in tartans that have some connection for me, but I do have others. Understanding why different people make different decisions would take forever, as each person has a different reason.

[JakobT]

I'm very happy to see that the discussion has continued so amiably. I thought that, as a non-Scottish, non-traditional kilt-wearer I might share some of my thoughts concerning the kilt, why I wear it at all, and why I (for the moment at least) don't wear a traditional tartan kilt.

I visited Scotland for the first time almost 30 years ago, and have been there several times since, and remember both the place and the people very fondly. I'd toyed with the idea of getting a kilt for a long time, as it was a garment that I really liked the look of, but one thing stopped me - the fact that I wasn't Scottish. I had a vague idea that you didn't have to be in order to wear a kilt, but still, I was conscious of the fact that the kilt was very much a national symbol, and I didn't want to offend anybody by donning a piece of clothing that some might feel I had no business wearing.

Then, on a visit to Edinburgh a few years ago, I came across 21st Century Kilts, who made non-traditional, non-tartan kilts. Here was the opportunity I had waited for - being able to wear the kilt like a normal piece of clothing, without pretending to be something I wasn't. On my next visit to Scotland, I went to TFCK, and had my measurements taken. After putting away his tape measure, the shop assistant brought out a big swatch book and asked me what tartan I wanted. I had given this some thought. I knew there was nothing in principle to stop my from wearing any tartan I chose, but being Norwegian I felt a plain kilt to be more suitable, so I ordered mine in charcoal grey.

I now wear my kilt as often as I can, and am very happy with the choice I've made. For me, a non-traditional kilt makes perfect sense, and I can wear it without fear of encroaching upon a tradition that's important to a great many people. This, I feel, is the one of the great things about the contemporary kilt - it keeps the kilt alive as a garment by ensuring its continued use all over the world, and by doing so honours the Highland culture that gave birth to it.

[SteveB]

Robertson II,
I was given a kilt by my family at age 11 in the tartan that is understood to represent my maternal great grandmother's clan (McNeil). I do not carry that surname as mine is Brown. My paternal lineage goes to back to Waping, England about 1630. There have been many inter-marriages both before and since. I also have a Highland Scot ancestor of unknown ancestry that was taken in one of Cromwell's efforts and sold for transportation at 2 Pounds 1 Shilling 2 Pence at auction in York, Maine in 1658. I have studied my family history and genealogy, and am continuing to learn more each day.
The wool kilt had served me well for various ceremonial occasions for over forty years. Due to my Great grandmother's well documented lineage, I can claim to have a very diluted Scot heritage. As I have aged a bit, I can no longer wear that wool kilt. I have passed it down to a nephew who can fit it properly. I have for quite some time worn for day to day activities, a variety of non-traditional kilts. I have six self made kilts in different materials. My first self made kilt is in 13 oz. black cotton denim. I chose this as it was very inexpensive material to try my skills on at 92 p./metre double width. With no tartan to follow sett, it afforded some room for learning without being hideous. I have enough self confidence in who and what I am to wear a kilt with pride and dignity in a mostly trousered environment. I also have developed enough confidence in my sewing skills (Thanks to Barb T's book) to soon attempt working with 52 pounds per metre genuine Scottish Worsted Wool tartan. The wool kilt will be for the ceremonial wear, where the clan tartan is appropriate.
I live in the United States, where there is a growing population of men that wear kilts with pockets so to have adapted the kilt to today's lifestyle of keys, drivers license, and mobile telephone. The Utilikilt Mocker in a tan colour has become the standard of office wear in many American businesses. The kilt is enough different than the Traditional Scottish kilt to help keep the kilt alive and at the same time respect the traditional tartan kilt's role in history.