Dreadbelly, who no longer posts here, has been taking classes to become a tailor / fashion designer. Recently, he's been thinking a lot about this pleating style, and his comments on it make a lot of sense... essentially, he says that it may be the most practical pleating style from the perspective of ease of sitting. As you sit, the pleats push each other up, against your legs, leading (in theory) to a nice seat, rather than the bunching that some of us experience, particularly in an automobile.

And I'm sure I'm not doing his thoughts justice, as he's a deep thinker, and I'm just spouting off from memory.

Anyway, he's talking about producing kilts in that pleat style, real soon now.