Why you don't see Scots wearing their kilts often

[MacMillans son]

The idea of more widespread kilt wearing is really wishful thinking on our part, don't you think...?

And Woodsheal, I would go as far as to say a very small part of "our part".

I, for one, have never understood the Kilt Crusader mind set. I have absolutely no investment in whether or not anyone else wears a kilt, leave alone how often someone wears one. I wear the kilt to individuate, and celebrate, a part of my family history that has been homogenized by our society into a color grouping, White. By modeling one of the hundreds of cultures that share my skin pigmentation, I stand up for my cultural uniqueness, and against a label based on color. By wearing the kilt, I hope to encourage, and validate, others who would like to also individuate and celebrate their uniqueness. But, for me, there is a difference between modeling and crusading.

So, in response to the OPs statement or question 'Why you don't see Scots wearing their kilts often" I would have to say "Apparently they don't want to"

Cheers!

[Duke of Delrio]

You will save neither the kilt nor the tartan by lamenting that a Scotsman does not wear them often enough. Don't suggest when or how he should wear it. Uh uh, Tell him he can't. Prohibit his wearing it, and HE will see to it that the kilt survives until the crack of doom. Lord bless him!

As another who posted to this thread, I am of mixed heritage: German, Scotch, Welsh, Swedish, and American Indian. I am not "part" Indian, else, I could tell you which part. I am not "part" Highland Scot; I am "also" Highland Scot. However, I would no more argue with Jock Scot's perspective on why the kilt is not worn more often in Scotland, than I would take my Indian cousins to task for not wearing feathers and bucksins as often as they might.

It is precisely because of that refusal to bow to any other wish or compulsion which has kept the Scottish kilt alive for all the rest of us. We have a kilted tradition because that unbending will was deeply, and individually held by Highlanders throughout the grim times of the Prohibition and the Highland Clearances. The Scots of my family came to America because they could not stay. I suspect that Jock Scot is where he is because his family WOULD not leave. Far be it from me to suggest when he should wear his national dress, or that he should wear his kilt for my reasons. I know what I feel when I see the kilt proudly worn, but I cannot begin to guess at what Jock Scot feels when he sees it . . . or what outlawed tunes he hears when the winds come over the heather.

I appreciate his comments and send my thanks to him . . . and to those like him.

[chrisupyonder]

In the end it comes down to personal choice and circumstance and where you put the bar between what is a special occasion and what is mundane normal life. For some the bar is very high, weddings etc. For others it is on the ground and as there are as many different people, the bar can be anywhere inbetween. For me, now that I have retired, the bar has dropped much lower and a special occasion includes weekends and whenever I feel like wearing my kilt. Shopping in a 60mph gale with horizontal rain (which we get quite often in Scotland) is probably not classed as a special occasion.
What wonderfull people you all are and I respect all your views

[Jordan]

Shopping in a 60mph gale with horizontal rain (which we get quite often in Scotland) is probably not classed as a special

I don't know I enjoy doing it,if only to see the looks on peoples faces as i wander past

[OC Richard]

In the end it comes down to personal choice and circumstance and where you put the bar between what is a special occasion and what is mundane normal life. For some the bar is very high, weddings etc. For others it is on the ground and as there are as many different people, the bar can be anywhere inbetween. For me, now that I have retired, the bar has dropped much lower and a special occasion includes weekends and whenever I feel like wearing my kilt.

You have a way with words! Nicely written.

For me, as a piper, the kilt represents work clothes. Today I will don my kilt and jacket and drive off to a golf course to play (the pipes, not golf!)

In addition, having not owned a suit in many years, I wear the kilt whenever I attend any sort of event requiring more than aloha shirt, shorts, and zorries. (I dress like that year round, one of the advantages to living where I do.) Such dressy events are rare, maybe one every couple years or so.

[GG]

You will save neither the kilt nor the tartan by lamenting that a Scotsman does not wear them often enough. Don't suggest when or how he should wear it. Uh uh, Tell him he can't. Prohibit his wearing it, and HE will see to it that the kilt survives until the crack of doom. Lord bless him!

I think we have all seen the article “The kilt in Crisis” in the Heraldscotland 3 Oct. 2010. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/h...isis-1.1058881

Now, I won’t talk about kilts. That I leave for the Scotsmen to do. I speak general supply and demand, something that to me has played a major role during all my professional life:

As long as, in our “western” society, the demand for a given good is sufficient, there will always be manufacturers who will satisfy this demand.

If the demand is increasing existing manufacturers will produce more and bring their production facilities in accordance with their expectations. New competitors shall enter the market.

If, on the other hand, a market is declining, we see manufacturers leaving it, be it by their own choice or so forced to.

That is the market category or total market thinking.

Looking at market segments, could be price segments, some might increase, even on an otherwise declining total market, or decline, at least relatively, on an increasing total market. An example could be prohibitive prices, or insufficient value for money – in the mind of the consumers. What the manufacturers should think about the value for money relationship is of absolutely no importance, sorry to say. In practice it means that consumers might still be able to get the product, but not THE product.

Out of a situation like this there is only one remedy to consumers who care: Use more and buy more – and hope you are not alone.

Just a few thoughts - nothing of relevance for kilt wearing.

[CMcG]

Maybe a possible solution to the myriad variations of tartan would be to generate perhaps 6 or 8 tartans which bear a passing resemblance to many of them.

You could have two shades of red, of blue, a brownish, a greenish, a golden, a purplish - or even change the choice, have maybe four colours, and change them each year.

Once a certain number of kilts in circulation is passed, providing they are easily washable, a man would be able to acquire kilts to wear, with perhaps one 'wedding' kilt which would be his exact tartan.

The generic tartans should all be exactly the same set size, maybe 8 inches, and perhaps even have the same thread counts, so that the down time on the looms would be reduced.

Long runs would reduce costs for the weaving, though there might be an increased cost in making shirts, if the trend was for longer more substantial styles.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

This sounds a bit like what Slanj do for their kilt hire. All their hire tartans appear to be non-clan and more based on colour. The options are:
Muted Red Slanj, Original Slanj, Dress Slanj , Grey Slanj, Black Shadow

[Beertigger]

As far as the lowlands are concerned, Edinburgh, Stirling etc. no problem but leave ya kilt off in Glasgow unless it is a special occasion or a football match.

I've wandered about Glasgow wearing the kilt and not had a problem at all. A double-take or two, as in any major city, but no bother from anyone.

Save the neddie lass of about 14 who tried to perform a kilt check while I waited for a train, that is.

[Jaggy thistle]

I too have worn the kilt in Glasgow with no problem even on a Saturday night as recently as last Saturday I was not so lucky I did not even get a kilt check !!

[LeeAnne]

I too have worn the kilt in Glasgow with no problem even on a Saturday night as recently as last Saturday I was not so lucky I did not even get a kilt check !!

There's no way you would ever have any probs in Glasgow (or any town in Scotland) on Saturday or any night if you are kilted. Try wearing a Rangers or Celtic top OTOH!

As for the kilt check... You're not going to the right places! I have a few girlfriends who (after the obligatory beverage or two) are noted for their thoroughness in that department!