inventing new garments

[longforgan]

In another thread: "the kilt in Scotland" the differences in attitude between the old country and others is highlighted. I too when I was young in Scotland used to look at the kilt as formal attire. Always worn with special traditional jacket, shoes and accessories. Now I am on a new road! The kilt as a daily garment, a replacement to trousers and shorts means (at least to my mind,-improvisation). My policy is that anything can be made to go with the kilt if it is in good taste and follows some commonsense rules. (or do it any way you like, I don't care!) I have found myself looking at all kinds of clothing and seeking to adapt it to the kilt. (just yesterday, I found a knitted top in the consignment store. It is so weird-looking that the store owner wanted to give it to me for free.) But here's the point of my message: Bear and Rocky and their ilk are doing a great job of making and promoting good quality kilts but maybe we need not another kilt-maker but a maker and inventor of kilt-related clothing! Totally original clothing can be dreamed up and marketed to this new market! I have the theory that the reason that the kilt wound up the way it has in Scotland is because all of those posh kilt clothes, (the Prince Charles jackets etc) were invented by the nose-in-the-air aristocrats to separate the kilt from the common man. These clothes still have their place but this is a new day! The kilt after all belongs to the common man and so- let's take it back! Talented people like our new member Barbara Tewksbury are just the "movers we need to do this. How about it? - Cheers - Alan

[bubba]

Alan, I have an idea I'm kicking around. I'm going to get a new BDU jacket, remove the lower cargo pockets and recut it to wear with a kilt. Once that's done I can put the cargo pockets back in a slightly new location. I've looked over one I already have and it doesn't look to be too difficult a job.

[Magnus Sporrano]

I don't know if we need new clothes to go with the kilt so much as to evolve the things that go with the kilt and even the kilt itself.

Many North American kilt makers are evolving the kilt by using different fabrics or eliminating the tartan all together and going with solid colors. Some modern kilt makers have put pockets on and in the kilt and eliminated the sporran.

I think the next bold step is to try different lengths. Like a kilt that comes just below the knee, maybe. The Irish were wearing something like this in the movie "Braveheart".

Some people scoff at evolution of the kilt but really what we think of as a traditional formal kilt ensemble today is a fairly modern concept that has evolved over the years quite a bit from what was worn years ago. The kilt must continue to evolve, especially as it is pushed back into service for daily wear after being relegated for so long to weddings and funerals.

[longforgan]

Bubba,-sounds like you are onto something good there! My only question is (sorry about this, guess I'm an oldster who isn't too tuned-in)- what is a BDU jacket?
Magnus, yeah everything is worth a try. For kilt length, to quickly see how it might look, it would be easy to simply take a length of raw material and wrap it around you at the appropriate height. Kilt length though is one subject which will bring quite a lively response. With some it could be touchy. It would surprise me not if Bear has something to say about below-the-knee kilts! Cheers- Alan

[bubba]

A BDU is Battle Dress Uniform. The everyday uniform of US troops.
http://armynavysuperstores.com/bduspec2004.htm

[macwilkin]

Alan wrote:

I have the theory that the reason that the kilt wound up the way it has in Scotland is because all of those posh kilt clothes, (the Prince Charles jackets etc) were invented by the nose-in-the-air aristocrats to separate the kilt from the common man. These clothes still have their place but this is a new day! The kilt after all belongs to the common man and so- let's take it back!

Actually, the majority of "kilt kit" orginates from the Scottish Regiments of the British Army, Alan. The Charlie Jacket is a civie version of the officers and NCO's "mess dress", and day jackets are similar to the "cut-away" jackets of all ranks. The kilt itself wa actually the garment of the Highlanders, whilst many times, the Chiefs and Laird preferred trews because they're much easier on the wearer when riding a horse! :mrgreen:

Magnus wrote:

I think the next bold step is to try different lengths. Like a kilt that comes just below the knee, maybe. The Irish were wearing something like this in the movie "Braveheart".

Magnus, this is not a kilt, but simply a long shirt-like garment called a "leine". It was the forerunner of the kilt.

Matt Newsome has an article about the leine on his page http://www.albanach.org. Third link down on the front page.

Cheers,

T.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Totally original clothing can be dreamed up and marketed to this new market!

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

[caig]

I am with you on this guys, although we not wish to make our kilt into a sort of uniform, where we all wear precisely the same outfit.

I would like someone to market a jacket, which is not one of those you can buy from one of the "tourist" kilt shops. Something along the lines of the jacket worn in the 18th century, but with a modern man in mind. The tourist shops do one, but they are all the same - no variety.

Any ideas ?

[Magnus Sporrano]

Is anyone else wearing one of these longer-than-regimental kilts? Or something like a leine? (or is this getting too far out there for xmarks?)

[mcnice]

i think also that especially in wintertime longer kilts would be a benefit.

fro the clothes i would like to a more pullovers that aren t as long so that the sporran strap or chain could be seen.

also i would like to have more different pleating styles, as not having pleated all trhe back.