Hashing Kilt

**cdarwin** · 12th April 11, 12:47 PM

This is my very first kilt. It is a Sport Kilt for hiking, running and hashing in.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/photoplog/file_863.jpg

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/photoplog/file_864.jpg

**xman** · 12th April 11, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by cdarwin

nice

**NewEnglander** · 12th April 11, 02:50 PM

Looks good. What's the story with "hashing"?

**The Wizard of BC** · 12th April 11, 03:58 PM

The Hash House Harriers describe themselves as "A drinking group with a running problem".

Here is a link to a wiki article on them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_House_Harriers

The story behind the scenes of the two Hash Tartans is quite a different thing.

I was originally approached by a group that stated they represented the International Headquarters of HHH. They asked for some help with the design of two Tartans to be used by all Hashers worldwide. As the originator of Hashing was a member of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, the basis for these two Tartans was to be the Sutherland Tartan.

There was an agreement that I would assist in the design of the Tartans, have the fabric woven and make kilts from it. I was told that the first two kilts, one from each Tartan, would be sent worldwide and finally be put on permanent display at the HHH museum in Singapore.

As the running kilt design was to be box pleated to keep it as light as possible the specific Sett size was important.
As was the incorporation of two inside, hidden pockets for car keys and a wallet,
a velcro closure and other details which were designed by me.

Here are the first two HHH kilts.

The Trail Tartan

The Hunting Tartan

Unknown to me the folks who approached me did not, in fact, represent any international group but were a small chapter based out of El Paso, TX .

At the same time they were having me do all the work on the re-design of their Tartans, commissioning a weaving of fabric and designing a specific running kilt I find out through a third party that they were also talking to other kiltmakers and giving them all the details I was providing.

After completing these two kilts I found out that they were sent to another kiltmaker to copy and release as their own.

I still have two bolts of the original fabric sitting here in the shop awaiting payment.

Needless to say I was not happy and immediately severed all ties with these people.

**NorCalPiper** · 12th April 11, 04:11 PM

Hey Steve-
Your kilt box pleat design is night and day better than that other kiltmakers. Couldn't you premake some in both tartans and market them as "running kilts"' or something like that? I'm positive your style would quickly outsell the others and be preferred.....Shame to have those bolts laying around.

**cdarwin** · 12th April 11, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

I still have two bolts of the original fabric sitting here in the shop awaiting payment.

Needless to say I was not happy and immediately severed all ties with these people.

Wow Steve, that certainly puts a new spin on things. I really appreciate you sharing your experience and am really disappointed to hear the outcome. I was under the impression that the tartan was designed by a hasher in good fun, but your account tells an altogether different story. If I had known this beforehand I would have never purchased the Sport Kilt. I will make a point to pass along my new found knowledge to my fellow kilted hashers.

Man, I'm going to have a hard time wearing this in good conscience now. I hate to see folks get taken advantage of like that. I am equally displeased to see one group soil the name of the numerous others around the globe. Please, do not let your experience with the kennel in El Paso ruin your view of hashers in general. I have yet to meet a hasher that wasn't willing to give the shirt off his/her back to help out a friend.

**triolamj** · 12th April 11, 04:54 PM

The Great Gispert as I hear it was a civilian civil servant, an Australian, and not an A&S Highlander. And Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia is the homeplace of hashing though I imagine there are enough hashers in Singapore for a museum (3 or 4 of them including Lion City HHH).

Don't let those doofuses in El Paso screw you. Offer the pattern on your website but instead of "Trail" and "Hunting" use "Hares" and "Hounds". Any real Hasher will realize that you're the "real deal" and not those other hosers.

**triolamj** · 12th April 11, 05:21 PM

"Steve Ashton: A link to the bio on "G". The founder of the Hash House Harriers . . . "

Thanks, Steve. Years ago (decades) when I hashed on a regular basis, we really didn't know a lot about Gispert. I had always heard that he was Australian and that his family lived there after the war. I'm glad to see he has a gravestone, too, since I had heard that his body was never found after the Battle or the war. As a 2Lt with the Argyll & Sutherlanders, you'd think he'd need a kilt. Six degrees . . .

**DougC** · 12th April 11, 08:50 PM

I'm a new hasher--still a "Just." I'm looking for something to do after I stop playing lacrosse.

Anyway--IF the Wizard is in the mood to mitigate his loss, we can talk! It looks like your material is nicer than some of the other fabric I've seen and I'm a kiltie. I'm just saying...