Non-Scottish Kilts? HUH?!?

[SSgt Baloo]

I've done a lot of reading up on the history of the kilt in the last couple of months. I know that the great kilt was worn in the closing years of the 16th century and that the kilt was distinctly (highland) Scottish garb until (I'm guessing) the nineteenth century. I've also discovered that there is not just a Scottish kilt, but an Irish kilt and a Welsh kilt.

I cannot for the life of me find any information regarding non-Scottish kilts. What's the diff? Are they constructed differently? Why did the Irish and Welsh adopt the kilt anyway? Didn't they have their own distintive garb?

--SSgt Baloo

[Andrew Green]

From all that I have read, the kilt IS distinctly Scottish (and I would have it no other way!)...but during the Victorian era, there was a sort of highland revival, and people who originally had nothing to do with kilt wearing got in on the craze. As far as I can tell, there is no difference in construction, just different tartans (many of which are very nice patterns). For more information you can check out Matt Newsome's site www.albanach.org. He has a number of really well written articles on there.

[MacWage]

. . . just different tartans (many of which are very nice patterns).


For more information you can check out Matt Newsome's site www.albanach.org. He has a number of really well written articles on there.

The tartans also seem to be by and large alternate colorings of Scot tartans. I noticed this a while back and thought (heeh???). Matt Newsome has an article on his site somewhere saying what I've suspected for a while-> MANY Irish and Welsh tartans (not all)= Scot tartans with different colors in same layout.

[chasem]

All the welsh tartans I have seen (read: maybe not all of them, but many) are not the same pattern in warp and weft. Also, Welsh tartan mills do not make the cloth with a cilting selvedge, and as such all Welsh Cilts (that I've heard of at least...) are made with a hem.

[macwilkin]

MacWage mentioned the blog article by our own Matt Newsome about Irish tartans; another good blog entryof Matt's deals with the kilt as a "pan-Celtic" garment:

http://blog.albanach.org/2005/04/kil...c-garment.html

Here's the original article, and more to read:

http://blog.albanach.org/2005/11/iri...artans-in.html

http://blog.albanach.org/2005/07/oh-dear.html

Cheers,

Todd

[ozmeath]

Scotts have kilts too?!!

[phil h]

MacWage mentioned the blog article by our own Matt Newsome about Irish tartans; another good blog entryof Matt's deals with the kilt as a "pan-Celtic" garment:

http://blog.albanach.org/2005/04/kil...c-garment.html

Here's the original article, and more to read:

http://blog.albanach.org/2005/11/iri...artans-in.html

http://blog.albanach.org/2005/07/oh-dear.html

Cheers,

Todd

there is some drivel in this blog. why does it have to be anti-English? why does it have to be anti-anything? isn't it more pro-Scottish? and how do you explain me, an Englishman wearing a kilt, by these standards?
when was the last time you put on a kilt thinking, I hate the English, I'll put on my kilt to prove it?

[RockyR]

All the welsh tartans I have seen (read: maybe not all of them, but many) are not the same pattern in warp and weft. Also, Welsh tartan mills do not make the cloth with a cilting selvedge, and as such all Welsh Cilts (that I've heard of at least...) are made with a hem.

Part true...

The Welsh tartan mill (a particular mill in Wales that only weaves Welsh Tartans) weaves their inventory on an OLD loom that does NOT give the material a kilting selvedge. Their kilts must be hemmed.

OTHER mills DO make SELECT FEW Welsh tartans and THEY tend to have a "kilting selvedge".

About the warp and weft... again, it's part true. Certain Welsh tartans are identical warp and weft. Others (and probably the majority from the Welsh Tartan Mill), such as the St. David's, are NOT identical warp and weft... the result is a kilt that looks "vertically stripey".

Yes, "Vertically Stripey" is a very accepted industry term. HAHAHA

[Kizmet]

There are other cultures where men have worn pleated skirt garments. If you look up Greek, Bulgarian and and Albanian costumes for men, you'll find some.