Military Box-Pleats: some questions for the rabble.

[Spartan Tartan]

I think we need to be very careful here to keep in mind that what may be "commonly understood" by active members of this forum may not, in fact, be "commonly understood" by the kilt wearing and kilt making world at large.

This is a very perfect and clear example. On this forum, when one says "box pleated kilt" one immediately imagines a four yard variety, whereas one must say "military box pleated kilt" if one means the eight yard variety.

However, if one were to approach just about any classically trained kiltmaker in Scotland and ask about a "box pleated kilt" they will immediately assume you mean the modern-day military style kilt. Most will never have heard of a "four yard box pleated kilt."

My head is spinning trying to get through all this. I hope not to take too many steps backward on this, but would like offer the following anecdote:

Of the 5 kilted people that I PERSONALLY KNOW locally (there are others here in this forum from Oklahoma, but not that I "know" and see regularly)...I am the only person that does NOT own a box-pleat kilt. In fact, of us 5, I am also the only member of XMTS. So this next part is particularly interesting to me after reading this thread...ALL OF THEM have 6 yard box-pleats. NONE of them know what type of pleats they have, just that their kilts are "6 yards or so..."

I could tell they were box pleats immediately, but I'll be damned if I never once thought, "hmmmm...I wonder if that is a military box pleat or 'regular' box pleat?" But I can assure you they ARE box pleats. I even showed them the difference between their box pleats and my knife pleats (which is a 6-yarder as well)...we all learned something then killed off a few drinks

I would love to get a picture of their kilts. I might just do that next time we are together...

Okay...back to your regular Box-pleat v. MBP debate!

A very interesting and informative debate as well...