Demand for Kilts--in England

[Sherry]

Demand for kilt soars - in England For centuries it has symbolised Scots' masculinity and fierce patriotism, but new figures show the kilt is being taken over - by the English.

Popularised by non-Scottish stars such as Robbie Williams, Vin Diesel and Samuel L Jackson, demand for the traditional garment has soared south of the border, according to Glasgow-based kilt-hire business Cameron Ross.

The company says it expects to ship more orders to shops in England than in Scotland for the first time ever during the busy festive season.

Boss Richard Freedman puts the new fashion trend down to a surge in the availability of non-tartan kilts - and a surge in patriotism among English-based Scots feeling more than a little sore over England's Ashes victory.
"I suppose you can say 'well plaid England'," Mr Freedman, the firm's managing director, joked.

"There will be some who think this is some kind of theft of Scotland's national identity or something to be embarrassed about. But I think it illustrates just how acceptable the kilt has become.

"There will be plenty of Scots in England who are desperate to show some national pride in the most traditional way possible - particularly to counter all the post-Ashes triumphalism."

Cameron Ross, who claim to be the world's biggest kilt-hire business, always see the biggest demand for their 10,000-strong stock of kilts over this time of year.

They supply more than 1,000 hire shops across the UK and say the gap between hire numbers in England and Scotland has gradually eroded in the past 10 years.

Figures for the period of December 26 to January 1 show that of all the kilts leaving the Glasgow depot during that time, 52% will go to England, while only 48% will remain north of the border.

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