The Evolution of Non-Traditional Kilts

[Bugbear]

Thanks all, for bringing all these links into one place.

Steve Ashton has described the evolutionary history of modern and contemporary kilts elsewhere:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...56/#post767747

Some of them seem to have evolved more naturally from traditional kilts (like Howie Nicholsby's 21st Century Kilts) while others are really MUGS that came to be associated with kilts as an afterthought (Utilikilts).

I think it is interesting to note how that evolution seems to have happened in multiple locations around the same time: mid 1980s to early 1990s. The results are rather different in different places, but it would be interesting to consider what social, economic, or technological conditions facilitated their occurrence.

In the early 21st century, it appears that the rate of change has slowed down again, perhaps because there are only so many things one can do with a kilt. Time will tell which characteristics will be selected as the most fit to continue...

Dawkins points out in a few of his books, some genomes are in evolutionarily stable strategies, "ESS," and others are naturally amenable to evolving. Either can be successful depending on the environment in which they are reproducing, of course.

From my view, I think it is a small part of an ongoing transition toward something like a type I civilization. In part, a need to adapt or modify traditional forms, as in seanachie's post, to new materials. However, the Utilikilt seems to be an adaptation of jeans or cargo pants to the function* of a kilt. It almost seems we are evolving in our thinking and communication between cultures.
* It might have been better to say the functionality of a kilt, as in having pleats and aprons for extended movement; though it is possible the kilt unconsciously influenced the design of the Utilikilt regardless of the awareness of the designer.