First off, I'm not sure I neccesarily want kilts to become mainstream. Sure, I'd like them to be more accepted, less an object of curiosity. I'd like to see all our kilt makers satisfy their goals and become financially succesful. I'd like kilt wearing to become widespread enough that it isn't something extrordinary to see kilted men on the street. But do I want to see every bandy legged, knobby kneed, flabby git walking down the street in a kilt? I don't think so.

That being said, for kilts to become mainstream it takes poeple wearing them. Lots of people, all the time everywhere. Blue jeans didn't become the clothing staple of the world because Levi Strauss advertised (although of course they did), they took off because people in the "western" world, like us, would rather wear jeans than any other type of pants. They became a status symbol for people who wanted to become like us.

Kilt makers could spend a fortune in advertising, promotion and product placement in the movies and it won't go anywhere but if five percent of the men in the world got up tomorrow morning, put on a kilt and went out to face the day as if it were the most normal thing, the world would take notice. If they do it day after day the world will change.

I think we are the vanguard of that change. A couple of years ago I was trapped in jeans and a kilt was a novelty costume. A year and a half ago I quit wearing pants (except at work) and I was an eccentric. I was alone (locally) when it came to wearing kilts. Now I'm part of this community. I was the only guy at the Harley shop who wore a kilt, now there are several kilted customers who come into the shop. There are several more who own kilts but haven't built up the courage to wear them. There are even more who express an interest but haven't decided yet. It's not TV ads or celebrity fashion shows that will get people into kilts, it's the "guy down the street who wears a kilt but other than that he's just a regular guy like us".

I'll get off the soap box again

Jamie