More Media Coverage

[Rob Wright]

The last time I saw a kilt somewhere other than the movies was last week in USA Today. They had a photo of Justin Timberlake from the photo shoot he did for the latest issue of GQ. Wearing the kilt all proper and like, didn't look half bad I must say.

Rob Wright

[Calico Jack]

How about making some news of your own? Take a video camera with you on a regular kilted day. Capture peoples reactions, talk to people about the kilt, all on camera. Make up an interview with yourself about the kilt...Like why you wear it, the pros versus pants etc. etc. Take the tape and send it to your local news station. Tell them it's a local human interest piece. They may just play it for you, who knows? The information just has to reach the public.

Keep it Real (real Comfortable ),
Calico Jack--Savvy Media Pirate

[Blu (Ontario)]

I agree with you. TV is a powerful medium - for good and ill.

We've seen celebrities in kilts this year, but not enough.
Kilts are still stuck in the Highland Games/bands slot (I love Highland Games/bands) we need to get kilts free of that.

The bottom line is... $$$. We will only see kilts in the media when it is of some advantage to show them. If it sells product of some kind, it will be shown. At least highland games are something the media can focus on... albeit infrequently. In the interim we are seen as eccentrics and ignored because we don't potentially generate $$$. But for the most part at least we're happy eccentrics.

[Rob Wright]

What I would like to see is on any show, have a guy in a kilt, and not just a guest appearance, but a regular character, and go about his everyday business and no one says anything! Just a garment for men worn for everyday use.

Rob Wright

[richardljohnson]

... Here's the problem part... people see these as SELFISH acts... ways to promote OUR company. Yes, media coverage was something that HAPPENED, but it wasn't my goal. Let me state for the record right now... making a Kilt for a marine defending MY freedom was NOT a selfish thought... I wanted to give the guy a kilt whether I got media coverage or not. However, there's an element that will think badly of you for getting any coverage at all, claiming it ALL to be selfish. Childish, yes... but it's out there...

It seems that the media has learned some lessons;
1. News sells
2. Bad news sells more!

True, alomost ever newscast has a 'human interest' story I think in an effort to project a 'we are human too' to the "hard" news. They, the news media, assumes that EVERYONE is out to use them for their own purposes. In truth, this is kind of a Jungian twist...they are out to use people for THEIR purpose...to sell commercial time on the newscast!

Those of us that have or had a passion and tried to make a living off of that passion know that exposure is not a selfish act to gain business. You, if I may project some, are interested in 'spreading the gospel' of the joys of kilted living! The fact that you can get orders, to make more kilts, to work long hours, to sell more kilts, to pay your bills, to work longer hours to hopefully become a kilted robber barron is redicilous! WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD DO THIS TO THEMSELVES UNLESS THEY HAD A PASSION FOR WHAT THEY DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Those of us you know you (via e-mail and this forum) and know Bear in the same way and even those of us who have made a few kilts for ourselves know the truth!

Sorry, I'm off the bi*ch box now....

RLJ-

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Since I, myself, have NEVER made any kilts for anyone or come up with any designs... it's hard to post on this subject.

You need to be asking a writer this question. One good TV show with a guy in a kilt every week, and it's DONE.

If the character of Joey on Friends had been an Irish guy in a kilt, the things would be HUGE.

[Casey]

Jimmy,

I would say that you are definately original, but not Canadian!

Casey

[shillelaghbruises]

I think a good way to promote kilts as everyday wear rather than as costumes for the games and St. Paddy's day would be to promote non-tartan kilts like utilikilts. I love tartan kilts but by promoting utili/amerikilts it would show people that kilts are not only traditional scottish wear and just a good choice of clothing. This could then lead to the acceptance of tartan kilts as regular clothing.

[bikercelt1]

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