The Tartan Police!

[Raphael]

People may think Utilikilts evolved from tradtional kilts, but they really evolved from a pair of cargo shorts in Steven Villegas' closet. In fact, Steven chose to call them kilts because of marketing reason. By calling them kilts, he changed people's preception. Now, they are men's clothing because they are called kilts.

[Rigged]

I wouldn't wear a kilt that I can dress up in to do carpentry or some of the outdoor activies I enjoy that include corrosive desert dust blowing at hurricane force.

At the same time, a UK Original or Mocker with a nice shirt and shoes can be worn anywhere a guy would wear Dockers with the same shirt and shoes.

Modern kilts like the Utilikilts have a blue-collar working man's sensibility. Maybe having been designed by a motorcycle mechanic, the style comes from their functionality. Come to think of it, that's what the UK twisted-F symbol means: "Form Follows Function".

[Raphael]

Utilikilts may not be as dressy as Tartan Kilts, but for Hiking, Shopping and Crusing the Urban Jungles, they are excellent. I can carry all my junk in the cargo pockets without making my sporran looks like a small vollyball.

[macwilkin]

I have to agree with Colin and Matt's latest postings in this thread, as I think they both made a lot of good points on many issues, especially Matt's comments about the sign of a good kilt being versitile enough to wear casually or formally.

Originally Posted by Dreadbelly
I guess what bothers me, and I think I have finally nailed it after seeing some posts in this thread... Is that there are some folk that hold to traditions a bit to tightly and please, don't take it wrong, this is NOT personal attack directed at any single soul here, but it is a broad sweeping generalisation, but there are some folks that flaunt the traditional full blown rig and their 8 yard tanks, and look down at the others that just make do. This draws a line in the sand between the haves and the haves not. And something about that always gets my hackles up and makes me all defensive and ugly and confrontational. I seriously do not like my local St Andrews Society because of this... I have had a couple of run ins with several members of the local chapter... And they are all a bunch of elitist pricks. This is not an attack... It is a statement based on fact. And it is an entirely local thing. If more folk from the local SAS had the same kindness and decency that some of the board members here have, it would be a whole lot better.

Dreadbelly: I can assure you that I have never looked down at any person who might be considered "have nots", be they kilt-wearers or not. I have my own standards that I hold myself up to, no one else.

I come from a long line of Scots-Iowa farmers, and my father is a Warehouseman. If it wasn't for the "blue-collar" worker paying for my meals, my clothes and most especially my education (and Iowans & Scots share a strong devotion to education), then I would not have my "white collar" job today. I owe a great deal to my parents, grandparents and those who came before. I went into education, and work at an institution that allows all people from all different backgrounds a quality education which will benefit them in the long run. It's the least I can do for my father and his fellow workers-- btw, his plant is being closed after 50 years in business.

A kilt is fine and dandy for fancy dress. And it looks good. A kilt and a jacket would prolly be the only "monkey suit" I'd ever wear. People seem to forget that the kilt was also the garmet of farmers and peasants. Rough men that lived off the land. Hard men. Men who did not look the least bit frilly or dare I say, foppish. These were pragmatic idealists who wore the kilt because it did the job... Should we forget this in our rush to define tradition? Should we only embrace the "pretty" aspects of tradition and sort of stuff the rest of it back into the cultural closet?

My grandfather was one of those Iowa farmers. He worked hard, but yet when time came for lodge or church, he replaced his over-alls with a nice suit & tie, because he respected those institutions. He had calloused hands, could swear like a sailor, but still took the time to show respect to things he valued. Another farmer, Robert Burns, was also a ploughman wi' dung on his boots and "wore the hodden grey", yet could dress to the nines and out-talk, out-dance and out-drink any of the city folks from Edinburgh.

I'm sorry that the local St. Andrew's Sociey members act that way; I would be the first one to tell them that they were in the wrong. But, consider a minute where they are coming from: I would daresay most are older gents, raised in another time period, or even another country & culture. Try to walk a mile in their brogues and realise that their world is disappearing. A world that brought stability and comfort. They may react the way they do because they do not understand the changes that are occuring, and a combative attitude and "I'll wear whatever the heck I want to" does not help the situation.

I'm not defending their actions by any means, just trying to analize why they may be acting the way they are.

Todd

[LordDamax]

People seem to forget that the kilt was also the garmet of farmers and peasants. Rough men that lived off the land. Hard men. Men who did not look the least bit frilly or dare I say, foppish. These were pragmatic idealists who wore the kilt because it did the job... Should we forget this in our rush to define tradition? Should we only embrace the "pretty" aspects of tradition and sort of stuff the rest of it back into the cultural closet?

Thats something that bugged me reading this thread. A few posts back, someone posted that the pic on the tartan police website got their hackles up because they were wearing the full gear kilts (tanks I believe they are called in kilt-slang) like togas at a toga party and they are a historical garment and deserve to be treated with more respect.

I'm willing to bet a lot of land was farmed wearing a 'tank' and a lot of partying and dirty business as well. It wasnt only the rich and famous and well-to-do wearing that getup, it was the poor sods working in the fields and whatnot wearing them too... were THEY disrespecting the heritage? No, because they were CREATING the heritage... but then if thats the case, how is wearing it more casually, and having fun while doing so so darn disrespectful?

The same person posted that if he wore all sorts of american garb and wore it in a silly fashion it'd be insulting... for one, most of the garb he mentioned was not a type of garment, but a specific one, or symbol. Something about the seal of the president of the USA on his sequined *** or somesuch. Yes, that is disrespectful because it's disrespecting a specific symbol. A better example would be to cut holes in your blue-jeans and dye them funny colors... oh, wait, we do that already... or I believe he mentioned a pioneer outfit of some sort... so what, wear it goofy if you want, I'm american and you arent offending me by disrespecting some style of american garment.

I'm not saying feel free to wear a kilt on your head after you spraypained it pink... but even if you did... you just look like an idiot. Anyone who's personally offended needs to take a step back and calm down a little. It's not your grandfather's war medal he earned by sacrificing his life to save another in the war... it's a kilt. A garment. Thats all. It may have some history, and some may be proud of that history... but to get angry over how someone else chooses to wear something related to that history? Isnt that a bit much?

[Rigged]

I would daresay most are older gents, raised in another time period, or even another country & culture.

Which illustrates what I've been saying for years: "Not all of us who wear the kilt share the same agenda."

In fact, there are many reasons we wear the kilt and some of those reasons are bound to be in conflict.

The important thing, in my view, is that more of us guys wear kilts of whatever styles we choose.

[macwilkin]

It's not your grandfather's war medal he earned by sacrificing his life to save another in the war... it's a kilt. A garment. Thats all. It may have some history, and some may be proud of that history... but to get angry over how someone else chooses to wear something related to that history? Isnt that a bit much?

Yes, a kilt is not a medal...but for some, it is a powerful "totem & talisman" of family heritage, military service, etc. Personally, I am not angry at anyone for how they wear a kilt, modern or traditional, Hector Russell or Utilikit -- I am upset that those who choose to wear their kilt in a more "traditional" fashion tend to be looked down upon by those who charge them with the very same thing.

I was never able to meet my great-great-grandparents who immigrated from Scotland -- and even though they may never have worn tartan or a kilt, it's still a source of pride to me and a connection, no matter how small. My grandmother, may she rest in peace, died in 1996. She raised me to be proud of my Scots heritage, and when I wear my kilt, she is still with me in a sense. I'm only glad she saw me in my first kilt before she passed on. That's why I take my own kilt-wearing very seriously. That's why I'm passionate about it. I'm sorry if that seems a bit sappy to some, but it's the way I feel.
Regards,

Todd

[macwilkin]

Which illustrates what I've been saying for years: "Not all of us who wear the kilt share the same agenda."

In fact, there are many reasons we wear the kilt and some of those reasons are bound to be in conflict.

The important thing, in my view, is that more of us guys wear kilts of whatever styles we choose.

I agree, Rigged, and that is why mutual respect for both "sides", traditions, etc. is important.

Cheers,

Todd

[Dreadbelly]

Todd, I am told that I "clean up well" by my wife and others. It's just getting me into that suit that is the extreme difficulty!

I am a rough and earthy soul. I'll make no bones about that. I don't feel like I belong in a well dressed crowd, even when I am well dressed. I like being barefooted, and having the mud squish between me toes. Instead of being in some well to do affair, I'd rather be at the coffee shop in conversation over a hot cup of coffee. I always feel nervous and out of place in more civilised gatherings. I dunno why, but I do. I am well mannered enough... I am amazingly polite and such when I choose to be. I know which fork to use and which spoon goes where and which glass is the water glass and all those things. I have never felt comfortable around them. I don't like having to fuss over all those little details that make life complicated, but I guess some do. At some formal affair, I don't like having to rack my brain to remember which is the seafood fork and which is the salad fork... I'd rather whip out chopsticks (which is far more effecient for eating I might add... Forks are clumsy damned irritating) and just go to town. But I can't do that because people have made all these silly rules and such that have made life all complicated and difficult and damn, I'll come right out and say it, SILLY.

And that is my whole approach to life. I don't like tight restrictive shoes that crowd my toes or pinch my feet. So I wear big chunky boots or clogs. I don't like pants that bunch and restrict. So I now wear kilts. And hopefully, soon, other skirt like garmets. I don't like anything tight and strangly around me neck, so I don't wear ties and such. I don't like anything tight or restrictive no where on my body... So everything is just kind of loosey goosey. If I had a Jacobite shirt, I'd wear one merely because it looks supremely comfortable... And I wouldn't give a damn what other people might think about a man wearing a kilt and a Jacobite shirt outside of a rennfair.

It's not that I am disrespectful or lazy or anything like that... I just fail to see the point I guess. Call me thick headed, but I am an extreme pragmatist. This is both a boon and a disability and I realise this.

[Raphael]

Yes, a kilt is not a medal...but for some, it is a powerful "totem & talisman" of family heritage, military service, etc.

Tartan Kilts definately have more soul than the solid contemporary kilts.

When I look at my BlackWatch Kilt, I think about soldiers who died to protect my way of life.

When I look at my Black Setwart Kilt, I think about Jackie Stewart's Career as a F1 Driver, a Team Owner, and an inspiration. It tells people that I am a F1 Fan.

When I look at my Bristish Columbia Kilt, I know that I am a proud British Columbian and I want to show the world that.

Aside from the symbolisms behind the Tartans, I also know that I will have plenty of memories that will associate with each one of them.

With my solid Utilikilts, I can only see them as garments that I wrap around my waist. They only show that I am a kilt wearer, and no more.