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[Tartan Hiker]

My story is almost exactly what pdcolis said. I always knew that my father's family was from Scotland. My Great Grandfather to be exact. My dad was in France during WWII and wanted to get to Scotland to visit the home town (Leith) while his father was still alive, but never made it. In his later years he talked frequently about going, but health and vision went bad before he could make the trip. I was always fascinated by all things Scottish, and, like so many others never really considered expressing my heritage due to the prohibitive cost involved.
My 15-year-old son has wanted to play the pipes since he was about 5. He's on the practice chanter now and doing very well. At Christmas, after ordering his chanter, I thought it might be fun to try to find a kilt for him. eBay searches led to various web sites, the realization that modestly-priced kilts are available, and, finally, to this group. After reading the posts on X-Marks for about 3 minutes I realized that I had to join in the fun, too. My son loves his SWK, and I now have two kilts and am looking forward to the delivery of number three.

[NewKilt]

What got me started is my physical disabilites. I was having problems overheating because the sweat glands in my feet and legs no longer work. Plus I have degenerative disc disease requiring me to change positions frequently. I thought that a kilt could help because of the ventilation and the freedom of movement. Well it certainly did help! I was amazed! This was last August and I've been wearing kilts full-time ever since.

I wondered if anyone else wore kilts freqently, so started doing searches on the internet. Needless to say, it has developed into much more than just a garment that helps me feel more comfortable. I started reading about the history of the kilt, and investigating my ties to Scotland and Ireland. Finding XMarks has been a great experience in learning about the different types of kilts, fellow kilt wearers, and kilted experiences. So today, I own 16 kilts - traditional and comtemporary, solids and tartans, wool kilts, cotton twill kilts, and canvas kilts.

I wear them confidently and with pride. The kilt has literally changed my life for the better - physically and socially.

Darrell

[NancyMan]

For many years I've trolled the thrift shops for my clothing, rarely paying more than 10 or 15 dollars for trousers, shirts or jackets, and I'd built up a very large wardrobe of the same. I had a vague inclination to try out the kilt but had never encountered one in my travels and was disinclined to search through the ladies skirt section. Then last year at the Vancouver Pride parade I spotted a couple wearing what I thought were smashing "skirts." When I asked where they got them, they directed me to the Utilikilt booth. Despite what I thought was an astronomical price tag, I bought a black denim UK and I haven't worn pants at home or in public since.

13 Kilts now and counting............

[Rigged]

Burning Man is what did it for me. Seeing some my fellow Black Rock Rangers in the hard-wearing, comfortable, practical Utilikilts got me into buying one and then six more.

Then I pick up a lined denim Pittsburgh kilt and a Bear kilt to round out my collection.

That was maybe six years ago when I got my first and I only wear trousers now when I have to.

[Riverkilt]

I was seeped in Scottish heritage by my grandfather Murdoch. I wore tartan neckties and bought tartan blankets and bathrobes in our clan tartans. Even after attending many highland games and watching pipers parade I never once considered wearing a kilt myself.

Then, like Southern Breeze, two years ago I was a the Arizona Ren Faire and saw a guy in a Utilikilts workman's and had to have one. I got the name of the company off the logo on the back pocket. Found them on line, and ordered a UK Camo original. The jones time was like three months so I bought a SportKilt in the meantime.

They came in about the same time and I wore them to a professional conference. Was such a joy to sit kilted and to wander around kilted, and get such positive comments from the ladies I just kept buying more. Wore them to work a lot. Went full time over seven months ago. Now own 34 kilts...

I actually went from contemporary kilts back up the line to the traditional kilts. Five of my kilts are hand sewn tanks. Have two tartan USA kilts, three tartan Sport Kilts...about seven camo kilts...and the rest plain.

I'm hooked and lovin it. Keep wondering what would have happened if I'd not gone to that Ren Faire....or the guy in the workman's hadn't gone...

Ron

[beverlonian]

Having worked most of my life either in Scotland or for Scottish companies, my wife and I have attended many Christmas Dinner-Dances where Scottish colleagues wore kilts. This prompted my wife to suggest I also should wear a kilt to these events to which I readily complied. I found I could not believe how incredibly comfortable wearing a kilt was and the next step of wearing a kilt at home was not far away.
Browsing the internet I came accross Tom's Cafe (sadly not the same forum it used to be) and later X-Marks were I found that wearing a kilt casually was more widespread than I thought and I soon gained encouragement to wear kilts out and about and especially when hiking.
Unfortunately, as I have mentioned in prevous posts, this has not been with the blessing of my wife, which I do not understand given it was she who kindled my first interest.

[longshadows]

It all began with oatmeal. Well, that's as close as I came to anythng Scots growing up in East Texas, but I've always loved oatmeal. Anyway, then came the pipes. As I grew older, I enjoyed them and felt a certain something when I heard them, but I knew of no Scots ancestry. A few summers back, I attended the Maine Highland Games and when the pipe and drum bands began to play, I melted and tears came to my eyes. But, "I wasn't Scots", so I just ignored these feelings.

Then in January, on a drive up to Quebec, I listened to an interview on NPR with Steve Villegas, founder of Utilikilts. Interesting, but not something I could even consider, but a spark must have been kindled and a few weeks later, I was thinking about it and went to the UK web site. There were links there to other kilt-related web sites. I read and through about it. I bought a kilt (SWK Black Watch). I was hooked. Now I own eight and I haven't even had my legs in a pair of trousers in a month. (I can thank you guys for your support and advice which has been a big help to me over the past few weeks.)

Oh, by the way, I have since discovered that I have three family lines of Scots ancestors, who came to this country as early as the late Seventeenth Century. So maybe that's why I like oatmeal so much!

[Phil Wright]

I knew about my family history, but the really difficult bit was that I used to work in the theatre during my time in college and I used to go for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Whenever I got time off I used to walk down to the mile and look at the kilt price tags and work out how many more years of festivals I would have to work to get one. Once I started work and got money, other things got priority.
My Dad started doing the family tree in earnest, then we found out he had cancer and was not likely to last long, so a couple of years back I decided to get my kilt in time for Christmas, so he could see it and I could get best use out of it for the season.
Now?.... I've given up trying to find excuses and just get on and wear 'em!
Phil