Quote Originally Posted by Martin S View Post
It appears that Utilikilts sell their mugs by the thousand in North America, an ongoing succes story, from what I have heard.
Judging by the enthusiastic comments about Usakilts and Stillwater kilts (on this forum at least), there must be thousands of happy wearers sporting their products around that part of the world.
I could go on mentioning, as if it were necessary, all the other northamerican vendors of modern mugs.

Yet, though I live in a town where a large number of English-speaking expats live and work, and although I travel at times to the more important capital cities of Europe, I have yet to catch a glimmer of any of these so popular garments. Where are the satisified customers hiding themselves?

Perhaps the weak dollar is keeping the American tourist at home these days, but American companies are still sending their employees around the world. Do they become more conventional when abroad?

Recently, I have been staying on the south coast of Spain, where the accents, the pale pink skin and the predominance of fish&chips on the menus, leave me in no doubt that this is yet another British colony. Yet only on new year’s eve did I see another kilt.

It would seem that both the providers of traditional Scottish garb in GB and the makers of the modern variety elsewhere have been working to fill people’s cupboards rather than the streets or other public places.

So much busy sewing for nothing ?

I too have a cupboard full of kilts, but they all get worn regularly -- I have nothing else to keep my backside warm!

Martin,
still enjoying the sun with kilt pulled up well above the knees !!
Oh, Martin, this is indeed a puzzlement! The only time I have seen a Utilikilt being worn here in the UK (other than on myself - I have 11 of 'em) is when I've been with one or another of my kiltie friends who also own some of them. I know quite a few Utilikilt owners across the United Kingdom but, as I say, have never seen one being worn by someone I do not know! Also, I have worn them on day-trips to France, as I have my traditional tartans, but never have I seen another kilt, of any description, over there.

In June and July 2003, I made a grand tour of the USA, spending time in NYC, Washington DC, Portland OR, Seattle WA and then back to NYC. Apart from the times when I was with assembled groups of kilties in those cities, at the Utilikilts HQ in Seattle and at their Birthday Bash held nearby, I did not see another kilt!! (Oh, I tell a lie! The barmen at the St. Andrews Bar in NYC were wearing traditionals!) I often hear that one cannot walk the streets of Seattle without bumping into a Utilikilt wearer - but it did not happen to me. Eighteen months ago, I spent two weeks in and around Vancouver; it was the same story. In October I was in Palm Springs, California for two weeks (where there is even a branch of The Celtic Craft Centre, Kiltmakers, etc. on Indian Canyon Drive - the main shopping street), but the only kilts I saw were being worn by my pal Jim and myself!

One appreciates the fact that folks like you and me are fairly unusual because we wear our kilts daily but, with the huge volume of kilts of all types that ARE being sold thesedays, one might expect to see one being worn by a stranger somewhere in this wonderful world of ours.

PS: I envy you your sunshine! Here we have seemingly had weeks on end of grey skies, heavy rain oir drizzle, and strong winds storms ..... but it is exceptionally mild for the season. I was even out yesterday in shirt-sleeve order (but with an umbrella), and this is January!!!