I've been thinking a lot about the "staying power" of the Scottish kilt. When it was regularly worn attire, only a certain percentage of the population of a small country wore them. I have no idea what the population was at the time but I'm sure it wasn't a significant percentage of the world.
Comparing it to the similar clothing of other countries, I wonder why the kilt stuck around so long and not other forms of dress. The fustanella is a good example because it is essentially the same as a kilt: a pleated skirt for men. Throughout history, the Greeks were more numerous and their culture was more widely dispersed than the Highland Scots so why did their version of the "man-skirt" basically disappear and the kilt rose to preeminance?
There are many other cultures much larger than the Highlanders and they have traditional garments that are arguably just as stylish and comfortable as the Scottish kilt and yet they are not as widely accepted throughout the world.
If I put on a Buddhist robe and walked down the street, people would look at me like I was nuts (maybe not around here since there is actually a temple full of monks nearby who walk the streets in their robes) but I put on a kilt and nobody questions my sanity unless it's -20F out.
How many people not of Bavarian descent choose to get married in lederhosen? Compare that to the number of non-Scots who choose to get married in a kilt. Or, choose any other national dress and see how many people not steeped heavily in that culture wear it for any occasion.
I am just amazed at how the spread of kilt-wearing has completely overwhelmed it's seemingly destined-for-obscurity origins amongst the savages of Scotland to become a garment of choice in several cultures.
There are 10 kinds of people in the world...
Those that understand binary, and those that don't.
Originally Posted by AlexMDN
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