Contemplating a Contemporary Phillabeg...

[xena]

Okay, we all know Contemporary Kilts are mostly kilts made of stuff other than Tartan materials. We're all familiar with UK's and AK's and others (no offense to those I didn't name!).

I've done some surfing and came across a throwback to the origins of the little kilt, and it' really quite simple.

Click here for the site selling these phillabegs. They have a great description and instructions.

A strip of material a little over two feet wide, and anywhere from four and a half to nine yards long (depending on whether you're pudgy like me!). It isn't pleated or sewn in any way if you don't want it to be. You just lay it out flat every morning, leave about a forearms length flat, hand pleat the rest until you have about another forearms length left at the other end. Slip your belt under it and lay down on the pleats, folding the aprons left over right, do your belt up to hold it in place and stand up. Ta da! A kilt! Maybe not as sharp as a properly tailored one, but, if you're broke this could be revolutionary!

I'm imagining trying this with an appropriately sized strip of cotton camo of some sort. You'd never really worry about wrecking the pleats because you'd be re-doing them every time you wear it. You could iron it flat, and even fold it up and store it flat.

You know, the more I describe it, the more I'm selling myself on the idea.

I can only think of one reason why this might not work. Wool is by it's nature very "frictiony". Other materials might be a bit slicker and more prone to slide out under a belt. Has anybody tried this, or happen to have enough material on hand and crazy enough to experiment with it?

I want to emphasize too, that I'm not trying to take any business away from any kilt makers! This primitive style kilt will never look as good as a truly sewn one - and it just may be another way of getting more guys into kilts.

Or am I just off my meds again?

Thoughts? Stories of attempting this? Opinions?

[TheBlueCow]

It sounds like a very interesting idea and I'd be interested in seeing it done.
I think, so long as the belt is tight enough, that it will keep the fabric in place. I can't be sure of that though, as it's not an area of my expertise.
I'm not sure, however, that this will actually get more men interested in kilts, despite the cheaper cost (although I wouldn't mind being wrong!). I just think that the effort of putting it on like that every time is too much for most men to care for, especially when you're talking about the modern kilt market and converting men from jeans to kilts. Although, the Cheater Pleats might help with that. But I think this would probably be a niche market for those that are already into modern kilts, and would like a phillabeg but may not want to use tartan.

Hmm... this has got me thinking about a "contemporary great kilt".

[xena]

Hmmm...

An inner drawstring seems to have historic precedence. It certainly would make it easier to don.

This is the article about the historic evidence for an inner drawstring.