What does the kilt mean in 2010?

[csbdr]

I enjoyed that Phil, thank you for posting it.
Neat to read a kiltmaker's position on this.



Not to argue of course, but I wonder if the same thing was said about blue jeans?

Absolutely! They were a laborers garment. No gentleman would have been seen dead in them, and their popularity has been a relatively recent shift.

[Tobus]

I thought the author's take on trews was interesting, to say the least:

What you must never do, though, is wear trews, which I have always interpreted as the apparel of a man with something to hide.

And I was entertained by this part too:

“I consider myself a traditionalist,” says Nicholsby, a statement which must be more shocking to the tartan-lovers than his pink PVC kilt minus the sporran. “I wear a kilt every day as it was meant to be worn, as an everyday piece of clothing.

“In the olden days, the kilt was probably of much plainer material. Watch the films Braveheart and Rob Roy and you’ll see they’re wearing close dog’s-tooth check, which is really the original tartan. The kilt was an everyday piece of clothing and still is.”

While I agree with (and applaud) his approval of the kilt as an everyday garment - not just for formal wear as was mentioned elsewhere in the article - I can't believe he's using two Hollywood movies as some sort of factual reference to history. His point on the "original tartan" dog's-tooth check may be valid (or not - the historians can hash that one out) but his sources are fairly suspect.

[Tartan Hiker]

A kilt, as Alastair Scott, author of Scot Free, discovered when he travelled the globe in one, opens doors, gets you lifts and interest-free loans, makes you friends. Wear a kilt and you will never be lonely – or hungry or sober – for long. Which, when you come to think of it, is not bad for a mere £24.99.

LOL!

It's not even bad for £300!

[Edinburghkiltie]

This article is of interest but view with caution - the main contributions are from kiltmakers and in particular from Howie Nicholsby who wears his kilt daily to promote the fashion kilts he designs. He has done a lot for modernising the kilt image in Scotland - it now common to see young guys wearing Howie type modern kilts at hip events - latest example being the opening of the Film Festival in Edinburgh where all the male staff wore modern kilts and were greatly admired by festival attendees.
As for an increase in kilt wearing generally; whereas it is still a garment mainly worn for weddings, formal dinners, burns suppers, rugby internationals, tartan army (scotland football fan) matches, graduations, parties and such like (ie dressing up) I do find that Scots - particularly younger ones are wearing it 'out and about' - I do find it being worn 'down at the pub' but for daily wear less so. That's not a cause for concern given the massive increase in kilt wearing over the last 10 years - if devolution can bring that about - imagine what independence would do ? Daily kilt wearing ?

Picture of Howie Nicholsby in High Street, Edinburgh sporting one of is daily wear kilts :

[wildrover]

Interesting article...thanks for posting it, I hadn't seen it before.

[beloitpiper]

Excellent article! Long, but worth a read.

[GG]

Could you think of a Proctor & Gamble man being quoted in a newspaper or on television as saying: “Don’t wash your clothes so often, it is rather silly”?

Or a Coca-Cola guy stating that to his opinion Coke should only be consumed on Sundays.

Of course you couldn’t. And if that ever happened, the people in question should be fired the first thing next morning. And with good reasons.

I know, or rather, till today I knew of no producers or marketers of any products who are not always trying to sell more of them. One of the most obvious ways is to convince customers to increase usage areas as well as frequency.

But then this: “I think any man wearing a kilt, traditional or modern, during the day looks a bit silly.” (The Herald Scotland, What does the kilt mean in 2010, 25 Jan 2010).

The man who is quoted for saying so, Craig, cannot be fired, because he is the co owner of Slanj Kilts with branches in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. But to me it is a rather stupid and quite unforgivable remark, nevertheless.

The main problem is not that he harms his own business but the whole kilt making business, should any take his opinion serious.

Otherwise wise words come from Howie Nicholsby, “I wear a kilt every day as it was meant to be worn, as an everyday piece of clothing.

So, should I be in the market for a high quality kilt I know where I should look or at least where by no means.

Greg

PS. I regret that I’m no longer teaching (marketing strategy). This Slanj story would be a splendid example on what NOT to say and I should be using it again and again.

PPS. Having looked at the Slanj website it may not be so stupid, after all. They are introducing the Slanj Kilt Hire – and then it makes much more sense (to them) – provided that is where they see their only future.

[SFMP]

An interesting article and one that sums up the attitude of Scots people towards all things kilt-related very well - http://www.heraldscotland.com/life-s...2010-1.1001311

More from Howie Nicholsby: http://bit.ly/adDMDU

[Jock Scot]

Off topic I know, but where is Phil? Does any one know how he is? Now back to the topic. Thank you.

[toadinakilt]

I don't know Jock, his stats say he hasn't logged in since March 23rd.