Saltire Kilt - Very Hot in Scotland Just Now!

[tomward187]

Dunno if I'd want a saltire on my bum.. Havn't seen those here yet.. where I live it's usually just regular tartans. I think that'd be something you'd see at a football match or something rather than normal use.

Just a little bit of info for you guys as well.. There's no actual "official" blue color for the saltire.. each flag maker or wearer have their own interpretation of the blue in the flag. I believe Scotland tried to standardize a certain blue shade but it never happened. Sometimes you see baby blue, sometimes you see navy blue.. it's all the same though. Just an FYI

Cheers,
Tom

[Thistle Stop]

Dunno if I'd want a saltire on my bum.. Havn't seen those here yet.. where I live it's usually just regular tartans. I think that'd be something you'd see at a football match or something rather than normal use.

Just a little bit of info for you guys as well.. There's no actual "official" blue color for the saltire.. each flag maker or wearer have their own interpretation of the blue in the flag. I believe Scotland tried to standardize a certain blue shade but it never happened. Sometimes you see baby blue, sometimes you see navy blue.. it's all the same though. Just an FYI

Cheers,
Tom

Yes, I know the blue of the Saltire turns up in many shades. The Scottish Parliament did standardise it in 2003 (as Pantone 300, which is azure, or sky-blue, actually a medium bright blue, a wee bit greyish and a wee bit greenish as compared to primary blue), but as you say, one still sees a variety of colours. When I said that the kilt was a proper blue for the flag, I meant that it isn't purple, as it looks in the photo. Neither is it baby blue nor navy blue, but in between!

[Riverkilt]

I'm guessing from the incredible workmanship involved to make the saltire work that the kilts are "pricy."

Don't think anyone's asked the price in USD... So I will....??

Ron

[Thistle Stop]

I have to look it up, which I can't do at the moment but will do as soon as I get a chance to go through the notes I brought home from the trade show.

[Thistle Stop]

Here's a better picture of the Saltire kilt, two co-ordinating sporrans, and a very cool chain strap to go with it:




I'm working on getting a price on all of these, as well as other accessories in the range.

=====

Since we've gotten onto the subject of the Saltire flag's history and colours, here's a story relevant to that:

Legend has it that the Saltire flag has its origins in a battle near Athelstaneford in East Lothian, circa 832 AD, when Angus mac Fergus, King of the Picts, and my ancestor Eochaidh, King of Dalriada (my 41st-great-grandfather), defeated the army of Athelstane, King of Northumbria, comprising Angles and Saxons.

There is a Saltire flying near the church at Athelstaneford with an explanation regarding the origin of the flag's design. Before the battle, the Scot-Pict alliance saw an X-shaped formation of clouds in the sky resembling a St Andrew's cross. (St Andrew was later named the the patron saint of Scotland, with the Declaration of Arbroath.) They took this sign as a good omen, they prayed to St Andrew for divine intervention, and indeed they were victorious in battle. Thus the colours in the flag are supposed to be white, to represent the clouds, and azure, the colour of the sky towards the end of the day. The Scottish Parliament has debated the exact shade of blue this should be and decided on Pantone 300 as the recommended colour -- see http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=210112003.

If you want to see this colour on your computer, the RGB value for Pantone 300 should be 0, 132, 202. The hexadecimal value for html coding of the colour is "#0084CA".

The Saltire was later incorporated in the Union Flag and Union Jack of the United Kingdom, although the colour of blue is different. In those flags it is navy blue which is used. (The Union Jack is the version of the Union Flag used on the jack staff at the front of a ship.) This difference of colour between the Saltire and the Union flags has resulted in some confusion over the correct colour of the Scottish flag -- so insist that you get one which is 'Pantone 300' azure and white if you want to be correct!

[Riverkilt]

Cyndi, You're a marketing genius...those pics are like catnip to a lonely cat...

Drool, purr, drool, purr....

I can see why they are selling so well...beautiful work.

Ron

[Hamish]

As you might imagine (!), I made enquiries about this Saltire Kilt when it was first launched a couple of years ago. I really wanted to know if the cross was woven into the fabric or applied in some way later, and I was assured that it was woven. Initially, no price was quoted, and when I was told that it was £365, the comment was added that, looking at it another way, it costs £1 per day for the first year and then is free everyday thereafter!!

Since making that enquiry, I have seen the kilt displayed in numerous Highland Outfitting establishments, mainly in Edinburgh and, as Cyndi stated, it's popular with the Kilt Hire companies too and so appears on their websites.

Whilst I've not seen it worn 'in the flesh', I have seen it on TV and the appearance, when the pleats swing, is stunning.

Maybe I should get one for my 'Kollection' after all!

[tomward187]

Whoops didn't realize a standardization actually came through. I stand corrected

Cheers,
Tom