I Am Curious Khaki

[M. A. C. Newsome]

It is interesting to see how people perceive color differently, and how we understand different color terminology. I'd have no problem calling the bison Lewis hose in Ron's pictures a khaki color.

It reminds me of conversations I'd had with my wife. If something is any shade of aquamarine I'll call it "green" and she'll insist it is "blue." We've agreed to disagree.

It can be understandably frustrating when talking with someone about the vagaries of tartan colors. Sometimes it will happen that I'll get a phone call that will go something like this:
CALLER: "Do you have a swatch there of Lochcarron's heavy weight Douglas modern?"
ME: "Yes, I do."
CALLER: "How does the green compare with House of Edgar's medium weight Douglas modern?"
ME: "Um... they are both dark green. Lochcarron's may be a bit brighter, I suppose."
CALLER: "Would you call Locharron's green a bottle green, or a kelly green, or a forest green?"
ME: "Why don't I send you a swatch?"

:-)

[Tobus]

Yes, Matt, trying to compare colors verbally is a headache! Add to that the difference in how our individual computer monitors display colors, and it's virtually impossible to be truly accurate in describing a color.

I suppose those bison hose could be considered a dark "earthy" khaki. But I think the color that people usually associate with khaki is more of a tan color, perhaps with an ever-so-slight greenish tinge. The WWII leggings in this thread (for lack of a better example) would be more like a traditional khaki color.

[Riverkilt]

Back in the 70s I sold choir robes. Carried a vast line of colors in very large swatches so the prospects could see the effect in their church. Once spent two days working with the choir director of a very large church who just couldn't make up his mind. I was hanging in because it would be a large order, but it was very frustrating. Finally his wife stopped by the church and asked him what he was doing. He told her and she broke out laughing then apologized to me and told me he was color blind.

I've never been diagnosed as color blind, but I'm with Tobus. Khaki/tan to me is a War2 color that remains strong today in bifurcated chinos, t-shirts, and jackets. That's the color I'm wondering why top of the line kilt hose makers (save Rocky's hand knit line) aren't offering. I bought my "bison" colored kilt hose to wear with the tartans pictured. I'm looking for something else - tan, khaki colored from Lewis or Tiree and remain baffled that its not a basic color in their line.

We've talked about a number of things on this thread, and offered substitutes, but I remain baffled as I as to why Lewis and Tiree folks don't knit up their hose in khaki/tan. Their business and their choice, just wondering why khaki/tan didn't make the cut.

[longhuntr74]

I have a pair of Tan hose that I bought from what Scotweb markets as Wool-Rich kilt hose at: Wool-Rich Kilt Hose

I ordered them with bottle green and charcoal hose all at the same time. The hose that arrived are from two different manufacturers, and unfortunately I can't recall who made the tan...and I note that Scotweb doesn't carry a tan hose at present under this link.

I personally like them well enough...though I wish they were a tad darker...more of a mustard hue (which is what the one's Rocky is wearing appear to look like to my eyes) or an olive hue (the UK version of Olive). I use them frequently as a day-wear neutral hose with either red or blue flashes to go with primarily green based tartans.

Here are two pictures of me wearing them. I personally don't feel they look like skintone...if you do, you could say so...you won't hurt my feelings.





Edited to add:
I guess the color is "oatmeal" and they are made by Gaelic Themes. Just found them on USAK at: Oatmeal Hose

[Riverkilt]

Thanks! That's what I'm talking about - only woven by Lewis or Tiree...

[Tobus]

Here are two pictures of me wearing them. I personally don't feel they look like skintone...if you do, you could say so...you won't hurt my feelings.

They don't look exactly like skin-tone, but they're close enough (to me, anyway) that I would think from a distance they would blend in with skin-tone and make the legs look bare. That's just me, though.

Of course, that color complements your camouflage/military colors, and aside from an olive drab or grey to match, it's probably the best color choice for it!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Thanks! That's what I'm talking about - only woven by Lewis or Tiree...

Just to clarify something that people may be confused on. "Lewis" and "Tiree" are not kilt hose manufacturers, but the names of two different styles of hose manufactured by the same company, House of Cheviot in Hawick, Scotland. So, really, we are just talking about a single company here, not a whole range of companies.

They make a very wide range of kilt hose in addition to the Lewis and Tiree styles, including Rannoch, Glenmore, Skye, Harris, various embroidered styles, full diced and Argyle hose, plus their even wider range of country socks. And they have them available in more color options than any other kilt hose manufacturer I am aware of -- we carry the Lewis hose line in 18 different colors!

And they do change their colors from time to time. As Ron pointed out, they used to make a mid-brown color hose which has been replaced in their line by the "dark natural" color. They recently changed their shade of lovat green, as well. It's now slightly lighter, with more blue in it, than it once was.

So, for right now, their "bison" color is the closest thing they have to a khaki, but that's not to say they might not do something more like a WWII khaki color in the future. If there is enough interest in the color, I'm sure they will consider it. They didn't used to list yellow as a stock color in their Lewis line, and when I asked them about it, they sent me three different hanks of yellow yarn for me to choose from.

So let's not lose sight of the fact that this company already is producing kilt hose in a much wider variety of color and style than any other manufacturer out there.