What is the future of the Kilt?

[The Wizard of BC]

Ok, let's see. I see the future of the kilt getting even more blurred than it is. I don't care if the Tripp garment is called a kilt or not. I don't care if UK is a kilt or not. I know that Steven V. does not call his garment a kilt or credit any Celtic or Scottish inspiration for it. As new designers catch on that there is a market, there will be new and different definitions of "Kilt".

What I do know is that it is quite possible that in the very near future you will see UK's in a wider retail environment. WalMart? Probably not. But there are a lot of people who would like to see a UK, or something like it, sold in stores other than one location in Seattle. OK, there is a market, and I'm sure Steven will make even more money servicing that market.

Do I want to see the kilt priced near the cost of a pair of jeans? No. I like being different. Will I buy a Tripp garment? probably not. But that is because it is not my style of garment. I probably won't buy a silver Lamme kilt either.

What I do wish is that I could find some way to get the price of my custom made kilts down to where almost anyone who wishes to wear the kilt can afford one.

The growth of membership of just this forum is one indication that kilts, in all their variety, are here to stay for a while. Probably all the rest of this week. If this current boom in kilts busts I guess I'll be out of a job. Again. I don't see that happening. I see a day very soon when this forum seems passe because kilted men won't be so uncommon. It is already not unusual for members here to see another kilts in their town. Rare, but no longer shocking.

I can't remember the last time someone gave me that look that says "OH my, he must be a cross-dresser." The kilt is recognized and appreciated for what it is. Even if it is Camo fabric and worn like baggy cargo shorts.

The only thing we need now is more of the current X Markers who have made a kilt or two to step up and start their own business and get more and different versions of the kilt out there.

[JimB]

Maybe.....someday

[Erisianmonkey]

The only thing we need now is more of the current X Markers who have made a kilt or two to step up and start their own business and get more and different versions of the kilt out there.

Believe it or not, Steve, I've been looking into doing just that. I thought this was going to be a nice hobby. Then it became an obsession. I drift off to sleep at night thinking about making kilts. With that kind of motivation, I decided it was time to jump in and make a business plan.

Returning you to your regularly scheduled thread, I can say that I may not know what the future of all kilts is. But I do know that I will be in that future either as just a wearer or as a maker.

[staticsan]

... The kilt is recognized and appreciated for what it is. Even if it is Camo fabric...

I can personally attest to the truth of this statement because it was less than 8 hours ago that a good friend of mine saw me wearing my Snow Camo NeoKilt out and about for the very first time. And he instantly recognized it as a kilt.

That said, I am looking forward to when an upmarket chain store (like Esprit perhaps) start stocking kilts. I'm also looking forward to when a more mass-market chain - like Just Jeans, perhaps - start stocking kilts, although that's likely to take a long time. If it evder happens.

Wade.

[Kilted KT]

I feel that the future of the kilt is exactly what we make of it. Groups like us are keeping the Kilt alive and making advances in not only kilt design, but availability of quality kilts of all kinds to all people. Defining a kilt is up to the maker. If they call it a kilt and the public buys them as kilts, then they are kilts. If they take a table cloth and put frilly stuff on it and call it a kilt, the public as a whole will decide if it is a kilt or not.

I'm wearing a whole lot of wool wrapped around me waist, and it feels like a kilt to me. I'm simply happy that we have so many different ways to wear the kilt, and people all over the world who wear a kilt to congregate with!

How will the kilt be viewed in 10, 20 or more years? I have no idea...and I'll be wearing my kilt the whole time as I wait to see.

[Blu (Ontario)]

The kilt has survuved and will continue to survive. It won't become mainstream - at least for the forseeable future. But that's not going to stop me from enjoying it.

.

[Kilted Archer]

I think now that the topic has come full circle I can ad my 2 cents to this take on it. I don't think garments like the Tripp kilt are going to adversely affect the future of kilts. I think unbifurcated kilted garments are going to continue to exist in one form or another. Some people may never wear tartan kilts and will always gravitate towards the neo-traditional type kilts. I favor a definition that classifies a pleated unbifurcated garment designed for a man to be a kilt - after all the leather strap affair that was part of a Roman soldier's armor was known as a kilt and it doesn't much resemble what we today would call a kilt. Anyway, I digress. I don't see kilts ever becoming mainstream, in fact I kinda hope they don't but perhaps become just common enough that kilt wearers won't always feel like they're the only ones wearing them. Of course I think to a certain extent I relish those "sexy legs!" comments from the ladies and would hate to see that stop because so many guys are wearing kilts that the ladies no longer find them particularly sexy. In my own wardrobe I have a traditional kilt that I sewed myself by hand (no machine) about 10 years ago while the rest of my kilts are all Utilikilts - those are the kilts I wear every day. I hope to take the plunge and start making my own kilts off the X-marks pattern courtesy of Alan H. I'll start with solids but eventually my plan is to create a tartan X-kilt with utility pockets. I think the kilt will be alive and well long into the future because in all our own variations we'll keep it alive, be it tartan traditional or solid-color neo-traditional. Let's just hope they don't become too commonplace.

[staticsan]

...
I think less expensive and easier to wear models in non-traditional fabrics. By fabrics I mean not in tartan but also probably not in camo either. You wouldn't wear camo to an office casual environment. Jackets need to continue to be simplified. ...

Actually, camo *can* be worn to office casual. It just depends on the office. :-)

One reason I chose a Snow Camo as my first kilt was because it didn't have the 'formality' of tartan. Then, too, I wore camo cargo pants to work for a while, partly to see if there was any reaction to camo print. There was none. Even today - first day at work in my camo kilt, comments are either absent or curiousity or puzzlement.

Wade.

[Big Mikey]

For better or worse, my big mouth is in gear and ready to sound off on this topic. It would seem that all this cafuffle began with the Tripp kilt. The original thread was posted by a member who wanted to share with us his son's first purchase. This young lad has started down the road to kilt wearing and being young, he chose something that was appropriate for his age. As is true in many cases, his tastes and choices will undoubtly become more refined as he grows. All I can say is lighten up, support the boy and move on.

[Kid Cossack]

For better or worse, my big mouth is in gear and ready to sound off on this topic. It would seem that all this cafuffle began with the Tripp kilt. The original thread was posted by a member who wanted to share with us his son's first purchase. This young lad has started down the road to kilt wearing and being young, he chose something that was appropriate for his age. As is true in many cases, his tastes and choices will undoubtly become more refined as he grows. All I can say is lighten up, support the boy and move on.

Aye, and the lad's looking SHARP in his SWK Nightstalker. I'd call that "a step in the right direction" towards "more refined" kilting!