"That's not a real kilt"

[RamsayClanCommish]

Today I was having a conversation with a friend about kilts as he was looking to perhaps get one. We were looking online and he had several sites he went to. We looked at utilitkilts, practikilts, sportkilts, etc....and my friend said he had no interest as "That's not a real kilt"

The utilikilts and such he called fancy skirts. He wanted an "actual kilt" made in Scotland and of wool. Not denim or acrylic made by some Pakistani or "back bedroom home made job". When I explained several people wore utilikilts and such, he rolled his eyes! To him, such things are more like fakes and knock offs and craft projects. "If you wore a skirt and then put on a sporran would you say it was a kilt or a skirt?"

"I'd say it was a bad fashion choice." was my answer.

I was a bit taken aback because I didn't really know what to say to address it. My question is...what do you think? Is a utilikilt or practikilt a kilt? Or is it just a tag placed on something people want to sell that is like a kilt?

I hope I am putting this question together in an understandable way. Thoughts??

[Jock Scot]

I rather think that many will agree with your friend, particularly from Scotland. In the end though it is a matter of choice, for us all.

[MacKay71]

Personally, I think utilikilts and others like them are kilts. Also there are many kilts made from wool fabric that just isn't a tartan weave. I don't think that tartan is the only option for it to be a real kilt. But that's just my opinion.

[cessna152towser]

I'd say Utilikilts etc. qualify as kilts by virtue of having pleats at the back and overlapping front aprons. Bear in mind a kilt is just a type of skirt. Interestingly an English kilt maker (Midas) who produces mainly modern kilts covers the objection which some Scots would have to non-trad kilts by marketing his products as Kilts and Skirts for Men. Some of his products are box pleated all the way round while others have just two pleats at each side and none at the back for ease of sitting, and these do not meet the definition of kilts although I have found when wearing them that they are always perceived and accepted as kilts.

[Nick]

He wanted an "actual kilt" made in Scotland and of wool.

This doesn't relate directly to UKs or the like, but his statement does raise a question. My best kilt was made by Barb T. It wasn't made in Scotland, but I don't think I could get a better kilt. The definition of whisky may be enshrined in statute, but not being made in Scotland does not make a kilt not a kilt. If your friend really feels that only in Scotland can kilts be made, then he can buy a Scottish one. But he should consider kiltmakers like Barb T. and Kathy Lare as well.

[Scotus]

I personally agree with your friend, so don't be so hard on him.

[Rex_Tremende]

We looked at utilitkilts, practikilts, sportkilts, etc....and my friend said he had no interest as "That's not a real kilt"

The utilikilts and such he called fancy skirts. He wanted an "actual kilt" made in Scotland and of wool. Not denim or acrylic made by some Pakistani or "back bedroom home made job".
[...]
My question is...what do you think? Is a utilikilt or practikilt a kilt? Or is it just a tag placed on something people want to sell that is like a kilt?

This debate rarely ends well here. You can bet that by the end of it, someone in one camp or the other will decide XMTS is too [narrow-minded|iconoclast], and will never return. This forum is littered with dead threads on this subject locked down because all they generated after two or three cycles was all heat and no light.

In my opinion, the only thing that matters here is that now you know what his requirements are, and if he's serious about getting a kilt, you can use the wisdom found here to guide him to a kiltmaker who will satisfy.

Regards,
Rex.

[Scotus]

To clarify... I think posting this question and being "a bit taken aback" is being just a little to harsh; that is, people are going to have different points of view on this subject. Some feel very strongly in their opinions on both sides. Some of us feel very strongly about what a "real kilt" is (I'm a hardened traditionalist), while others are much broader in their views. In a forum such as this one, you're going to find many views, so what I'm trying to say about not being too hard on the guy is that you have to be understanding to his views about kilts if you want to remain friends.

[Adam Pound]

You can always point out to him that ancient Roman soldiers wore armoured kilts around them, and as far as I know outside of the actual Latin name for that piece of kit, they have always been referred to as kilts, even though they were leather and studded with bronze or iron studs. Just mentionning that he may want to broaden his mind a bit. I personally own wool kilts from Scotland, and a fine Freedom kilt, which I have on right now, and I must admit that I refer to them as my kilt,(when I am wearing my woolen kilts), and my "working kilt" when I wear my Freedom kilt. I love them all just the same though.
Adam

[KFCarter]

In my opinion, the only thing that matters here is that now you know what his requirements are, and if he's serious about getting a kilt, you can use the wisdom found here to guide him to a kiltmaker who will satisfy.

Regards,
Rex.

I think Rex's advice is spot on.

As for the definition of "kilt", my own attitude has evolved over time. I started with a very traditional view, became more "open minded" and have come back around to being a bit more "narrow minded". That "narrowness" comes in part from a belief that a word's application can become so broad that it can eventually lose its meaning. This is happening a lot in our language and "Kilt" is certainly not the only word exposed to this sort of "meaning-erosion".

Having said that, I think some of those contemporary garments are great and I think it's appropriate that their name, like "utilikilt" indicates their "kiltish" roots. I'm glad to see these garments appear in wider application and I do think that their presence has had a role in freeing traditional kilts from their "weddings-and-special-occasions-only" prison.

By the way, I'm very glad we have such great kiltmakers on this side of the pond. I've got one in the Wizard's queue and have my sights on a Tewksbury and Kathy Lare. But the two tartan tanks that I'll own, that are connected to my family roots... yes, I wanted them made in Scotland. That may seem silly to some, but it mattered to me so that's what I did.