The Evolution of Non-Traditional Kilts

[Bugbear]

A few members were discussing changes in traditional kilts in evolutionary terms recently. I thought it might be interesting to open the topic of how the non-traditional kilt has evolved, apparently quite rapidly. Any pictures are welcome.

[Nick the DSM]

Well, we know it starts out from the traditional kilt.

I do believe Utilikilt started in the 90's atleast but I can't say its the first.

[seanachie]

Speaking for myself, I like modern kilts that maintain ties with traditional kilts in many regards. I was castigated for saying that in relation to my AltKilt classic but it is true. Jeanie makes the classic model with box pleats, the apron is a little narrower than traditional but not like a UK which is too narrow for my tastes. Yes her closure system with buttons is not traditional, but look at the great buttons you have to select from, they give it a classy look. I have celtic design buttons that look fantastic. I know others loath pockets but, here again this is not an empty sleeve type pocket. Alt Kilt includes a nice center piece on the external product and stiching that make it very attractive. (NOTE: These kilts are custom made so some folks may have custom variations that are different than the standard) I have some family issues going on at the moment so my resident kilt photographer (my wife) hasn't been able to snap any photos since I received my leather AltKilt last Saturday but I have linked some photos. I told Jeanie I wanted to try and incorporate traditional elements understanding leather and box pleats would be an anathema to staunch traditionalist. One of the coolest things was she with Grey Cat Workshop created straps. Here are a few of her pics:
http://ow.ly/i/eHCp
http://ow.ly/i/eHCw
http://ow.ly/i/eFyc

[CMcG]

Steve Ashton has described the evolutionary history of modern and contemporary kilts elsewhere:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...56/#post767747

Some of them seem to have evolved more naturally from traditional kilts (like Howie Nicholsby's 21st Century Kilts) while others are really MUGS that came to be associated with kilts as an afterthought (Utilikilts).

I think it is interesting to note how that evolution seems to have happened in multiple locations around the same time: mid 1980s to early 1990s. The results are rather different in different places, but it would be interesting to consider what social, economic, or technological conditions facilitated their occurrence.

In the early 21st century, it appears that the rate of change has slowed down again, perhaps because there are only so many things one can do with a kilt. Time will tell which characteristics will be selected as the most fit to continue...

[Bugbear]

Thanks all, for bringing all these links into one place.

Steve Ashton has described the evolutionary history of modern and contemporary kilts elsewhere:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...56/#post767747

Some of them seem to have evolved more naturally from traditional kilts (like Howie Nicholsby's 21st Century Kilts) while others are really MUGS that came to be associated with kilts as an afterthought (Utilikilts).

I think it is interesting to note how that evolution seems to have happened in multiple locations around the same time: mid 1980s to early 1990s. The results are rather different in different places, but it would be interesting to consider what social, economic, or technological conditions facilitated their occurrence.

In the early 21st century, it appears that the rate of change has slowed down again, perhaps because there are only so many things one can do with a kilt. Time will tell which characteristics will be selected as the most fit to continue...

Dawkins points out in a few of his books, some genomes are in evolutionarily stable strategies, "ESS," and others are naturally amenable to evolving. Either can be successful depending on the environment in which they are reproducing, of course.

From my view, I think it is a small part of an ongoing transition toward something like a type I civilization. In part, a need to adapt or modify traditional forms, as in seanachie's post, to new materials. However, the Utilikilt seems to be an adaptation of jeans or cargo pants to the function* of a kilt. It almost seems we are evolving in our thinking and communication between cultures.
* It might have been better to say the functionality of a kilt, as in having pleats and aprons for extended movement; though it is possible the kilt unconsciously influenced the design of the Utilikilt regardless of the awareness of the designer.

[Mael Coluim]

A few members were discussing changes in traditional kilts in evolutionary terms recently. I thought it might be interesting to open the topic of how the non-traditional kilt has evolved, apparently quite rapidly. Any pictures are welcome.

This is a good place to start. Click here.

[Bugbear]

Looking at Steve's article and post again, there is one thing that bothers me in the way I have been thinking about this. I think it is our concepts of the non-traditional kilt that are evolving more than the physical garment. The garment is an expression of those concepts or ideas.

In other words, the non-traditional kilt is more or less an expression of a set of basic ideas, and it is on the level of the idea that it evolves.

One of the ideas involved with a lot of the non-traditional kilts is that an individual can choose between several options in the design of the kilt, like materiel, pockets, etc. That makes the concept of the non-traditional kilt highly evolvable around the conceptual framework of pleats in the back aprons in the front.

To me, it does seem that it would be better to think of this as an evolution in our thinking about kilts and our cultures than an evolution in the kilt. I suppose many other types of garments are going through this, as well; cargo pants, for example. That being said, the physical expressions of those concepts can inspire and influence further innovations in our thinking and ideas about new garments to produce with the framework of pleats in the back, aprons in the front. Dawkins, for evolution, calls this self-feeding, I think the complexity theorists usually call this a positive feedback loop.

There, got it out of my head. Hopefully it made some sort of sense...

[kiltedwolfman]

I think as feelings of people toward the wearing of the kilt evolved into greater and greater acceptance that it naturally followed that the look of the kilt would be called on to evolve as well. For a very long time, and to some extent still now, the kilt has had a very defined look i.e the "tank" but as more people felt the urge to wear the kilt they also felt the urge to change the kilt in a way that better suited thier own personal style, flair, or personality. This led naturally to the creation of the modern kilt. And that of course precipitated the growing schism between traditionalists and modernists but that's an entirely new thread!

Now that I have been making kilts for a while I have learned that many people love the look of a "tank" but also love the fact that it can be "modernised" with pockets etc. An equal number of people want to wear the kilt and love the fact that they can pick and choose colours and fabrics that they feel really expresses a little bit more of who they are as a kilt wearer.

I think it is fantastic that what started out as a bit of a maveric idea has now grown into a realm of enterprising designers who have taken the kilt in so many new directions. Some that look fantastic, and some not so much. But then again beauty and function is always in the eye of the beholder, or in this case the wearer.

[Bugbear]

Yes, kiltedwolfman, you point out that we each potentially perceive the kilt in a different way. It can be a long, circuitous chain between our ideas and concepts and their physical expressions, then back to our ideas, but they are clearly linked. I now know the traditional kilt has undergone many changes, as well.

Hopefully I can let it go with that.