Non-tartan Timeline.......

[Blu (Ontario)]

The first time I saw a Utility style kilt was at a highland games event about 4 years ago. I'm not even sure who the manufacturer was. I was curious about it but I failed to see the significance of the garment at the time and did not talk to the individual involved. Since then, of course things seem to have evolved quite rapidly with numerous manufacturers and styles available and more coming on stream all the time. It seems to me we are in the midst of a North American kilt revolution. A revolution that has spread to some of the traditional kiltmakers in the UK. I'm unsure, however, of the true identity of the progenitor...that is, who got the ball rolling. If some future historian were to lay out a timelime of the evolution of the utility kilt, what would it look like Is this a blip or will these garments still be around in 2010...2025

blu

Adjunct question to ponder...Is the market for these garments growing, stagnating, or shrinking??

[highlandtide]

Great question! I dont have a clue as to the answer though...

[bubba]

I suspect guys made, or had made, utility style kilts for their own use for awhile but perhaps the first to get off the ground and market them successfully was Utilikilts. As they became accepted and somewhat popular others got in on it. Just my thoughts on the subject, not backed by any research.

[philbo]

As for the Utilikilt, I think (if I remember correctly) the story if its creation can be found at the Utilikilt website. As for the growing popularity of kilts in general, I think Mel Gibson can take much of the credit with the popularity of "Braveheart." A few other celebrities worked to get the ball rolling, too, such as Mike Meyers, George Lazenby, George Clooney, and Liam Neeson. The combination of celebrity popularity and the affordability offered by modern-day variations (such as the Utilikilt) is what seems to give rise to the kilts (no pun intended). Whether this is just a passing fad or a breakthrough that will last for generations, it's hard to say. I predict that our efforts as bravehearts will succeed in promoting the acceptance of kilts as normal men's garments, but as long as trousers remain cheaper, kilts are still going to be relatively rare for quite a while.

[Blu (Ontario)]

Utilikilts incorporated in year 2000. Their website doesn't claim that they were the first. Buzz Kidder it seems, started in business in 1997, but it's unclear when they expanded their product line into the non-tartan area. My spider sense tells me that the non-tartan kilt will endure, but I agree that it's going to take an extended period of time to come into general daily use. My optimism isn't nearly as great as others posting on that subject. Slow growth will continue unless of course the younger generation picks up on it...which has been known to happen.

[phil h]

when did Mike Meyers wear a kilt?
you talkin 'bout fatbastard?

[Raphael]

he wore a kilt in 'I married an Axe Murderer'

[Colin]

when did Mike Meyers wear a kilt?
you talkin 'bout fatbastard?

Phil,
You must see "So I Married an Axe Murderer". Mike Myers does a fantastic job, and his father (played by Mike) is the funniest part of the film, as an old Scot.

[Michael@AmeriKilt]

Blu
this ain't no Blip!

Popularity of nontartan kilts is growing every day. Here's 2 points to ponder:
1- we've never been busier.
2 - there are way more kiltmakers to choose from than when we launched AmeriKilt Co almost 2 years ago - I'm sure each is busy too. (right, fellas?)

When I look at a list af all the North American kiltmakers I put Steven Villegas and Megan Haas at the top of the heap in terms of creating a culture around the kilt. He may not have been the first to offer a non-tartan but he's certainly created a highly regarded garment and brand. I don't consider AmeriKilts as part of the "Utility Kilt" catagory - we consider ourselves makers of "casual American kilts" - meaning a design inspired by the "traditional" kilt and no tartans - just solid colors and the occasional textured fabric.

The future looks bright for kilt makers and wearers. Competition and innovation will see to it.

[Blu (Ontario)]

Michael@AmeriKiltCo wrote..."Blu
this ain't no Blip!"

Michael, I suspect that if anyone would be in a position to know the facts, it would be yourself. What leads me to believe that you are correct is the fact that almost every time I wear one of my kilts outshopping etc., I invariably get positive feedback. And while my initial question may have been directed at the foundation of non-tartan garments, it's obvious that modernized and casual tartan kilts are a vital part of the kilt equation. Querry...Are these (casual tartan kilts) an extension of the growth utility kilts or the traditional tartan kilts? Is there some sleeping giant of demand out there waiting to explode upon the world?? If that is the case, then the future of the kilt industry is truly a bright one!! We'll all need sunglasses.

blu