How Many Years in the Switch from Box to Knife Pleat?

[xman]

For the same reason as they perpetuated knife-pleated to the stripe: Economics. It takes much less fabric to pleat Black Watch, Gordon, Hunting Stewart, or Mackenzie to the stripe than to the sett. If you're making many kilts at once, the savings would add up quickly.

But this argument for economy breaks down in that eventually eight yards of cloth would be used because it looked smart, not because it was economical. That's not so economical. I submit that the decision was more likely made to look 'uniform'. Each pleat looks exactly like every other pleat on parade.