Small Kilt Collection

[Andy Ternay]

While having nothing on Hamish, Riverkilt or many of you other gentlemen, I do have a small kilt collection. Recently when I moved into my new home I found that the previous occupant had left a quilt hanger in the dining room. For convenience sake I hung the kilts there until I decided which closet they would go into. So this is a photo of my collection hanging in the dining room.

They are not ranked in any way, so you have a mix of USA Kilts, Utilikilts, Sport Kilts. The tartan furthest to the left is my tank, which is in the National Millennium Tartan. Sadly, my waist no longer allows me to wear my tank... I bought extension straps from USA Kilts but have not tried them yet.

[Matty Ross]

Looks like 9 or 10 Thats nothing to be ashamed of.

[knotty]

Handsome collection you have.

Craig

[Riverkilt]

What a great idea.

Just a silly note - guessing its already your choice - but those patches come off the sportkilts easily with a seam ripper.

[MacSpadger]

I am in the process of moving back to Scotland for good, and I am going the opposite way, downsizing. I can't see any reason for having more than two kilts at the most up there, so am having a huge clearout of around 20 year's worth of things collected while piping in the South East of England. Most actual Scots I know have one or maybe two kilts.
There will be a band kilt, (maybe, still wondering if I'm daft to be considering competing in Grade 3A at the age of 52) and a personal kilt for solos, games, functions and times when it will be an acceptable alternative for a suit. It's time to shift the stuff gathering dust, ( and I include myself in that ).
It seems to be one of the many cultural differences in wearing a kilt in different countries, there are people outside Scotland that have a number if kilts. To those of you that own large amounts of kits, so you wear them every day?
I do recall one man in Scotland who wore the kilt every day, and he was considered a nutter by the locals. (Thinking back, I believe he was completely Radio Rental, Chicken Oriental, as the kids used to chant).
A difference is that we simply don't see USA Kilts, Utilikilts, Sport Kilts, etc, over here. (I have seen one and that was being worn by an American tourist). I assume these are an American everyday alternative to trousers, but I still don't "get it".

[Andy Ternay]

I am in the process of moving back to Scotland for good, and I am going the opposite way, downsizing. I can't see any reason for having more than two kilts at the most up there, so am having a huge clearout of around 20 year's worth of things collected while piping in the South East of England. Most actual Scots I know have one or maybe two kilts.
There will be a band kilt, (maybe, still wondering if I'm daft to be considering competing in Grade 3A at the age of 52) and a personal kilt for solos, games, functions and times when it will be an acceptable alternative for a suit. It's time to shift the stuff gathering dust, ( and I include myself in that ).
It seems to be one of the many cultural differences in wearing a kilt in different countries, there are people outside Scotland that have a number if kilts. To those of you that own large amounts of kits, so you wear them every day?
I do recall one man in Scotland who wore the kilt every day, and he was considered a nutter by the locals. (Thinking back, I believe he was completely Radio Rental, Chicken Oriental, as the kids used to chant).
A difference is that we simply don't see USA Kilts, Utilikilts, Sport Kilts, etc, over here. (I have seen one and that was being worn by an American tourist). I assume these are an American everyday alternative to trousers, but I still don't "get it".

Regarding competing in Grade 3A at 52, so long as you are enjoying yourself and feel you have something to contribute - why not? Life is short.

I do not wear the kilt everyday. I cannot wear kilts to work or work functions, so I am in pants for that. But when I am in my own free time, I pretty much wear the kilt all the time. I am reasonably sure that some folk consider me at least eccentric because of this choice of clothing. I used to worry about that (and still do some days) but as I said, life is short and as Jock Scot's signature reminds us, it is also hard. Why not do what I enjoy, so long as it is no harm to others? In deference to the remainder of Jock Scot's signature I may well make life harder for myself on some occasions by wearing the kilt, but it seems balanced out by the occasions when it makes life easier - for example breaking the ice as a conversation starter.

Why so many kilts though? There are a few reasons for that. The first is that while I am probably Irish or Scottish by birth, I am adopted and the family that adopted me is German and Hungarian. So I have no clan and as a result all of my tartans are event tartans, district tartans or universal tartans. For the kilts without tartans, I purchased those before I was aware that I was "allowed" to wear tartans and while I still enjoy those kilts they are not my first choice. The final reason is, my weight has varied over the years and that has required that I purchase larger kilts.

I hope this answers your question, at least with regards to me!

[Freelancer]

I am in the process of moving back to Scotland for good, and I am going the opposite way, downsizing. I can't see any reason for having more than two kilts at the most up there, so am having a huge clearout of around 20 year's worth of things collected while piping in the South East of England. Most actual Scots I know have one or maybe two kilts.
There will be a band kilt, (maybe, still wondering if I'm daft to be considering competing in Grade 3A at the age of 52) and a personal kilt for solos, games, functions and times when it will be an acceptable alternative for a suit. It's time to shift the stuff gathering dust, ( and I include myself in that ).
It seems to be one of the many cultural differences in wearing a kilt in different countries, there are people outside Scotland that have a number if kilts. To those of you that own large amounts of kits, so you wear them every day?
I do recall one man in Scotland who wore the kilt every day, and he was considered a nutter by the locals. (Thinking back, I believe he was completely Radio Rental, Chicken Oriental, as the kids used to chant).
A difference is that we simply don't see USA Kilts, Utilikilts, Sport Kilts, etc, over here. (I have seen one and that was being worn by an American tourist). I assume these are an American everyday alternative to trousers, but I still don't "get it".

It should really not be too difficult to understand why some people choose to have more then one kilt and often, in more then one tartan. Just as you may know someone who has a passion for automobiles or tea cups or stamps or guns or any other type of collectable you can think of, there are those of us who have the same type of passion for kilts and tartan. I may not personally be very interested in fishing gear or decorative plates, but I certainly understand that there are people who have a fervent interest in these pursuits, and I recognize that it is part of our human nature and creativity to engage in and relish these passions, whatever they may be. Kilts and tartan may be a very fringe passion, with very few aficionados compared to other interests or pursuits. But that does not make it any less meaningful to the participant.

So, although as it seems to me from many posts from our esteemed Scottish members, tartan and kilting is a cultural aspect in the lives of most Scots which they pursue only when the occasion warrants, there are people who have a certain passion for kilts and tartan which goes beyond that norm. I drink tea from a cup and see no need to clutter my cabinets with anything more then what is necessary or practical for drinking tea. But there are many people who spend long hours, not to mention considerable resources in procuring an impressive collection of tea cups or fine china or what have you. And I say bravo to them for pursuing that which gives them pleasure and reward.

[MacSpadger]

I think we may again have a cultural difference here. For many of us born and bred in Scotland I'd suggest that having more then one kilt and often, in more then one tartan might be comparable to having more than one identity, more than one home town, or, perhaps easier, supporting more than one football team.
Is it possible to support both the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears? Or the Washington Redskins' and the Dallas Cowboys?
That's why I asked about Utilikilts, Sport Kilts, etc, being an American everyday alternative to trousers, because, as far as I know, there's no inherent symbolism there. They might just be for people who either want to seek attention or don't like wearing trousers. I don't know, so that's why I asked.

I know that a kilt is basically a bit of cloth, but it is a symbol of other things to many, it's a statement of something Scottish but also of something quite regional, (although that aspect is disappearing very, very quickly). The kilt is no longer the unique identifier it was only 20 or so years ago as other cultures borrow it and develop new uses for it, I guess.

BTW, if anyone here had a passion for guns, they'd end up in an awfy lot of trouble very sharpish!

[Jock Scot]

I think we may again have a cultural difference here. For many of us born and bred in Scotland I'd suggest that having more then one kilt and often, in more then one tartan might be comparable to having more than one identity, more than one home town, or, perhaps easier, supporting more than one football team.
Is it possible to support both the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears? Or the Washington Redskins' and the Dallas Cowboys?
That's why I asked about Utilikilts, Sport Kilts, etc, being an American everyday alternative to trousers, because, as far as I know, there's no inherent symbolism there. They might just be for people who either want to seek attention or don't like wearing trousers. I don't know, so that's why I asked.

I know that a kilt is basically a bit of cloth, but it is a symbol of other things to many, it's a statement of something Scottish but also of something quite regional, (although that aspect is disappearing very, very quickly). The kilt is no longer the unique identifier it was only 20 or so years ago as other cultures borrow it and develop new uses for it, I guess.

BTW, if anyone here had a passion for guns, they'd end up in an awfy lot of trouble very sharpish!

I can relate exactly to what you say. As to the last sentence, I have that passion and as long as the law is kept then there is no trouble!

[MacSpadger]

As to the last sentence, I have that passion and as long as the law is kept then there is no trouble!

Yes Jock, just having a wee joke, steel cabinets in my old family home too, bolted to the wall, didn't want to elaborate due to forum rules on discussing weapons. Suffice to say, the majority do not have legal access.
Tha an Gunna air a bhith dha-rìribh riatanach dha sgìrean dùthchail na h-Alba fad ghinealaichean. Chun an là ’n-diugh tha na th’ air a chosnadh bhon dualchas eachdraidheil is cultarach co-cheangailte ri sealg agus losgadh airson spòrs, fìor chudromach dhan dùthaich.