Wearing a kilt but not being Scottish

[meinfs]

... But isn't it ridiculous for a non Scottish person to wear a tartan kilt?
I have not one Scottish drop in my blood (mainly viking and celtic) so I'm thinking of the comments; ''Why are you wearing a kilt? You'r not Scottish!''
...

If you have that issue, just consider me - I'm Asian, not Caucasian. There's always that undercurrent of insecurity when I wear a kilt.

A really good friend who's very supportive of my kilt wearing finally said that he thinks is "surreal." (It's surreal to see an Asian wear something considered very western). To which I said - nothing he says or anyone, for that matter, will make me stop from wearing my kilts.

***Anybody who has pictures of Asian men in Kilts, please PM me or post here - so I can send it all to my friend so he can get used to it. *** [Maybe somebody could start a thread on "Kilted Asians" :-]


I was asked if I was Irish at HomeDepot, wearing my khaki xkilt -- he may have been yanking my chain. [A friend told me to just say "Yes" to that question. ]


[With recent threads of photo request stories; great stories, btw] nobody's ever asked to have their picture taken with me (for the kilt, at least), not that I care for that; most likely because I certainly don't look Scottish (or white). Why would a touristy stranger have a pic taken with an "incomplete" Scot. If that ever happens, you'll be the first to know...lol. [This is not self-pity, I'm just stating my observations and opinion].

I am proud to be in a kilt, especially because I've created them myself.

It does take courage (even more for me).



This is me in my DIY Stewart Gray kilt in PV.



Edit:
Hi all. I don't mean to shanghai the thread from Nordic/Viking to Asian. LOL. I posted my thoughts because the thread's title is "Wearing a kilt but being non-Scottish," which I think covers a concern and opinion that I have, which may be a very small minority in this esteemed forum. Apologies to Gunnar and XMTS.

[ardchoille]

To which I said - nothing he says or anyone, for that matter, will make me stop from wearing my kilts.

That's the spirit! Good on you

Gunnar, there's one very important question everyone must themselves.. "Who writes the rules you live by?". My family is Scottish, we go waaaay back.. and I'd actually like to see every male on the planet wear the kilt.

[gilmore]

...
***Anybody who has pictures of Asian men in Kilts, please PM me or post here - so I can send it all to my friend so he can get used to it. *** [Maybe somebody could start a thread on "Kilted Asians" :-]


....

There were----and are---quite a few south Asians who wore and wear kilts, those in the British army in the Indian Subcontinent, as well, I believe, some Indian and/or Pakistani regiments who still wear them on ocassion.

[highlander_Daz]

you could, Of course argue that its ludicrous for someone from Glasgow to wear the Kilt, after all its Highlandwear, You dont have to be a Highlander or indeed a Scot to wear the Kilt, and of course its not ludicrous for anyone to wear it, its an item of clothing and as such can be worn by anyone (with style) !! anyone who suggest that only Scots can wear the kilt is ignorant of Scots history, besides if anyon asks you why your wering the Kilt , simply answer
"with legs like mine its a crime not to !" As an asian person Im sure youd be delighted if people respectfully wore symbols of you culture and, indeed many western people study Martial arts, imagine if someone suggested only Asian people were allowed to study Martial arts, or that Bruce Lee should not of studied Kung-Fu becasue he was born in the US.

wear it with style my friend.

[meinfs]

simply answer "with legs like mine its a crime not to!"

I like that answer! I'll use that one!

As an asian person Im sure youd be delighted if people respectfully wore symbols of you culture

Indeed, I'd be very happy to see that and I have seen it. I would encourage it even more.

[...]

wear it with style my friend.

I try. Thank you!

[ehiker]

The Norman invasion of England in 1066, and subsequent intermarriages and relations, pretty much ensured a complete muddling of national heritages.

I suspect there are many Scottish and English gentlemen who, if they could trace their lineage back far enough, would find a branch in the Danish/Norwegian direction.

So really, instead of thinking of it as "I'm not as Scottish as them," you should think of it as, "I'm more Norweigan than them!"

And proudly wear your kilt, regardless.

Cheers,

[Nick the DSM]

Wear it! don't matter about scottish or not!

[sjrapid]

So really, instead of thinking of it as "I'm not as Scottish as them," you should think of it as, "I'm more Norweigan than them!"

And proudly wear your kilt, regardless.

Well said, Sir!

Just wear it the kilt (or indeed the full formal rig) well and with pride, and stand out from the common herd a little.

best regards

[macwilkin]

There were----and are---quite a few south Asians who wore and wear kilts, those in the British army in the Indian Subcontinent, as well, I believe, some Indian and/or Pakistani regiments who still wear them on ocassion.

To my knowledege, none of the regiments of the Indian and Pakistani army wear kilts -- both maintain pipers, and have adopted tartan, such as the 3rd Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, which wears the Rattray tartan, and the Gurkhas, who have adopted the Douglas tartan.

And, again, to my knowledge, there were no "Highland" regiments in the Indian Army before Independence in 1947. There were Highland Regiments of the British Army stationed in India, of course.

Regards,

Todd

[meinfs]

To my knowledege, none of the regiments of the Indian and Pakistani army wear kilts -- both maintain pipers, and have adopted tartan, such as the 3rd Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, which wears the Rattray tartan, and the Gurkhas, who have adopted the Douglas tartan.
...

Regards,

Todd

Cajunscot and Gilmore, thanks. Yes, I bet that the colonial connection would make kilt-wearing visible in south asia.