Quote Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker View Post
If my memory serves correctly, pleating to the sett was first documented in 1902 and described at that time as a novel new way to pleat a kilt. That means that there very well may be a few Scots still living that were born before knife pleats to the sett had even been invented.
I seriously doubt that there are any 107 year-old Scots still around. There are, however, a number here who can trace their kilt-wearing traditions back to the early 1950's and to dismiss this in such a way is nothing but an impertinence. Modern re-inventions of our national dress should take account of the culture that actually originated it without trying to re-invent the tradition and culture behind it. There are many differing opinions expressed on this site quoting innumerable "learned" sources. The fact remains, however, that there is probably no-one here other than the native Scots that has worn a kilt prior to 10-20 years ago. Quoting spurious historical "facts" to justify modifying these traditions to suit ones own point of view is easy to do but to try and infer that they have any relevance to a traditional form of Scottish dress is nothing short of re-writing a culture of which you really have no genuine experience or knowledge to suit the circumstances you wish to present.