Islands of Kilts

[macwilkin]

However....I have discovered that several times each day without realizing it I use dozens of Scottish inventiions. They have brought so much to our daily lives and we all owe them a HUGE debt of gratitude. Could it be possible that the kilt could someday in some modern variety become another everyday item enjoyed by all men in all lands AND would that be a bad thing?

It can be argued, though, that what you describe is already happening, as many nationalities are adopting their own tartans -- Norwegians, Germans, Italians and yes...Swedes. Not to mention all of the new tartans for Canadian provinces, US states, etc. like the BC tartan that Raphael wears. These tartans not only celebrate the region or nationality that the tartan is named for, but also the contributions of Scots to said area.

T.

[pbpersson]

I hate to poke and prod, but I would be looking for people who wear kilts, period. ....... I think you didn't think deeply enough about your words before you said them, if I may be so blunt.

NO, please poke prod and be blunt. Sometimes I need to have a house fall on me before I get a clue....

Pbpersson, I noticed that you had posted an apology on here somewhere. I would say that retreating from those involved in the subculture you are/were trying to promote is not the answer.

Yes, it is the strangest thing, now I can't find that apology... :confused:

It's perfectly OK to disagree, just be mindful of how you word your replies and posts. For some people, wearing a kilt all the time might cause it to lose the aspects that made it special for them in the first place. I am writing this to try and help you out, I mean no offense by it, and I hope you don't take any.

Hey, I will take all the help I can get, I think I need it.

You can be on a mission to raise awareness of the kilt, you can be on a mission to return it to its status as everyday attire. I support this mindset, and, despite the marketing aspect of casual pieces, I find them quite acceptable for helping to accomplish this.

There is most likely a large difference between being on a missiion and running over people who get in my way.

There is a clean, simple elegance of the more traditionally styled kilts... if one is to have pockets, they should be hidden and clean.

I tend to prefer the ones with the hidden pockets as well, although the ones with the floppy outside pockets are nice because they give it a more "manly" look so I'm sort of torn on this myself.

[pbpersson]

I am very disappointed in your point of view. If you are really passionate about the kilt, you owe yourself to learn about the Scottish Culture. They gave us the kilt, and you should respect the history and her people.

I will disappoint you even more! I am half Swedish and my dad was born in Sweden. Do I know when Sweden was formed? Do I know what form of government they have? Do I know what battles they fought? No I really don't know and I really don't care.

I know a few things about America where I live. I know it was formed in 1776 and I know when the war of 1812 was.....however I am pretty history illiterate. That's just how I am.

I am only mentioning this to state that I am ignorant of ALL cultures and this is nothing new for me.

[Riverkilt]

To some people, Blackwatch is a government tartan. To me, they are soldiers who defended my homeland. It has a special meaning to me. For the last 3 years, I wore it on Rememberance/Veterans day religiously. Ever since I started wearing it, I have learnt much about the military history.

There is such diversity on this board.

My grandfather, a child of the clearances, - his father came to Nova Scotia in 1854 - taught me that the Black Watch tartan was that of the forces who killed our people in a dastardly manner. So I choose not to wear the Black Watch tartan, save on boxer shorts, which I figure grandfather Murdoch wouldn't mind.

Yet I completely understand and respect Raphael's wearing of that tartan.

Same deal with kilts and pants. Personal choice for personal reasons.

Imagine me going to highland games and ragging on the folks that showed up in pants instead of kilts...I could probably work up a pretty good pitch to lay on them. Yet what is so cool is that they have come to a highland game at all.

If a guy wears a kilt once a year that's light years ahead of a guy who's never worn a kilt.

Anyone who's seen the mushrooming growth of kilts in recent years has to sense they're on the way to becoming an accepted fashion option for men...but we're still early on in that developmental process. Any kilt wearing is good because it encourages others.

I wish there were some way I could thank the man who wore a Utilikilts workman's to the Arizona Ren Faire a few years back...he gave me the addiction just by showing me that "Scottish Jeans" existed. I have no clue how often he wore his Utilikilt, but I'm very appreciative he chose to wear it that one day.

Ron

[pbpersson]

I wish there were some way I could thank the man who wore a Utilikilts workman's to the Arizona Ren Faire a few years back...he gave me the addiction just by showing me that "Scottish Jeans" existed. I have no clue how often he wore his Utilikilt, but I'm very appreciative he chose to wear it that one day.

Ron

I wonder in my case if wearing the kilt to several malls has made any difference at all. I might never know.....

When it gets cooler I want to wear it to some outdoor malls and downtown. Otherwise I don't get out much, this might give me a reason to finally explore the city.

[Colin]

If a guy wears a kilt once a year that's light years ahead of a guy who's never worn a kilt.

I completely agree Ron. I really believe that one of the major appeals to the public with regards to men in kilts, is the confidence and bravado that comes when a man is comfortable in his kilt (and skin). Whether you wear it a couple times a year, or you wear it daily, if you don't exude that air about you, you won't influence anyone and you won't have as good of a time. It's not how often you wear a kilt, but rather the confidence you portray when kilted.

[NewKilt]

It can be argued, though, that what you describe is already happening, as many nationalities are adopting their own tartans -- Norwegians, Germans, Italians and yes...Swedes. Not to mention all of the new tartans for Canadian provinces, US states, etc. like the BC tartan that Raphael wears. These tartans not only celebrate the region or nationality that the tartan is named for, but also the contributions of Scots to said area.

T.

Excellent point that Todd had made here, Phil. Why not get involved in any of the groups mentioned? I bet you will find a lot of guys there that don't have a drop of Scottish blood, but proudly wear Scottish tartans and/or other tartans.

I think you are way too hung up on non-traditional kilts only. My 11 Utilikilts are all hanging in the closet today. Today I'm wearing a 16 oz, worsted wool 5 yarder (made in Scotland) in the Auld Lang Syne tartan, and I'm darn proud to be wearing it. I wore it to the park for my walk, to the mall, Walmart, and staples for shopping today. No one asked me if I was Scottish, or for that matter even commented on my kilt. I'm equally proud to wear my Scot American tartan although I'm primarly Irish and German. I'll certainly be wearing it on April 6 (US Tartan Day) at the state capital building hear in Jefferson City. I'll be paying tribute to the Scottish Americans that contributed so much to this country.

I think you are way too hung up on trying to push non-traditional kilts only, and the "you don't have to be Scottish" thing. If I wear in your shoes, I'd strap on that Stillwater tartan you have once in a while, and save up for a nice wool in that Swedish tartan. Study some Scottish and Swedish history.

Remember those UK's you and I have are still a modification/evolution of the Scottish kilt and we have Scots on this board who wear them in addition to their Scottish kilts.

Darrell

[Mike1]

I am only mentioning this to state that I am ignorant of ALL cultures and this is nothing new for me.

There's no law that requires you to be culturally aware. If you are content, that is all that matters. But you might be surprised what there is to learn about who you really are, by discovering more about heritage.

A few years back, I traced one part of my family to early 19th-century Cowal, where the trail grows cold and dim as a result of being part of a proscribed family. Nonetheless, I've taken the time to visit the area, to walk the ruins of a castle the family held and to walk where my forebears walked, before being exiled from their homeland.

Within the past week, I've finally discovered the lost key of another part of my family, which clearly shows a family member in Dunfermline, in the early 1750's. I had traced the family name to western Sterlingshire, to Kinross-shire and to Fife, but I now have the key to prove where my own family members lived. In the past year, I've spent considerable time in Clackmannanshire and I now have evidence of my family members residing in a couple of the villages there, as well.

The research has allowed me to look into the past, to study and understand whence I came, all of which helps define who I am. To have had the opportunity to actually visit a village where members of my family resided is incredible.

The entire reason for my ever wanting to wear a kilt was to remember and to honor my forebears.

Are they comfortable? Of course. But my true comfort comes from wearing an article of clothing that reminds me and others of who I am. Since I am not a slave to fashion, I purchase clothing that fits me and is comfortable to wear, so I have no problems with discomfort. And let's face it, if we really made choices about our clothing with comfort being the deciding factor, none of us would ever wear shoes!

Do I enjoy the comfort of a kilt on a daily basis? Nope, but it is there whenever I choose to enjoy it.

Do I have 20, 40, 60 kilts or more? Heavens no, I don't own 20 pairs of socks, why would I ever need 20 kilts?

Do I wear kilts when in Scotland? I wore a kilt at the Wallace Homecoming in Lanark, one year ago this weekend. I wore a kilt at a service commemorating the death of Robert 'Rob Roy' MacGregor, late last year. My last trip across, I didn't even pack a kilt. <shrug>

Each one of us has our own reasons for wearing whatever it is we wear. And I hope we will always enjoy the ability to do exactly that. Don't think you have to wear your kilt only to plant seeds in the minds of other men. Wear your kilt to please yourself, not someone else.

Each one of us has those subjects that we enjoy to study and learn more about. Maybe you don't ever care to know where your family originated, or why and when they emigrated. Truthfully, there's no reason you should ever need to know.

Each of us have reasons for wearing the tartans we wear. Fellows like Riverkilt and Hamish purchase kilts they find attractive. Fellows like Cajunscot and myself purchase kilts that identify us and that we identify with. Some fellows purchase a tartan to identify with a particular region. Is there a particular bit of Scottish history that you admire? Wear the tartan that identifies with that region. If you are one that wants to see the Stewart line restored to the Throne of Scots, wear the Jacobite tartan. The options are limitless, the restrictions exist only in your mind.

We're all different, so all of these things about us are different. That's what makes life what it is, different people doing different things for different reasons.

[pbpersson]

If I wear in your shoes, I'd strap on that Stillwater tartan you have once in a while, and save up for a nice wool in that Swedish tartan. Study some Scottish and Swedish history.

Darrell

You are probably right about the traditional kilts and I should get used to them because.....some of those tartans just look so great.

History? Well......I will reserve judgement on that. :confused: See my next post.....

[pbpersson]

Each one of us has those subjects that we enjoy to study and learn more about. Maybe you don't ever care to know where your family originated, or why and when they emigrated. Truthfully, there's no reason you should ever need to know.

We're all different, so all of these things about us are different. That's what makes life what it is, different people doing different things for different reasons.

I don't know if I will ever be motivated to study and understand Swedish history....however.....

My dad grew up in Sweden on a farm that is still in the family and he came to America in 1926 when he was 19 years old. When I met my Swedish cousins a few weeks ago they gave me my Swedish family tree going back 8 generations.

I promised them I would visit Sweden in the summer of 2008 to walk the ground my dad walked as a child, see the house where he grew up, and the lake where he fished as a boy and where his ashes were sprinkled after his death.

So while I don't know the NATIONAL history of Sweden, my family history is just waiting for me to explore on the other side of the ocean. That I think I will find quite overwhelming. Oh...and my one cousin promised me a complete tour of Stockholm. I like big cities.


Phil