why do they make kilts?

**bikercelt1** · 9th January 07, 01:50 PM

I don't see many kilts on the streets of Portland even though there is a very large community of kilt wearers at the Portland Highland Games. I've seen a fair number of games attendees show up in trousers, change into their kilt on-sight and then change back into trousers before they leave. I don't get that.

When my daughter was an University in Seattle I would occasionally see people in Utilikilts and only a couple of times in traditional kilts. Everybody seemed to know about kilts and accept them, they just didn't wear them.

In the little town I live in there are still people who get "shocked" when they see me in a kilt. The local young men still feel the need to laugh, point fingers and make disparaging remarks on occasion, but for most people (especially the folks who know me) my kilt wearing is a non-event. I fear that I'm just considered an eccentric (or a degenerate by some) rather than a harbinger of a more enlightened way of dressing.

Jamie

**arrogcow** · 9th January 07, 02:38 PM

A while ago I posted on the UK yahoo group an estimate of how many people owned UK's. While I don't remember (and can't find) the actual numbers I worked out, it came to something like 1 in every 300,000 people in the US own a kilt that they wear regularly (meaning at least once a week, as opposed to just to Celtic events). Sure enough in Cincinnati that translates to about 8-10 guys in the area. I personally know of about 6-7 (some on this board), and have only once run in to someone in a kilt accidentally (ie just going about daily business). On the other hand, I have personally sold well over 100 UK's and the Cincinnati, Dayton and Dublin Celtic festivals, and given away several 100's of cards on the streets (and talked to others about PK, AK, SWK and USAK as well as XMarks).

The kilts are out there, but we're still a very small minority. My prediction then was that it would be at least 10 years before seeing a kilt randomly was at least a weekly event.

Adam

**michael steinrok** · 9th January 07, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by arrogcow

A while ago I posted on the UK yahoo group an estimate of how many people owned UK's. While I don't remember (and can't find) the actual numbers I worked out, it came to something like 1 in every 300,000 people in the US own a kilt that they wear regularly (meaning at least once a week, as opposed to just to Celtic events). Sure enough in Cincinnati that translates to about 8-10 guys in the area. I personally know of about 6-7 (some on this board), and have only once run in to someone in a kilt accidentally (ie just going about daily business). On the other hand, I have personally sold well over 100 UK's and the Cincinnati, Dayton and Dublin Celtic festivals, and given away several 100's of cards on the streets (and talked to others about PK, AK, SWK and USAK as well as XMarks).

The kilts are out there, but we're still a very small minority. My prediction then was that it would be at least 10 years before seeing a kilt randomly was at least a weekly event.

Adam

That is an awful lot of kilts, but weekly? Doubt it. Why are they not here?
I have seen a couple people wear them around the south bay but very few.

**arrogcow** · 9th January 07, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by michael steinrok

That is an awful lot of kilts, but weekly? Doubt it. Why are they not here?
I have seen a couple people wear them around the south bay but very few.

That was my point, there are several hundred UK's in closets in the Cincinnati area, and several hundred tartans (I've seen them at festivals and Burn's nights), but I only know 6 guys who wear them regularly (self not included), and 4 of us are members here.

Adam

**Doomsday** · 26th July 08, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by bikercelt1

I don't see many kilts on the streets of Portland even though there is a very large community of kilt wearers at the Portland Highland Games. I've seen a fair number of games attendees show up in trousers, change into their kilt on-sight and then change back into trousers before they leave. I don't get that.

Yes I have seen the same at the highland games here in the Portland, OR area. However, I have run into quite a number of the kilted in Portland and the numbers seem to be growing in the last few years.

**cessna152towser** · 10th January 07, 05:52 AM

But in my four days in Edinburgh, Scotland it was almost a certainty that when I passed a group of Asian tourists, the women would stop dead in their tracks, stare, point, and LAUGH.

I have often worn a kilt out and about in Edinburgh, both tartan and single colour, and have never been laughed at by Asian tourists. I have found wearing a kilt in Edinburgh is a non event. The very few reactions I have had in Edinburgh have all been complimentary and once two Asian ladies stopped me in Princes Street and asked me to pose for a photo with them. I have also been asked to pose for a photo with Japanese tourists in Fort William.

**Hamish** · 10th January 07, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by cessna152towser

I have often worn a kilt out and about in Edinburgh, both tartan and single colour, and have never been laughed at by Asian tourists. I have found wearing a kilt in Edinburgh is a non event. The very few reactions I have had in Edinburgh have all been complimentary and once two Asian ladies stopped me in Princes Street and asked me to pose for a photo with them. I have also been asked to pose for a photo with Japanese tourists in Fort William.

Precisely my experience too, Alex. Tartan, plain and even Utilikilts have caused me to be photographed by and with tourists in Edinburgh - especially anywhere near the Castle. The Japanese are those most likely to grab their cameras quickly and politely ask for photographs. I have also been very much aware of having video cameras following me, but owners of those never seem to ask if I have any objections - not that I would - they just point and shoot!!

**McClef** · 10th January 07, 08:01 AM

I have never been laughed at by tourists either and one becomes aware of sneaky pics being taken but many of them want to have a pic of themselves with a kiltie and they are always very polite in asking.

Last time the Chinese were outnumbering the Japanese!

**michael steinrok** · 10th January 07, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by McClef

I have never been laughed at by tourists either and one becomes aware of sneaky pics being taken but many of them want to have a pic of themselves with a kiltie and they are always very polite in asking.

Oh yeah

**Erisianmonkey** · 10th January 07, 09:12 AM

In the past month since I've started going kilted most of the time, Ive started to hear a lot more of that "distinctive" sound that camera phones are required to make anymore. Indeed, yesterday at a bus stop, some kid tried to pretend he was listening to someone on his phone, but whenever he thought I wasn't looking he'd snap a picture. Once he got about three or four, he walked away from the bus stop. I find it amusing.