X Marks changes

[Mael Coluim]

BTW, I am 55. But a young 55. And I get a lot of attention from ladies of a younger persuasion when I wear my UK Workman's and boots, so there is a place in my closet for it.

BTW, I am 58. But a young 58. And I get a lot of attention from ladies of a younger persuasion when I wear my traditonal kilts, so there area many places in my closet for them.

PS I sold off my UK mocker, due to weight loss and didn't replace it. Rarely wear my AK. What I wear now when I would have worn them are now USAK and B&S casuals.

[turpin]

Touche, Ern.

[DeWayne Ross]

An intersting topic, along with the flow of the tide there is also the economy for many. An expensive more traditional kilt vs. a less expensive modern version.

Many variables. This thread has been a good read.

[ali8780]

Very interesting Alan...

[Wompet]

Jock is right fashion comes and goes.

Oh no! He used the "F" word in front of Alan!
If it was anyone but Santa, do you realize the carnage that would result?!

And now to the serious part of the post:

... I think it might be an idea for us to consider this phenomenon in nautical terms: the tide comes in and the tide goes out and maybe the tide is "in" for traditional stuff at this moment in time. Give it another two years and I suspect that the tide may be "out".

A "tidal resurgence" of the traditional could be part of the trend ...

I think one reason, perhaps, for the surge in traditional kilt posts is the increase in members from the UK in the last 2 years or so. Contemporary kilts aren't as common over there, and we on this side are also interested in "how it is done" on the Mother Ship, so with so many subject matter experts now available there is naturally a surge in posting about it.

I have to second this as contributing to the trend in posts.

But a third part, and this is just my opinion, is that there are only so many ways to make a contemporary kilt, so there are only going to be so many sellers in that market niche. Do want you want your snaps in a "V", "I I", or "X" - try sellers A, B, C, or D. Straps instead of snaps - sellers D or E. Velcro - go here. Knife pleats, box pleats, or reverse Kinguisse - here are your options.
*Make your own - you're already here, just do a quick search for Alan's X Kilt Manual.*
Because traditional kilts are more widely available, in ironically more configurations (5 yd/8 yd/ box, sett or stripe, knife/box/military box/Kinguisse/reverse Kinguisse) - there is going t be more discussion of them and what is worn with them.
Just a thought.

[Sammac]

Maybe price is a factor, a USAK casual or Sportkilt is a bit less expensive than a Utilikilt.

[Farlander]

Alan, thanks for your insightful observation. Even in my shorter time on this forum, I have noticed a trend toward the traditional. It has been gradual enough that it could be easy to miss.

...
And now to the serious part of the post:
A "tidal resurgence" of the traditional could be part of the trend ...
I have to second this as contributing to the trend in posts.
...
Just a thought.

Quite so! Another aspect, or side effect of this is that a traditional kilt posting is more likely to get a positive response. We humans, being somewhat social creatures tend to like the positive reaction, and avoid the negative.

I for one have been 'trained' to shy away (at least some) from making contemporary kilt postings on this forum.

[xman]

I for one have been 'trained' to shy away (at least some) from making contemporary kilt postings on this forum.

What do you mean by this?

[SteveB]

My avatar has me in a traditional hand sewn tartan kilt from Alba, in an almost traditional fashion. The errors were already gleaned in another thread a long time ago. It is in my clan tartan and is the pride of my kilt kollection.

My first "kilt" was shortly after my birth over a half century ago. There are many family pictures of me running around in it. This was long before the invention of colour photography. the shading indicates that it was a tartan, and most likely Clan MacNeil. Now as to the construction, it had "pleats" (more like gathers) in the rear and the aprons in front, until it slid around on me. The "Safety Pin" was not on the lower end of the apron, but used to keep the kilt on me. I did not get my first trousers until I was six, and preferred to wear my "real" kilt. My mother oft told me of my ability to educate my teachers concerning the boy garment that I chose to wear here in the U.S.

Fast forward in time. Real kilt is very expensive and sits in the closet except for special occasions. (Teen years).

Then along comes various contemporary kilts. I am back in the kilt again full time. Artisan Kilt, a self colour, cotton, rayon, elsewhat mix that hangs well, swings well, and is very inexpensive (the cost of two pair of Levis). I am happy. I become a contemporary kilt wearer, with T-shirt and short hose with either boots or trainers.

Fast forward even more.
Artisan is long gone out of business, Utilikilts, Amerikilt, Freedom Kilt are all inexpensive ways to kilt up, until the tartan fabric revolution.

Stillwater Kilts and others bring acrylic fiber and low cost into making a kilt that is assembled much like the traditional kilt, at a cost at or less than the contemporary kilt products.

Utilikilts and their ilk have raised prices up and the cost of a tartan garment has come down. First is the "traditional" kilt shops are now sewing "casual" models of less than eight yards, and are using sewing machines (gasp). The cost of these wool garments is getting close to the self colour garments of the contemporary market. Then along come P/V.
USA Kilts has a Semi-Traditional tartan kilt that costs less than the offerings of Utilikilts for those of us that have to pay a fat tax. Then Rocky has casual kilts made to measure, that is just to good to be true and costs less.

It is now easier to be wearing tartan than to wear a self colour contemporary here in the U.S.

I still wear contemporary garments for working the garden (mowing the lawn). It is more likely that I will be in tartan when I head to the grocer though.

These economic factors have probably influenced the kilt discussion here on X-marks for those of us in the U.S.

For the right side of the salt pond, I believe we are seeing a greater interest in things Scottish by the people living in Scotland. This is brought to the front by the great marketing of Homecoming 2009. Prior to this is the news reports concerning the trade in tourist trap tat, and its impact by such shops as the Gold Bros.

Both the kilt and tartan are making a bigger show in the public marketplace than only three years ago.

Here we are.

Slainte

[Howard Clark]

I first started with an inexpensive acrylic kilt in black watch. Liked it enough to want more. Bought fabric. Made kilt like garments based on a bad pattern (the acrylic one). Made more playing with it however I thought it should be. Then I found this place.

I work in the blacksmith shop in kilts that I made myself, every day unless it is so cold as to be impossible. When I go to town I wear tartan wool, mostly Matt Newsome four yard box pleats, but I do now have two tanks as well. The tartan is much more recognized as a kilt in central Iowa by most folks. Solid color contemporary stuff, less so and more likely to generate "skirt" comments. I play paintball kilted in one of Robert's fine "Mach 5" hemp kilts (RKilts). I do now need to make new shop kilts, as the first batch is wearing out (cheap fabric). At least one of the new ones is likely to be camo.

I steer people here as well, this place could have saved me a lot of trouble had I found it sooner, and helped answer my many questions once I did.

But for me, whilst out and about I am in a wool tartan kilt, and more or less a "traditionalist" at this point.