The latest kilt

[Ranald]

Hi all, thought I would share with you I got a military kilt recently (ebay) in the Cameron tartan made by Thomas Gordon & sons LTD Glasgow, I have to report it's just first class, and I've never seen or heard of such a pleating system as what this has got.
The pleats are a cross between knife and box pleats! To the exterior of the kilt the pleats actually look like box pleats but further investigation reveals knife pleats!
cheers

[M. A. C. Newsome]

That's military style box pleating.

Basically, in the original box pleat, what I call a "true" box pleat, the depth of the pleats is about the same on the right and left, with little or no overlap. This is the 4-yard box pleated kilt.

The modern military version of the box pleat uses 8 yards of cloth, and in one direction has a very shallow pleat, while the other side has a very deep pleat, like a knife pleated kilt.

In reality, it's like a knife pleated kilt with the end of the pleat turned over just a bit!

Sounds like you got a great kilt!
Aye,
Matt

[Jimmy Carbomb]

...I got a military kilt recently (ebay) in the Cameron tartan made by Thomas Gordon & sons LTD Glasgow...

Now, THAT'S how to shop for kilts!;)

There are so many complaints of the cost of kilts, and the inability to find wool around this place, that some guys are settling for inferior products just to have a kilt NOW. What you found is a GREAT example of what time and patience can produce.

The 9.5-yard Saskatchewan Tartan, wool kilt that I just bought cost me a whole $100 (usd). It was worn once for a celebration, and was only gathering dust. Now, it will find a new life.

There are Scottish and Irish newspapers out there that advertise these types of things all the time. With all the online browsing, the actual papers are sitting there with LOADS of deals.

[Ranald]

Thanks guys for the replies, yes it's truely a first class kilt cost me £41 and I'm pleased and proud to own it.Date on the inside says 1953.
Question is would you still dry clean it if it was you?

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Thanks guys for the replies, yes it's truely a first class kilt cost me £41 and I'm pleased and proud to own it.Date on the inside says 1951.
Question is would you still dry clean it if it was you?

That's a tricky one.

IF you have a HIGHLY reputable Dry Cleaner in your area that understands the importance of treating this kilt like an heirloom... it may be okay.

Otherwise, try to learn the fine art of hand washing with Woolite, or atleast learn how to spot-clean wool. There are many online sources for the information and you can even ask some reputable kilt companies for advise... just make sure to ask ones that deal solely in fine wools.

Since you're dealing with an "older" kilt material (before 1980) you may have a "pure wool" kilt. What that means is... there may not be preservative fibres mixed in the weave. Your wool kilt may actually be a WOOL kilt. IF there's a fibre tag on it (100% Wool), you're way ahead of the game.

[jfellrath]

I, for one, would love to see some close-up pictures of these pleats... I'm having a hard time envisioning them from your description.

[chasem]

I'd like to see a pic too. I've heard the military box pleating described, but I cannot imagine it.

[macwilkin]

Thanks guys for the replies, yes it's truely a first class kilt cost me £41 and I'm pleased and proud to own it.Date on the inside says 1951.
Question is would you still dry clean it if it was you?

I only had my 1950's era Black Watch of Canada kilt (made by a Glasgow company, don't remember which one) dry-cleaned once, and that was only by a reputable dry-cleaner that I knew personally. I'd go wi' Jimmy's sound advice, if it were me.

Very nice find, btw!

Cheers,

Todd

[sav]

Military Box Pleats:

This is the style worn by the Black Watch and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during the Second World War.
~Sav

[chasem]

I can't tell the difference between that and knife pleats