The Rise of The Kilt

[KiltShot]

Are there any indicators nationwide or worldwide of increased interest in the kilt?
Perhaps more of them in the media or some published sales figures?
I found two indicators here on the forum:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f118/new-shop-60620/
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...o-store-58703/

Any other examples?

P.S. I don't believe everything I read:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-crisis-61752/

[jkane]

I used to be one of maybe 3 guys in kilts at beer festivals in Wisconsin. Now I feel the need to change over to Lederhosen because there are dozens of them in kilts each weekend! I don't like being "normal".

My personal observation.

[Pleater]

Another personal observation - over the last several decades I have attended the Sidmouth Folk festival in South East England.

Over the years the number of kilts has risen from five or six, all members of a band of pipe and drums, to a fair sprinkling - as 'normal' clothing.

There is a band which gets together just for the festival and some years there are two who turn up in kilts - that would be me and one other, not always the same other. Some years there are two kilted drummers dressed entirely in black - purely coincidentally.

If we ever get up to four in kilts in the band then I'd begin to consider kilt wearing to have reached the fringe of ordinary garb.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Whidbey78]

It's hard to say with any real objectivity. It's not a census form question, nor does anybody really track such things as far as I know.

I meet people all the time who are interested, have worn a kilt a few times, or own one or more but only wear them for special occasions, games, etc. It's sort of like buying a car...suddenly you see the same model everywhere you go. They were around, but you never really took note. It looks like growth since I never heard anybody even mention kilts a few years ago, but on the other hand it isn't really a topic that comes up unless you are a kilt wearer talking to other kilt wearers, or it's idle chit-chat with a stranger while wearing a kilt. Nothing starts up kilt related conversations like wearing a kilt!

While Utilikits is branching out with a new store it isn't a reliable indicator of expanded interest. Since the bulk of their business is mail-order they may simply have been sending a lot of product to one area and decided it would be more economical to have a brick and mortar store there and have the customers come to them instead of shipping product to that same area.

Rocky, Alt.Kilt, SHO and others have hired additional employees and/or moved to larger facilities in recent months, but that can't be a reliable marker either. It's impossible to know how many of their growing customer base are new kiltwearers and how many are "converts" to a new brand.

While economists say the recession was over a year ago, people are still watching money closely, and will be for some time. Some who would usually deal with makers in the UK may be shopping the domestic market to avoid the added expenses incurred with international purchases.


Of course I'm basing my statement on what is happening here...the same could very well be true overseas. That may be the most reliable way to see if there is growth...compare market share between retailers in different locations. What are the trends in their demographics and customers geographic situation. We wouldn't need monetary figures, just a few numbers: What percentage of your business was domestic, how much was foriegn(and where did it go), what is your overall increase or loss in purchases over the last x-amount of years. A very, very rough estimate is the best one could hope to get even if a ton of retailers volunteered their figures for review and comparison, as you still have to account for the independent kiltmakers, shops that also sell material that could be "kilted up" by the customer or another maker of the buyers choice, or used for a completely different purpose. Then there is the used kilt market...impossible to track.

Then, how do we qualify and quantify "interest?" Do we include the guy who bought a cheap kilt at the games or renfair and never wore it again? The one who bought the cheap kilt and wears it occasionally but simply regards it as another thing in the closet to wear and has no real passion about it? Or the one who bought it because it seemed like a good idea at the time but never will use it? How about the guy who bought 5 for his wedding party? To the seller, it's a purchase and even detailed sales figures won't shed much light on the kilt's end use or the intent and mindset of the customer.

It's extremely difficult to track consumer interests in anything but the largest markets(electronics, cars, etc.). In such a small market, and a small community it's nearly impossible to really see if there is growing interest, growing consumption of product, or if there is simply a shift in where people are going for products. On the other hand, maybe very little is changing except that forums such as this put a lot of info in one spot and bring together a lot of people with a common interest who otherwise would never meet and, thus, creates the illusion of a larger community or a growth trend.

[KiltShot]

It's extremely difficult to track consumer interests in anything but the largest markets(electronics, cars, etc.). In such a small market, and a small community it's nearly impossible to really see if there is growing interest, growing consumption of product, or if there is simply a shift in where people are going for products. On the other hand, maybe very little is changing except that forums such as this put a lot of info in one spot and bring together a lot of people with a common interest who otherwise would never meet and, thus, creates the illusion of a larger community or a growth trend.

Does this mean that only a dramatic increase in demand or media presence would answer the question?

[Whidbey78]

I'm just saying that I am not sure if it could be answered accurately based on the information available. A trend can't be identified without having at least two sets of figures to compare, whether they are from two locations to identify movement or two times to indicate changes. I'm also unsure if increased presence in the "public eye" would indicate an increase in interest or participation, but it could probably generate one.

Many on this forum have commented that they have notice an increase in kilt wearing, in North America and elsewhere. I always try to look at things from as many angles as I can(and admittedly rarely get to all of them), so I wonder if there is growth in kilt wearing, or if kilties are just showing up in higher concentrations. There were probably similar discussions about hippies at one time.

I think(read--my opinion) that there probably is a slow growth in the number of kilties amongst us, at least in the US and Canada, which is probably a good thing. I would much rather see a slow and gradual increase in kilt wearing than have it rapidly become a common and popular fashion, as they rarely last. Think about leisure suits, bell bottoms, MC Hammer pants, red leather jackets with 70 zippers, the list goes on.

[Orthzar]

From all of the comments by non-kilties I read on this forum and other forums, I would believe that the kilt is almost universally recognized and just under universally liked. Utilikilts is certainly aiding the movement, as the whole premise behind their development was comfort and practicality (this is the sign of a great idea).

I think to get a good over-view of how the movement to a "kilted society", I would like to hear about how many kilts the smaller kilt makers are selling per month. Because modern kilts have little or no value as pure Scottish attire, those who buy them are more likely buying them to wear them as mere clothing, therefore any significant increase in modern kilt purchases should mean that at least modern kilts are becoming more common (albeit slowly).

My only reservation to a "kilted society" is that I kind of like the idea of being in my 60s and the only guy in a small New Hampshire town, wearing a nice traditional kilt with a cane walking around town. Such a novelty would be very nice were I older and living in a smaller town; until then, a "kilted society" sounds like a great idea.

[Riverkilt]

Well, I'm an olde guy, kilted in a small town, who'd love common sense to reign and have a town full of kilted gents. Trudging along so far...only one other local - who moved away due to a business transfer. My third kilted visitor arrives tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to being one of TWO kilties in town.

To add to the success stories don't forget X Marks Owner Steve's growth of Freedom Kilt from home, to shop, to a larger shop.

Utilikilts is pretty open about their success claiming they've sold over 15,000 Utilikilts....that figure is from a recent email from a honcho there - assume its semi-accurate.

[KiltShot]

We may be too far ahead of the curve to recognize the growing interest and have too few examples of quantifiable data to confirm it.

...I would much rather see a slow and gradual increase in kilt wearing than have it rapidly become a common and popular fashion, as they rarely last...

I agree. And until they do become popular we remain as novelties to the locals.

...if a group of crows is a murder, and group of sheep is a flock, what is a group of tartans?

I wonder if there is growth in kilt wearing, or if kilties are just showing up in higher concentrations.

Would that make a group of kilties a clump??

Well, I'm an olde guy...

You keep hanging out with that young gang of rude punks who call you "olde" and some day you'll start believing it!

[Monkey@Arms]

=KiltShot;917327
Would that make a group of kilties a clump??

Look it up, a group of kilties is "a rabble." So it is written so, it shall be.

Best regards,

Jake