creative (or strange) pleating

[OC Richard]

This kilt is on Ebay now. It has the typical Pakistani label saying "authentic woven tartan designed in Scotland" but what's interesting/creative/bizarre is that it's pleating alternates block/purple lines/block/white lines/block/purple lines/block. The belt loops are odd too- none of this trying to blend in like on most kilts!

[Tarheel]

I remember an earlier thread on marketing/designs, that became rather ugly at times when it strayed from the subject of the kilt/main topic. The pictured kilt is interesting. Not my color scheme. A pattern I would not wear (though I see the designers intent for a modernized visual effect "very artsy") I would add to the label "knifed in the back- box pleat". I feel that, like the Pompador hairstyle, this fad will pass and the tried but true kilt design will prevail.

[RockyR]

I would add to the label "knifed in the back- box pleat". I feel that, like the Pompador hairstyle, this fad will pass and the tried but true kilt design will prevail.

Curious what you mean by these 2 sentences. This is a knife pleated kilt. No box pleats anywhere on it that I see.

Also, which fad? Inexpensive kilts or purple kilts or kilts with "creative" (horrible) pleating?

[Couper]

I like that well enough that I would wear it to a Baltimore Ravens* game.

* Team colors all the way.

[OC Richard]

What is that tartan anyhow? I see hundreds of Pakistani kilts in it at every Highland Games.

One of the new fashion tartans, I feel certain, but perhaps a few changes were made to avoid legalities?

Reminds me of Pride of Bannockburn



which reminds me of Spirit of Bannockburn.

But having the three purple stripes from Spirit of Scotland.

Oh, I see. It was designed by the Gold Brothers, who call it (rather ironically) Heritage Of Scotland apparently by combining and simplifying elements in various modern fashion tartans

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=1695

[Tarheel]

Good questions Rocky. It is a full knife pleat, that is patterned with "boxes" of vertical purple, then white, then purple stripes. I see that the belt loops separate those "boxes" and draw attention to the divisions. The last statement would involve the practical side of mass production and cost. How much extra material is used in the pattern and how much effort in layout and stitching is consumed to make it practical. I never discount new ideas but would pose the problem to an experienced kiltmaker if it is practical or a specialty item. I must refer to Couper's comment in that the market would certainly be "Raven's Fan base" or even "LSU" if the stripes were purple, gold, purple. That limits the mass appeal but the individual wearing this kilt can't be ignored as unique.

[California Highlander]

I never discount new ideas but would pose the problem to an experienced kiltmaker if it is practical or a specialty item. I must refer to Couper's comment in that the market would certainly be "Raven's Fan base" or even "LSU" if the stripes were purple, gold, purple. That limits the mass appeal but the individual wearing this kilt can't be ignored as unique.

Agree that the pleating is not attractive to my eye and seems impractical. As to the colors, it's not really a nod to the American market. However my kids' school colors are purple, black, and white and have a Scottish motif, so I have a kilt in Heritage of Scotland. 8yd polyviscose, machine washable, conventional knife pleat, very inexpensive, gets complements at the basketball games. Heritage of Scotland may not be a sophisticated tartan, but it's better looking than many other tartans, IMHO. Remember not to quickly disparage someone else's tartan unless you offer your own family tartan up for the critical eye of Xmarksthescot.com!




With these kind of eBay items, I find it best to just not look at the wreck and point, but instead just drive on by.

[Tarheel]

Folks, I have not heeded sound advice given to me by my grandfather, "If set a trap for bear, don't step in it." So I will retreat, licking my wounds. I do appreciate the "rubber-neck the wreck" analogy.

[OC Richard]

Remember not to quickly disparage someone else's tartan...

I won't fess up to the 'disparaging' part, because I stated one fact and one (rather obvious) observation: the tartan was designed by the Gold Brothers and simplifies and combines elements of two modern Scottish-designed fashion tartans, Pride of Bannockburn and Spirit of Scotland. It's up to others to decide if these facts are disparaging or complimentary.

That tartan hasn't been given a chance to look good, in my personal experience, because I've only seen it woven in cheap flimsy fabric using a poorly-chosen palette. If woven in proper kilting cloth and using a well-chosen palette that tartan would be quite attractive. It looks fine in that computer-generated image posted above.