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A Kilt is basically a pleated, wrapped skirt. The back half
of the kilt is pleated, the front half is the made of two overlapping panels. A
true kilt is completely handmade.
The tartan kilt has been the most famous cultural tradition
of Scotland. The first tartans were designed by individual weavers and later
adapted to identify individual districts and then clans and families.
The plaid now has become more of a fashion garment for the
elite. The precise manufacturing and replication made possible by the
industrial revolution has allowed the mass production of the plaid.
The modern tailored kilt is box-pleated or knife-pleated,
with the pleats sewn in and the lower edges reaching not lower than the centre
of the knee-cap.
The kilt is traditionally for men only, although in the
modern era, women have also taken up the kilt as well as dresses patterned
after kilts. Girls wear Kilten skirts.
Scottish kilts, tartans, highland wear kilt hire and kilt
accessories are available on sale from various scottish retailers and
manufacturers. Around the turn of the last century, several companies—including
Utilikilts, Twenty-First Century Kilts, and Pittsburgh Kilts—began producing
garments that are often not tartan, and referring to their products as kilts.
Beware! Scottish kilts are not Scottish any more. The BBC
reported on December 1st, 2005 “Companies which imply tartan products made in
India are the product of Scotland could face tougher sanctions. The Department
of Trade of Scotland has agreed to conduct an investigation into concerns
raised by Scottish tartan manufacturers about unfair trading practices."
So you must be clear whether kilts, which you purchase, are made in
Scotland. Particularly for a product like tartan, you need to have confidence
that you are buying genuine Scottish made goods. About Author Prince Mathew is a freelance writer of www.thekiltshop.co.uk,
a kilt shop which has a long and rich history of over half a century. They were
established in 1947 and started offering fine Scottish kilts on sale with
related accessories. They have about 9 branches in the North East of Scotland.
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