Just been interviewed by Pat Sharp for BBC Radio Kent. The first time it has been me doing the talking rather than the Skilts themselves.
To listen on BBC i-player click here. I’m on at 0:25.30. 🙂
Tag: kilts
Satisfied customer: Stephen thinks his army Skilt is brilliant
Richard
All I can say is fantastic. Fit is great, wife is impressed, daughter likes, the whole thing is brilliant. Was planing for the first outing to be the Army v Navy game in May but now looking for any excuse to be able to wear it.
I will get the wife to take some photos soon, she wants to put them on her Facebook, and I will send them to you. A few colleagues have shown interest, so now I have mine, I will be taking in to work to show them.
Once again thank you and a fantastic job.
Stephen
The kilt was invented by an Englishman
According to Andrew Bolton’s ‘Bravehearts – Men in Skirts‘ the modern style of kilt known as the ‘little wrap’ (feileadh beag) was invented in the first quarter of the 18th century … by an Englishman! The little wrap was an evolution of the ‘big wrap’ or belted plaid (feileadh beag).
The belted plaid was constructed from a large rectangular piece of material about 5 feet wide and roughly 14-16 feet long and served as garment during the day and blanket at night. In order to put the garment on the man would first pleat the cloth by hand and then secure it in place with a belt. The end of the plaid could be worn in various arrangements over the shoulder(s) to keep the weather off.
For a great pictorial explanation of how to put on a belted plaid check out the website of the Clansman Centre.
How many thousands of man days went into this daily pleating exercise? English highland dress fan Thomas Rawlinson had a bright idea that would make the kilt much easier to wear: to stitch down the tops of the pleats and so form the general style of the kilt we know and love today. How he came to invent the kilt is explained in a letter by Mr Baille of Aberiachan published in the Edinburgh Magazine in March 1785:
‘About 50 years ago, one Thomas Rawlinson, an Englishman, conducted an iron work carried on in the countries of Glengarie and Lochaber; he had a throng of Highlanders employed in the service, and became very fond of the highland dress, and wore it in the neatest form; which I can aver, as I become personally acquainted with him above 40 years ago. He was a man of genius and quick parts, and thought it no great stretch of invention to abridge the dress, and make it handy and convenient for his workmen: and accordingly directed the using of the lower part plaited of what is called the felie or kilt as above, and the upper part was set aside… It was found so handy and convenient that, in the shortest space, the use of it became frequent in all the Highland Countries, and in many of our northern Low Countries also.’
I think it is great that Scotsmen are happy to embrace good design when they see it. I’m always very pleased when a Skilt makes it’s way north of the border!
Draught guidance: a kilt need underwear – Telegraph
The Scottish Tartans Authority has decreed that refusing to put on underwear beneath a kilt is “childish and unhygienic”.
It also warned that “going commando” flies in the face of decency.
Tartans Authority director Brian Wilton said kilt wearers should have the “common sense” to realise they should wear underwear beneath their country’s national dress.
He said “The idea that you are not a real Scot unless you are bare under your kilt should be thrown into the same wastepaper basket as the idea that you’re not a real Scot unless you put salt on your porridge.
“People should not be browbeaten into believing that nonsense. Just because Highlanders wore nothing in the days before Y-fronts were invented doesn’t mean that we, in the 21st Century, should wear nothing too.
via Draught guidance: a kilt need underwear – Telegraph.
My thoughts:
Can’t say that I agree. I recommend that London kilts are worn with uncommon indecency!
Tip: if you are concerned about hygiene simply safety pin a piece of fabric to the inside of the front apron. You can change it as often as you like without needing to wash the whole kilt.
Happy Xmas from Skilt – the London kilt
This isn’t a new image but it seems timely for me to post it onto the blog.
Max brought this Kilted (OK, I know it’s a hula skirt!) Santa back from Hawaii. She’s away in Australia right now … I wonder if she’ll find a kilted kangaroo or something while she’s out there?
Have a great winter solstice and Christmas holiday.
Satisfied customer: Les’s kilt is fantastic
Richard,
Just a quick text to say the kilts arrived at 8am this morning. I must say an impressive and quick service and as for the kilt it’s fantastic thank you very much. If you do manage to do your t shirts please let me know and I will definitely be purchasing more kilts from you again.
Thank you.
Les
Skilt at Club RUB
I have been going through my old emails and found this image advertising Club RUB:
We gave a prize for the best dressed. Here is a pic of me presenting the happy winner with his award:
