What They Don't Say About The Kilt 

Thanks very much, Bruce and Marion!

You look at Romans, in History, no Panks Greek no panks 🥃🍺🇬🇧😇

Galicians wore kilt centuries b4 Scots. Tartan Authority confirms this . What the Scots wore was basically a toga. The Galicians wore a skirt proper .

Ur full of shit history is written by the winners we lost so the English made a lot of this bullshit up

"There are no surviving photographs". Anyone would think you disappeared them all 😅👍

My great-uncle served with the 8th (Service) Battalion. Here's a quote from the Wauchope history of that battalion - talking about an episode from early July 1915: "War, however, was found to have a humorous as well as a serious side, and all ranks chuckled when Sergeant McHardy, machine gun section, had to go kiltless because the kilt which he had hung up to dry was blown away by a shell."

Rather than trying to write shit in phonics, just write in English and we can all understand what the fuck you are saying.

@@douglasherron7534 that would be a bugger to go on a bare ass charge into Germany lines

@@coppertopv365 😂 Yes! Especially with all that barbed-wire about.... Might give the Hun a bit of a shock though (visions of "Carry-on Up The Khyber"!).

Yes I understood that?

❤

When my late grandfather moved south after the war, he wore his Gordan Highlanders kilt to every Burns' Night. I treasure the photographs of him and the piper of the haggis.

Kin! ❤ although I’m from the Caribbean my father’s ancestors are from that clan and we still carry the name.

Love the family story, thank you for sharing!

Wonderful family stories, traditions

The Greek fustanella is *almost* a kilt.

My Gramma a Scottish woman and very skilled seamstress wouldn't even bother making kilts because of exactly what you mentioned 😆 she respected anyone who ever tried to make one. Much respects madam, that's one frickin cool story

So, uh, up for a second Kilt?

That’s interesting, it’s human behaviour I suppose.

It is quite different though. The Japanese never had foreigners enforce it. Also, having specific ritual types of kimono have a long tradition among the classes where it was economically possible. Having special types of dress codes for ceremonies and sacred spaces is something widespread all over the world.

Also, the kimono bows used to be in the front, then gradually moved to the back so they could both be grander, and appeal to the flat front. Since not all women are the same, methods were devised to grant the more buxom a flat front for the kimono, something still used today.

Yeah, that’s not really true at all. During the Meiji Restoration, Japan wanted to modernize (read by many as ‘westernize’). The Kimono and ‘traditional’ clothing was “frowned upon” as they tried to modernize, but it was never legally “banned.” Kimonos were basically worn at ALL stations of life/class; they higher classes just had fancier kimonos and accessories.

Wool garments have a natural water repellent quality (and in the old days this was probably even better due to less of the natural oils being washed out during production). Therefore, unless it was really belting down, you would have remained relatively dry underneath a multi-layered wool kilt.

@@douglasherron7534 you can buy lanolin and put the oils back into the fabric.

@@gustavmeyrink_2.0 Sure, but I don't think that would have been possible (or necessary) in the Highlands pre-1746.

Ask any sheep.

Flora would be proud😊

There is *a lot* of Scottish history and culture in the American South that is overlooked or forgotten. It's just so ingrained. Even Texas has a registered Tartan and nearly half their cities named after Scots people or words. I heard a theory (can't confirm or deny) that classes "Southern Hospitality" was influenced by Scottish culture.

Many being the descendants of confusingly named Scots Irish. A term which only gets used in USA.

Here in America tartan is called plaid. Plaid is actually what you are wearing as a sash .

@@christabell-zc9rn tartan sounds better than plaid

Tartan and plaid are 2 different patterns.

@@christabell-zc9rn What I am wearing is a tartan sash, not a plaid.

​@@allisonshaw9341since when were the injuns tied into tartans? Is it like the Maasi type deal?

Also the most important thing about bespoke clothing... it fits you just right especially if you're tall and/or broad chested and in some cases it gives you a better range of motion or at least more comfortable range of motion, no more t-shirts riding up when you put your arms over your head or jumper sleeves that pull too far up the arm or cover your hands, no more trousers that are too restrictive in the... legs, I have fat thighs ok, don't know what you were thinking i was thinking about.

@@MrTrilbe yeah legs. Totally what I was thinking 😀

You actually think you're saying something profound? EVERYONE would prefer to have 'bespoke' clothing. Do you anything about it...at all? New York garment district has fabric that 'bespoke' tailors use. It starts at about $600 a YARD. How many pairs of socks can you afford?

@@debbylou5729 1) it's "Do you KNOW anything about it", 2) Manhattan Garment District, 3) bespoke means made to measure, if i make myself a t-shirt it's bespoke and if i can get dyed cotton for £5.50 (after taxes) for a 0.5m by 1.5m bolt, you picked a product specifically to say no one but the rich can afford it, or trained tailors can make clothes, 4) Profound, i think you need to look that up in a dictionary, no one in this particular message thread has said anything that has show great knowledge or insight, they have just pointed out that getting clothes made for you, by anyone, means they will fit better than off the rack clothing, that's made for a mathematically impossible to find average, 5) I would say have a nice day, but you don't appear to be a nice person, i'll say instead, may you live in interesting times.

@@MrTrilbe oh, so you're petty. You might have yours turned off or maybe you don't know about it , but there's this thing called spell check that sometimes doesn't. You are describing home made....ask anyone. The GARMENT DISTRICT is a neighborhood in New York City. Ever been ? I lived in Fairfield Connecticut and went several times. I've seen clothing since I was 16 and just because I made items to fit doesn't make them bespoke. A typical bespoke shirt from a tailor begins at around $600 up to $1000. I'm happy you learned a new word 'bespoke' but the fact that this is your direction is funny. Most people I know that buy 'off the rack' take the items to a tailor (not a dry cleaner's alterations department) and have the item adjusted to fit them. You might be a great little seamstress, but with out the training you aren't a tailor

Bonsoir depuis le sud de la France, je vous écris en français je ne suis pas assez fort en anglais même si j'ai des notions, ; moi-même je suis porteur de kilts au quotidien depuis 5 ans après avoir été porteur occasionnel pendant dix ans. Oui, c'est un vêtement fantastique, qui allie élégance, virilité (les femmes adorent), et confort incroyable, liberté de mouvements sans équivalents. Mes kilts sont des tartans traditionnels ou des utily-kilts en tissus unis, j'en ai aussi 4 en cuir. Je ne porte plus de pantalons, ni de shorts, ni de bermudas (je les ai tous donné), je vais au travail en utily-kilts. L'occasion pour moi d'en finir avec la dictature du "torture tube fabric" alias le pantalon. Le port du kilt commence à se développer ici en France, des associations ont déposé de nombreux tartans. j'ai lu votre témoignage avec un grand plaisir, bravo et bonne continuation.

@@Cowboyfunk I don't speak French ( I wish I did ) but know enough words to understand most of what you said . I will get one or two lines translated to fully appreciate your post but is sounds like you running pretty much the same path as me . I hope you are having a great Christmas . Cheers

Hello and got to say I totally endorse your eloquent statement.

Thanks

I was staying with friends in Pendeen for months, 20 years ago. I think the last fluent Kernow Gaelic speaker was very old or had passed. The coastal people of the island had more in common with each other than those nearer to them inland.

There is a Cornish Kilt. When my Mum remarried her friends husband, who is Cornish wore it.

My father wore the Cornish tartan at his wedding to my mum, and I'll wear the same tartan when I marry my fiancée. It's a beautiful tartan.

@@Marie-Elaine There is a Cornish kilt, in a yellow and black 'tartan,' but there no records of it before the 20th century.

Meh....if anyone gives you grief A Glasgow kiss will set them right

If they are offended tell them to buggar off, sincerely a Scottish lass.

post skirt pic/vid pls

@@sierralarars aye

Interesting, Americans really do say "plaid skirt". I thought Robbie Coltrane was joking.

The Scottish kilt is an evolution of the Irish mantle, as the highland Scots were, until the later 16th century, virtually identical to the Irish in culture. In the late 16th century, they were noted to put their belts on top of their mantles instead of under, and hence starts the story of the great kilt.

The kilt is an adaptation of the Irish/Gaelic brat aka the mantle. The Scottish Highlander wore the léine, Brat and Ionar before the had to adapt to the Féileadh Mór.

That makes sense. There appears to be a lot of Norse influence on the ancient Scots.

@@Ryan_Dye-r Not true. Also Magnus Barefoot wore a tunic/Léine.

​@@pavelstaravoitau7106mantle is German for coat shelter covering.

Ha ha ha ha your welcome tae them back cousin.

@@alanwilkin8869 all yon Scots came from here. For years I thought Scotland and Australia were the same place. Where one sent the bad lads……..😂.

My mother was a Campbell!

@@tjleonard5254 Shshshshsh

The Campbells are coming, you can tell by the smell. The dirty rascals are smelling like hell. A wee rhyme I mind fae a wis wee....

Did he laugh?

u were right way backwards its better

The one and only time I've worn a kilt in public with no drawers underneath, I went to visit a lighthouse on the Oregon coast. Wind gave me some problems as i approached the place but I thought they'd be over once i got inside. HOWEVER... this lighthouse sent visitors up the central spiral staircase in groups, so I made sure I was the last person going up. After a few steps another group began to form below. Naturally they watched our group ascend while they awaited their turn. This is when I realized the folly of my clothing choice. A few more steps and I also discovered that a strong breeze gusts up the center of a lighthouse, and if you're wearing a dress, skirt or kilt, you WILL have a Marilyn Monroe experience. And if you're not wearing underwear, and a group of people are already looking up your kilt from below, well... They certainly were treated to a show that day, not only once but several times, in addition to the comedy of me trying to fight the good fight. But as the man said, "Ah cannae change that laws of physics, Captain!"

@@mikemilne Hilarious 😂

Also their customer service (at least as far as I've experienced it) is great

"Clan tartans" aren't really historical so colors shouldn'tt matter.

@@huntclanhunt9697 Last year I saw a lady wearing a plaid the same as that of one of my paternal line. It turned out she was from a village in Central Europe and it was also their tartan. Have you ever looked at the two tartan found with the truly ancient natural mummies of the Tarim Basin?

Nice thing about kilts is that you never have to worry about busting out the butt seam! But they do tend to be a bit drafty...

Fascinating information shared. Thank you , your passion is inspiring.

Going back to earlier periods (pre-45-rebellion) it's not that the kilt was so anachronistic or something, it's that the old tartans from back then have mostly been lost. Going into the decades following the 'Forty-five, then we have the forbidding of the kilt, the tartans, weapons and so on (unless of course you were in the British army). Then a bit later comes the huge popularity in England and lowland Scotland of *almost everything* Highland Scottish. Passion for everything Highland including the kilt. Eventually later on then you get more of the Highlanders (and those with Highland ancestry all over the world) joining in too. And yes, they are very definitely supposed to explain that, like he did here.

The actual history of the kilt itself is older than most of what he's talking about. This video is primarily about the renewed interest in the kilt, tartan patterns and all things Scottish and Highland, which developed into what we have today. And yes, he was very definitely right to mention that the British army is basically what kept the wearing of the kilt alive until everybody else could get in on the act. But the actual history of the kilt begins long before this. This is mostly just the history of its *revival* in comparatively modern times.

The people who talk about "how anachronistic the kilt was for a certain time period without explaining why". If it's the period from 1746 to about the early 1800's or so then they are assuming that everyone with any knowledge of Scottish history about that period *already knows* perfectly well why. And it is explained in many other places online including Wikipedia and a multitude of other websites. So they may actually have a right to suppose that you already know. On the other hand, if you *didn't* already know then you're certainly not going to learn much about it from them. So I am glad that there are people on RU-vid remembering to keep people informed about that sort of thing. Apparently not everyone already knows.

😜

I'd always wanted to take ballet. Finally, classes were available at the university so I signed up for the second level, first level being filled. First day of class, happy and excited I started. In short order I fell twice. The instructor came over to me and asked what was I doing in this class, and told me I should be in the first level. That was the end of classes for me. Oh, well.

Another from the Wood clan here. I think that there is a Wood tartan.

You mean every clan didn't have one of those three ring binders of "clan tartans" to check if a pattern was in use before they made a new one?

Clan Bell lass here. One of our weaves is only Black and White (wool from Black and White sheep). It's called the "Southern Bell" or "Bell South" tartan. Original clan, tartan weaves were generally not brightly colored; perhaps a bit of red,, blue, or green here and there. Reasons are many, but namely, Scotland being an jsland nation, not connected to mainland Europe, with a history that includes enforced trade restrictions by England. Furthermore, hand dyeing was arduous, and sourcing and gathering enough natural materials, such as berries, to create a dye bath resulted in most people owning and wearing a single kilt of muted or natural colors.for life. England's expansionism, by force, or by mutually beneficial trade negotiations, generated imports from India, Africa, France, and many other nations. Side note: The long and tumultuous history of Indigo,, the "gold stamdard" for creating BLUE dye, is an ancient tradition, carried on for generations in primarily three African nations, where the bushes grow, as well as INDIA, hence the name. A German immigrant and a tailor who sewed tents and wagon covers, became partners, ultimately creating the most universally recognized and iconographic piece of dyed clothing for the last 200 years: blue jeans. And though Scottish tartan has a far longer, more colorful, and meaningful, history of identifying family clans and national pride, the influence of blue jeans has even extended to blue jean kilts as a fashion statement. I LOVE THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE AND MY HERITAGE. Alba go bragh and thank you for your wonderful videos. P.s. your video about slavery and architecture in Scotland was a true eye opener. You might take a peek on Google and see how indigo has its place in Scottish history and the dyeing of tartan wool. Lyn from NY

@@lynb2039 Surely woad was the original historical blue dye in Britain? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anthem_of_the_Ancient_Britons#:~:text=%22National%20Anthem%20of%20the%20Ancient,%26%20Son%20Ltd%2C%201921).

To be fair, tribal peoples often respect one another, unlike “civilized” people

As a person of Native American descent that makes total sense to me. Anyone who has been to a Powow knows we love our bright colors and designs and appreciate craftsmanship!

​@@bendover9813 Id say history begs to disagree

Ah. There we go. It's a highland 'dress'.

@@bendover9813 This has indeed been my experience, when attending pow-wows in Highland garb.

Scottish-born, I cried when I heard the pipe band at the opening of Parliament in Cape Town (mid-80s)

the kilt is not a victim of militarisation. the military are now pretty much the only group that wear highland dress in all its forms correctly. They're the ones to look to for those interested in looking smart

@pUnPoetic Come to one of my live shows in Canada in 2024. Shows in Halifax, Annapolis, New Glasgow, Moncton, Montreal, Perth , Ottawa, Toronto, Fergus, Seaforth, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria. Most of the details are here. www.brucefummey.co.uk/shows.aspx

My granny did the same, I remember my wee sister getting wrapped up in her plaid (plide) stuck to my gran, bit like a papoose or a kanga 😆

@@sharonalexander4327 can you remember how to wrap? I can't, it was so quick/ efficient xo

Afraid not, i was about 8 when she did it and she passed away when I was 14 so I didn't get a chance to ask her, she was a wee feisty Irish woman. Suppose you could google it

@@sharonalexander4327 Thank You

my daughter did this with her daughter.

Must have been a north east lad being a Gordon

Im from the Gordon clan as well. Take care out there.

Impressive lineage.

🤯

Very interesting I have lost a bit of weight and my kilts are a little too big and they bunch up on my waist. I might take off the straps, pin it, and cinch it with my belt

First introduction to a kilt was strangely in Germany, while in the US Army when a Friend who was into Rock music went to a shop and got a kilt to wear into a concert.. I went with and thought he was Loony getting a kilt for a rock concert. He wore shorts under the kilt but still the idea was strange to me then as it is now but I reckon some punk rockers or something have their own "Style"..

I still have one of those pins but no kilt to use it on 😂 or

@@coppertopv365 I wear a kilt to Drama all the time. Always get a great reaction. It's a great icebreaker too. Greeting from Celtic Ireland.

Yay! Welcome on board and thanks to Max

Me too!

Brilliant

Ah thanks man

Totally agree 💯. Heard Bruce last week on Sportsound and he fitted in to BBC Scotland like a glove! 🤙

Oh, you answered my question about wearing a tartan that is not mine. Thanks! I want to wear one but finding our my clan(s) is probably impossible or close to it. Now I think it's safe to choose a color and pattern without offending.

@@lyndavonkanel8603 that's how it's been done in history, wear whatever colours you like and can afford. Or the ones you're legally allowed, as in Early Medieval Irish laws (which also applied to parts of Scotland that the Irish took over) various social classes were only allowed certain colours and colour combinations.

@@pavelstaravoitau7106 Thank you for you input and kind advice! My favorite color combination is green and blue so I'll get a tartan. If only a sash, in those colors.

Keep wearing that Kilt

Cheers brother. Kilt on!

@@TheKiltedAdventurer 👍🏾👍🏾 Will do!

Hell yes!

Well done! 👍❤️

I have to look up the word - but there are animals around the world that would “appear” to be related but are similar but unique evolution of traits.

Capitalist bastards take take take

the thing is .... there are no rules. It is all makey-uppy stuff.

Kilts were Egyptian, like bagpipes, brought by Scota, and look up tartan in the bible. It's north African.

@@joltjolt5060 say what Anyone can wrap a blanket around them. Tartan is literally Gàidhlig for "blanket," now go appropriate somewhere else.

@@joltjolt5060 ' You ruined your comment with your "the bible sez'. That aside: Homo sapiens has invented any type of loin & ass covering thinkable. It most probably goes back to the time when clothing became a habit: Prehistoric man started to wear a frontal flap for protection of the genitals (and in particular the testicals). People do not realize that originality rarely exists. What is original about the kilt is its definition: the method of stitching the fabric, the tartan and, as of the 18th century, the sporran.

😘

I consider all kilt wearers as cosplayers who watched Braveheart too often

That is awesome!

Yay

😘

Wonderful!

🤣

Do what I did in our Battalion Pipes and Drums, wear two sets of hose to give the appearance of calf muscles ! And I was a marathon runner at the time!!!

@@bugler75 Thank you, but a pair of socks ain't cutting it. I thought half a dozen chicken fillets might do the trick...we'll see.

@@gav2759 Hahahaha I think you and I have the same legs! All the best till you !!!

Ah thanks man

Very welcome

I have had much the same journey. I have been wearing the kilt since a young man into the punk scene in America to today 45 years later. Most of what I wear out and about is bespoke and box pleat. Most of what I wear around the house and out on my property working is either my own great kilt creation or a simple SportKilt, just because of the simplicity of modern velcro :)

@@feardoesstuff1660 I am certain that..” kilt & velcro” is some kind of heathen oxymoron….

@@vespadavidson2315 I can understand that, but I bet the kilt makers that the highland great evolved from shook their heads. As well when the kilt the highlanders loved and wore proudly was anglicized I am sure they bemoaned the loss of utility their beloved kilt lost. I am a serial kilter, I wear at work sometimes, sometimes not. 90% or more of the rest of the time I am wearing a kilt. That may be a casual or sport kilt with velcro around the house. Or out on my property, it might be a travesty of a utility kilt. (hard to find one for 6'6") It might be a number of my other proper kilts, with belt, and sporan. Etc. I just made the decision that I would embrace kilts, even very comfortable ones before I would wear needlessly bifurcated garments without a practical reason. :)

I think the point being missed here is the fact that a kilt doesn’t always need to be bespoke. I have bespoke kilt that I wear with a jacket if I need to be in a formal occasion. But I also have quite a few “cheap ones” that I use to just lounge around, play golf or as casual everyday wear. Trust me, you don’t want to wear a real wool kilt in a golf course if it is 85-90F… but you would certainly wear a sport kilt that is polyester blend and super light and breezy. Just like you don’t wear a tailored linen suit anytime you want to wear pants, sometimes you just want to wear jeans or store bought khakis from the gap or Old Navy.

Check out @FandabiDozi (ru-vid.com) who does an excellent job covering the practical/bushcrafting aspects of traditional Celtic clothes&tools

there are no rules. its all made up stuff.