What is a Kilt?
A kilt is a type of knee-length non-bifurcated short dress with pleats at the back, originating in the traditional dress of Gaelic men and boys in the Scottish Highlands.
The word ‘kilt’ is a derivation of the ancient Norse word, kjilt, meaning ‘pleated,’ and it refers to clothing that is tucked up and around the body. Today there are 3,500 specific tartan family plaids. The garment takes 20 – 25 hours to make, they are mostly handmade, and the tartan pattern must remain unbroken. They have 29 pleats and use about 8 yards of fabric.
History:
The first mention of kilts is in 1538. They were worn as full-length garments by Gaelic-speaking Scots Highlander men. The first kilts were white, brown, green or black. As time went on, they developed plaids for specific clans, the colors most likely based on which natural dyes were nearby. During the 17th the ‘great kilt’ emerged as a sign of affluence. In Gaelic, it was called, breacan-an-feileadh or tartan wrap. There was also a woman’s version that came into style during this time. Called an arisaid, it was worn down to the ankles, and made from white tartan cloth with a wide-spaced pattern. In the late 17th century, the small kilt or phillabeg was first worn. King George II, trying to repress Highland culture, imposed the Dress Act of 1746. It became illegal for the Highland regiments to wear garments resembling any form of Highland dress, including the tartan kilt. The ban was lifted in 1782. After the ban was lifted, the kilt became an enduring symbol of Scottish identity, and tartan patterns represented particular clans, families, and regions.
Uses of The Kilt:
Stephen Sprouse introduced a black denim mini-skirt over black denim jeans in 1983. Then in 1984, Jean Paul Gaultier made waves in the fashion industry when he reintroduced mini skirts and kilts for men. Today most Scottish people regard kilts as formal dress or national dress. Although there are still a few people who wear a kilt daily, it is generally owned or hired to be worn at weddings or other formal occasions and may be worn by anyone regardless of nationality or descent. Kilts are also used for parades by groups such as the Boys' Brigade and Scouts, and in many places kilts are seen in force at Highland games and pipe band championships as well as being worn at Scottish country dances and ceilidhs. It is not uncommon to see kilts worn at Irish pubs in the United States, and it is becoming somewhat less rare to see them in the workplace.
What does the Kilt Symbolize?
The kilt in itself is merely a piece of clothing, but has many socially constructed meanings for those who wear it, such as identification with Scotland, the need to stand out or belong, and as a powerful symbol of masculinity. Many who find being Scottish or having a Scottish ancestor as important to their self identity use the kilt to visually communicate this to others
The activities undertaken by men while wearing kilts are congruent with masculinity. Men wear the kilt at the football, when out to attract a partner, when getting married, while playing the loud and powerful bagpipes, to compete in the “strong men” competitions at Highland Gatherings, where they lift and throw heavy objects. The practicalities of wearing the kilt also emphasise the masculinity.
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