Top 5 secrets about scot kilts

Posted by danish on February 24th, 2021

Scot kilts are the national dress of Scotland, and throughout different periods of history they’ve been worn with deep respect, as a trendy fashion statement, and as symbols of protest. They are still made today, and carefully.

1. Kilts have deep cultural and historical roots in Scotland. They’re a time-honored symbol of patriotism and they are carefully stored between wearings.

2. 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. The Norse were all over Scotland, generally uninvited, and it’s a fine irony that the word for kilt is of their derivation.

3. The first kilts were white, brown, green or black. Clanspeople used plants, mosses, and berries to dye the wool. As time went on, they developed plaids for specific clans, the colors most likely based on which natural dyes were nearby. These plaids became known as tartan cloth.

4. The first mention of kilts is in 1538. They were worn as full-length garments by Gaelic-speaking Scots Highlander men. The knee-length kilt that we see today didn’t come around until the early 18th century.

5. After the ban, the kilt became an enduring symbol of Scottish identity, and tartan patterns represented particular clans, families, and regions. 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.