Ask almost anyone to think of 5 things that definitely Scottish and they will almost always include the tartan kilt. There was even a time when the English Government banned the Scots from wearing either tartan or the kilt because of the strong pride Scots have about their national dress. However despite this close connection with Scotland anyone anywhere in the world can manufacture a skirt that looks like our Scottish Kilt and describe it as “a Scottish Kilt”.
However if you make a bottle of champagne using he traditional champagne style but make it outside of a very small area of France and the law will clamp down on you immediately. It is the same with Parmesan that can only be made in a small area of Italy.
It now looks increasingly likely that this brand protection will be offered to our Scottish Kilt. If this move in the European Parliament succeeds only kilts that were hand sewn, made in Scotland and made from pure wool could be known as a Scottish kilt.
Over the last few years we have seen huge increases in the number of kilts coming into the country from the far east which are then being described as Scottish Kilts. At a time when Scotland is experiencing it largest ever tourist boom people are buying these imported “Scottish Kilts” and seeing them come apart after only being worn maybe once or twice are assuming that these “Scottish products” are inferior quality so damaging our national reputation.
By tradition a quality Scottish Kilt will need around eight yards almost 8 meters of heavy pure wool to give it the strength weight and style to help it hang properly. By comparison a lightweight imported kilt will often use a thinner material and only around five or six yards of tartan type of cloth so it cannot be worn with style and looks wrong when worn. Consequently purchasers of these imports are put off buying any quality kilt as they believe the kilt does not suit them.
Kilts irrespective of origin do not meet all three of the standards may still be sold as kilts but will denied the right to be called “Scottish Kilts”.
The same rules currently apply to Scotch Whisky which needs to be distilled in Scotland and then kept in oak barrels stored in Scotland for a minimum of three years. Looking at the European cheese industry we see similar examples with Greece being granted sole rights to the Feta cheese branding and The Netherlands protecting its Edam cheese name.
Yes I put up my hands and admit that the correct plural form of kilt is kilt not kilts but we wrote for people who were perhaps unaware of this Scottish tradition and felt this would be less confusing.
Are you interested in learning how you can follow the exact same method used by Scottish Clan chiefs who were to become a Laird or Lady in future articles.
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