Tartan check for a traditional look: the history woven into the kilt skirt

When you think of a checked wrap skirt,

it's a classic traditional item for autumn and winter fashion.

Kilt skirts come in a variety of colors, patterns, and lengths.

Their defining features are the pleats, the vertical fringe, the waist belt, and the pin.

The kilt skirt has an image as a "women's item," but

did you know it was originally a men's traditional garment?

Let's unravel the history woven into the "kilt,"

a garment that has been passed down since ancient times in Scotland and Ireland. 

The "kilt" refers to the traditional garment of the

Celtic people who settled in Scotland and Ireland.

You can probably picture men at Scottish events and festivals wearing kilts with high socks,

playing the bagpipes.

Although it has the same shape as a skirt, the "kilt" as a traditional garment

is worn by men, and women originally did not wear it.

Kilt does not equal skirt—it is, strictly speaking, a men's traditional garment called a kilt.

What women wear is distinguished as a "kilt skirt."

The kilt skirt is less about tradition and more about fashion,

and as a skirt using tartan check, it has become a staple of traditional style.

The kilt uses a checked woven fabric called "tartan,"

which was originally wrapped around the waist and fastened with a belt and pin.

It is a culture that developed in the Scottish Highlands, and

it is said to have also been a symbol of identity

in the fight against England.

The kilt has a harsh history that would be

unimaginable from today's kilt skirt as a fashion item. 

The "tartan" used in kilts—we tend to think it

refers to the pattern, but in fact it refers to the woven fabric itself.

It is a single piece of cloth created by weaving threads of different colors

together in a fixed proportion, forming a set color ratio and angle.

In the past, it was a woven pattern that indicated one's clan,

with the colors and pattern differing according to family lineage.

There were restrictions on which colors could be used depending on one's rank or status,

and the color and pattern seem to have indicated which family one belonged to.

Even within the same clan's tartan, there were different versions for formal wear, everyday use, and hunting.

For example, take this "DRESS GORDON."

It is the Gordon family's tartan, but it's the dress version of the design

known as "Gordon Tartan."

In other words, it refers to the tartan used by the Gordon family for formal occasions.

Today, there are almost no restrictions on color or pattern, and you can freely use

any tartan you like. It's fascinating to think that something born from the history

of one region is now beloved as a fashion item all over the world. 

Skirt: ONEIL OF DUBLIN／EASY KILT (59cm) GREY
Top: Le minor／Le minor Basque Shirt 008 BLANC/ROY
Beret: LAULHERE／PARIS10 L.GREY (Beret)
Bag: Tusting／Austin Bucket Black
Shoes: CATWORTH／Ballet Shoes Slip on Ballet Shoe Ruby

ONEIL OF DUBLIN is

a factory brand that has been making kilt products, the traditional garment of Ireland,

for 160 years since 1850,

and continues to make Ireland's oldest traditional kilts. 

This kilt skirt is made from a single piece of fabric, wrapped so it overlaps in front and fastened with leather belts on both sides.

The back has elastic gathers,

so the pleats fall in a clean, straight silhouette when viewed from behind.

The belts on each side have three adjustment holes, allowing for fine-tuning of the fit.

The kilt pin that fastens the front also subtly reflects the brand's prestigious attention to detail. 

Skirt: ONEIL OF DUBLIN／EASY KILT (73cm) DRESS GORDON
Top: C.T.plage／YAK Turtleneck
Hat: ITALIAN HAT COMPANY／Lapin Felt Hat
Shoes: SECCHIARI MICHELE／Sabot TEXAS 50 SUEDE

Skirt: ONEIL OF DUBLIN／EASY KILT (59cm) BLACK WATCH
Top: JOHN SMEDLEY／A3830 Long Sleeve Turtleneck (coming soon)
Boots: DIEGO BELLINI／Side Gore Boots Black

Once you put it on, an authentic traditional style is complete.

It can be paired with all sorts of tops, from shirts to cut-and-sew tops to knits,

and leather loafers, lace-up shoes, or boots suit it well on the feet. 

Skirt: ONEIL OF DUBLIN／EASY KILT (59cm) BLACK WATCH
Top: Letroyes／LAURENT turtleneck LT505
Shoes: DIEGO BELLINI／Tassel loafer Black

They have continued to make high-quality kilt skirts without change,

and the reputation "kilt skirt = ONEIL OF DUBLIN"

has become so well known that it's easy to understand why, given the quality. 

A neatly aligned, beautiful pleated skirt.

You'll want to keep wearing it beautifully for as long as possible, right?

Here we introduce some tips and care points for wearing it. 

Brushing to prevent pilling

The autumn/winter kilt skirts from ONEIL OF DUBLIN

are made, according to the brand, from a material that is relatively resistant to pilling.

That said, as a way to help prevent pilling,

please brush the skirt to remove dust and debris. 

Dry cleaning recommended

Since a leather belt is used at the waist, please avoid washing the skirt at home.

Take it to a dry cleaner instead. 

If it gets wet

If the kilt skirt gets wet, don't leave it as is—

gently pat it dry with a towel or similar cloth.

When wet, wrinkles form easily, so if you sit down on the pleats

while it's still damp, the weight can create odd wrinkles in strange positions.

Ironing to maintain the pleats

Pleats are not permanent.

As you wear the skirt, they will gradually loosen or develop wrinkles.

At home, too, you can iron the skirt to keep the pleats looking crisp.

1. Set the iron to no higher than 120°C, within a range of 80°C to 120°C.

2. Place a pressing cloth over the fabric and iron 2 to 3 pleats at a time to smooth them out.

※Without a pressing cloth, the skirt may gradually develop a shine.

※Ironing from the reverse side provides extra peace of mind.