History And Origins Of The Kilt
The kilt started life as a length of cloth roughly torn from a bale. Hence the fringes down the side of a kilt to this day, although now this is contrived rather than occurring naturally. The cloth was wrapped around the wearer who prevented it from slipping or sliding with a belt round the waist to which was attached a pouch believed to have been used for storing oats or other food.
The spare material was tossed over his shoulder and fixed with some kind of pin; it was also used as a protective hood in times of bad weather and even bunched into a pillow onto which he could rest his head at night. This garment was called in Gaelic a 'Phileadh mor' (or great kilt).
In those days making clothing was far from the exact science that it has become today. This original ‘kilt’ was warm, required no sewing, varied in size and was made from locally dyed cloth giving the wearer instant individuality and a clanship identity.
It was not until the revival of wearing the kilt in 1822 that the National Dress of Scotland (known as ‘Highland Dress’ because it originated in the Highlands and Islands) took on a whole new lease of life. It is thought to be around that time that the kilt became separated into the kilt and plaid that we know today, the 'Philead beg' or little kilt.