Keep off our kilts: We want to copyright our tartan kilt
Go back over the centuries and you will find people in Scotland were wearing kilts even if it would have differed in style from the common modern kilt. After a rebellion against the English Government then ruling our country the English Parliament outlawed Scots from wearing national costume including tartan and the kilt. 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”.
Yet you try that with a bottle of sparkling wine and call it champagne and unless it was made using the traditional method anywhere outside a relatively small area of France and you will have the whole European legal system come down on you like a ton of bricks. 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. An application has been made to the European parliament to have the Scottish Kilt granted this same designated area protection. This would mean only kilts that have been sewn by hand in Scotland and made from pure wool could be described as Scottish Kilts.
This has arisen because of the influx of cheap imports of kilts from the far east which are now being advertised 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.
A traditional Scottish Kilt will use around eight yards of pure wool giving it weight and style. Customers wearing the low quality lightweight kilts are then put off wearing the kilt as they look at the way it hangs on them and believe that the kilt is not designed for their figure. Whereas if they had hired a kilt professionally made in Scotland they would soon realise the kilt can look good and just as important feel right for them.
It is proposed that kilts which do not meet all three quality criteria to earn the new standard can still be imported and sold as Kilts but cannot claim 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.
By the way we are aware that in Scotland by tradition the plural of kilt is “kilt” not “kilts” but it was easier to use the form that most people would understand rather the correct format.
If you want to experience more of the Scottish traditions you could learn about how you become part of the Scottish royalty (or at least become a Laird or Lady in future articles.