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For a start, it’s not exactly a skirt – woe betide you if you call the kilt a skirt in front of a Scotsman!
By the end of the 14th century, it was already used by the Gaelic people, who lived in Ireland. With the migration of the Gaels to the humid and rainy region of the Highlands, in the north and west of Scotland, the apparatus was adopted by the Scots of the region. The kilts served to protect against the humidity and cold typical there.
The fabric was made of brushed wool, which was waterproof. At that time, the one-piece was attached to the body, like a kind of cloak. This is where the origin of the name “kilt” lies, which, in the ancient language spoken in Scotland, means the act of “pinning a garment on the body”. The type of checkered kilt (called tartan) changed according to the clan of those who wore it. The current piece, in the shape of a skirt, is a Scottish creation and only started to be used from the 18th century onwards.
In the following century, it was adopted as a symbol of national identity and today it is worn by Scottish citizens and other countries, such as England, on different occasions, such as formal parties, fashion events or by the audience of sports games.
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