Kilt Question

A: Pleat to sett – each pleat is positioned so that the pattern (sett) appears to continue through the pleated portion of the kilt.
Pleat to stripe – we choose a prominent stripe in the pattern and center the stripe down the middle of each pleat. This is a traditional military style, and can look very nice. Some tartans just don't look good pleated to stripe however. If you choose this option we will let you know if it can't (or shouldn't) be done.

Pleat to sett (left) vs. pleat to stripe (right)

A: According to the Welsh Tartan Athourity, the Welsh wore fashion akin to kilts two thousand years ago, probably with a form of leather trousers or leggings wrapped around with rope. This form of dress remained a feature of Welsh society confirmed by the discovery of a 9th Century stone carving depicting a man wearing a kilt. This evolved through the centuries into the woollen garment we are familiar with today. Initially this would have been made from raw coarse wool and undyed.

Customer Marion V. Ernst wrote to us with this information:
I have in my possession a Griffiths tartan outfit that belonged to my Grandfather Foster Lewis Summerfield. It is the old style Griffiths tartan and my grandfather wore it probably around the age of three, about 1895 or a little earlier.
The John Lewis, Mary Ann Griffiths family came from Llanarth, Wales about 1850 so obviously knew about their tartan colors even then. I am the seventh generation since they came from Wales.