The Kilt
The kilt is Scotland's distinctive national dress, however it does have a distant Greek cousin! Not only that but the word itself is thought to derive either from 'quilt' or the Middle English verb 'kilt' meaning to hitch up. The proper Gaelic term is 'fealeadh' from which the two forms of the kilt; 'fealeadh mor' (great kilt) and 'fealeadh beg' (small kilt) are named. The 'fealeadh mor' is one large piece of untailored cloth, this is pleated by hand and then wrapped round the wearer and held in place by a belt. .
The excess is then either worn over the shoulder or as a cape in inclement weather. The origin of the tailored 'fealeadh beg' or modern kilt is hotly disputed - some maintain that it is a derivation of Roman attire but a more popular story is that it was invented by an English factory owner, Thomas Rawlinson in 1730 who's workers were encumbered by the upper parts of their garments
Of course one can sweeten the 'pill' of accepting our national dress was invented by our 'auld enemy' by explaining that the fealeadh mor was often worn 'off the shoulder' all they did was add the tailoring!