Phillabeg, Feilidh-beag, or "Little Kilt"
 |
 |
 |
|
Box Pleated Phillabeg |
||
What's a Phillabeg?
The phillabeg, or "little kilt", with Cheater Pleats™ and
straps and buckles added, is my favorite kilt. I wear them all summer
long to pretty much every event we attend. They are light and comfortable,
and allow maximum freedom of movement. And they look cool!
Modern, tailored kilts are often referred to incorrectly as "little
kilts". The little kilt, or phillabeg, or feilidh-beag, is actually
an earlier predecessor of today's modern kilt. Unlike a modern kilt, it
is not a tailored garment. It is simply a length of tartan about 25"
wide and 4-6 yds long, loosely bunched or pleated, and held at the waist
with a belt. It is worn to about the middle of the knee, just like any
other kilt. One of the things that makes a phillabeg distinctive, is that
it has a few inches of tartan flapping over the belt. This flap-over helps
keep the belt in place — without it, the kilt might slip loose from
the belt, leaving you standing in your skivvies (or worse!).
Phillabeg History
The phillabeg can be traced historically back to at least the late 1600's.
The first evidence of any pleats being stitched down in the modern fashion
doesn't appear until 1792 (actual kilt in the possession of the Scottish
Tartan Society).
You have probably all heard the story of the Englishman, Thomas Rawlinson,
who opened a factory in the highlands early in the 1700's. It was very
quickly discovered that wearing a Great Kilt in a factory was a bad idea,
as they tended to get caught in the machinery and drag their unfortunate
wearer in with them. Even still, the proud Scotsmen would not consider
the thought of discarding their kilts, even to save their lives. Then
someone came up with a great idea — they would just cut off the portion
of their greatkilt above the belt, freeing them of their greatest hazard,
while still allowing them to wear the whole kilt outside of work. This
eventually evolved into today's kilt and fly-plaid. This is a great story,
and probably has plenty of truth to it, but the fact is the phillabeg
was being worn prior to the events of this story.
More likely it was a simple convenience or economic consideration. The greatkilt was actually constructed of two separate pieces of tartan stitched together lengthwise. Looms of the day were only capable of weaving fabric up to 28" wide, closer to 25" probably being more common. So for a greatkilt, you wove 8 or 9 yards of tartan, cut it into a couple of 4- 4 1/2 yd lengths, then stitched them together into a single piece about 50" wide and 4- 4 1/2 yds long. This became a very versatile piece of clothing - it could also be your blanket or tent when needed. But picture for a moment your stereotypical bachelor - is he really going to go through all that trouble when he could just grab a chunk of single-width tartan off the loom and just wear it? For the lone bachelor, the widower, or the dirt-poor highlander, it just makes sense that the phillabeg would be a common choice. Being the least expensive kilt we sell, it's a good choice for you too.
Sizing
A 4 yard kilt will fit up to about a 34 inch waist, a 5 yard kilt will
fit up to about a 44 inch waist, and a 6 yard kilt will fit up to about
a 50 inch waist. If you are larger than this please contact us for pricing
on larger kilts. Also, If your waist size is close to one of these limits,
consider the next size larger if you want deeper pleats or pleats closer
together. For example:
If you have a 34 inch waist, a 4yd greatkilt will have pleats 1.5 - 2
inches wide and 3-4 inches deep. A 5yd greatkilt will have pleats approximately
1 inch wide and 3-4 inches deep or 1.5 - 2 inches wide and 6-8 inches
deep. In this example a 6yd kilt would be overkill with a 34 inch waist,
but it would have pleats about 1 inch wide and 6-8 inches deep.
Pleats
Pleating instructions are included with each kilt. Traditionally these
kilts are pleated each time you wear them. We ask for size information
to be sure that your kilt will fit you correctly, but we do not pleat
the kilt for you unless you also select Cheater
Pleats™ (highly recommended) as an additional option.
|
Quick Links: |
||||
|
How
to measure for your Phillabeg: |
|
Homespun Wool Blend PhillabegsOur Homespun tartan is made from a 55/45 blend of polyester and wool. It is woven by hand on old-world looms, and looks very authentic to what would have been woven historically. The yarn is worsted, but not spun as tightly as modern machine-made tartan. The cloth is also not as tightly woven. Homespun tartan will pleat by hand easily, but will not develop a sharp edge. Small snags, pulls, holes and other assorted blemishes are common. Because it is hand woven, these flaws are a natural part of it's character. Homespun is approximately a 9/10oz. fabric, but feels thicker due to it's looser weave. Homespun Wool Blend PhillabegKPHS – 4 yds, $79 (fits up to a 34in waist) KPHS – 5 yds, $99 (fits up to a 44in waist) KPHS – 6 yds, $119 (fits up to a 50in waist) Pleating instructions are included with each kilt. Traditionally these kilts are pleated each time you wear them. We ask for size information to be sure that your kilt will fit you correctly, but we do not pleat the kilt for you unless you also select Cheater Pleats™ as an additional option. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. View our selection of stock homespun tartans. |
|
Braveheart Rustic Wool PhillabegsThe same 100% wool tartan, woven in Scotland by the same weaver, as the kilts used in the filming of the movie! The Braveheart tartan is very rustic, woven in natural wool and earthtones believed to be authentic to that period. Braveheart
Phillabeg |
|
Synthetic Blend PhillabegsWhether you are allergic to wool, or just want a great looking tartan for less, a synthetic blend is a great way to go! Hard wearing, washable, and cool to wear, to the untrained eye it is nearly indistinguishable from expensive 100% wool tartan. While the weave is not as authentic as Homespun tartan, many people appreciate the crisp look of the modern tartan fabrics in a Phillabeg. With about about 60 tartans available to choose from, it's the most affordable option for many tartans. Poly/Viscose
Phillabeg |
|
Premium Wool PhillabegsMade from 100% pure new wool, woven in Scotland. This is the same tartan most of you are familiar with, used in modern, tailored, formal kilts. This is your best option if you are looking for a specific tartan, as there are over 500 available, and it makes a great looking Phillabeg. Phillabeg,
11 oz Premium Wool Phillabeg,
13 oz Premium Wool | |