The World's First Vegan Kilt

The traditional Scottish kilt, something close to our hearts at Bute Island Foods, being a company based on a glorious Scottish island, is a magnificent spectacle.   Picture a pipe band, marching through the streets of Rothesay at the end of Bute Highland Games, the sound of the pipes and drums reverberating round the excited crowd, and the colourful kilts swaying as the band marches in time to the music.   It's enough to stir the hearts of not only Scots, but people around the world who have some affinity with this country.

But the kilt is traditionally made from a blend of wool, making it unacceptable to many vegans as wool is, of course, an animal product.   Now, for the first time, a Glasgow-based kilt maker, Slanj Scotland, has woven a tarten which is entirely made from animal-free material.   Now Scottish vegans can once again wear their traditional dress with pride!

Company co-founder Brian Halley explained to The Scotsman newspaper, "We are just trying to increase awareness of the positive effects of vegan living.   The idea for the kilt was born from the increasing demand for a traditional kilt abstinent from animal products."

"We are just trying to increase awareness of the positive effects of vegan living. The idea for the kilt was born from the increasing demand for a traditional kilt abstinent from animal product."

"We have also designed a brand mew tartan for the kilt to celebrate and marry Scottish tradition with vegan living.   The vibrant tartan encompasses earthly inspired colours and is unique in that every colour is exactly the same width.   This symmetry and the equal representation of colours indicates the importance of balance in life.   The cloth will be woven in a specially developed polyester-viscose material and will be available for kilts, clothing and other accessories."

Slanj has registered the material and kilt with The Scottish Register of Tartans and plans to release the kilt for sale later this month.   And the kilt will look all the more authentic as faux leather is used in place of the usual leather straps.

As reported last month, vegan clothing is becoming more prevalent, with major designers and manufacturers such as Adidas, Doc Marten and Stella McCartney all bringing out a range of animal-free clothing.   Now vegans can look stylish without guilt - and importantly for Scottish vegans - can now wear their traditional costume knowing that no animal was harmed in its manufacture.

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