Austria lays claim to the kilt

Tartan kilts have become fashionable in Austria after archaeologists claimed the country invented them. Many Austrian stores are now selling "traditional Austrian" kilts and sporrans as well as lederhosen.

The Austrian claim is based on the discovery of what they claim is the oldest piece of tartan in the world. . .

Thomas Rettl, whose clothing company is based close to where scraps from the original Celtic kilt were found, said: "Ever since we found out that Austria was the true home to tartan we have been doing a roaring trade. It was found not in Scotland but in a place called Molzbichl in Carinthia in Austria". . .

"We worked with a Scottish firm in the Borders to get the necessary expertise but the kilt is an Austrian design and we use the best materials from around the world - our kilts are better quality than many in Scotland.

"The success of the Carinthian kilt in particular has surprised even me. I am hoping to sell more in Scotland as well and in recognition of our shared Celtic past with the Scots I am making a deer leather kilt - a mixture of a tartan cloth and a pair of lederhosen."

Posted by David on January 28, 2004 11:46 AM