FOR centuries it has symbolised Scots' masculinity and fierce patriotism, but yesterday figures showed the kilt is being taken over - by the English.
Popularised by non-Scottish stars such as Robbie Williams, Vin Diesel and Samuel L Jackson, demand for the traditional garment has soared south of the border, according to the Glasgow-based kilt-hire business, Cameron Ross.
The company says it expects to ship more orders to shops in England than in Scotland for the first time ever during the busy festive season.
Boss Richard Freedman puts the new fashion trend down to a surge in the availability of non-tartan kilts - and a surge in patriotism among Englishbased Scots feeling more than a little sore over England's Ashes victory.
"I suppose you can say 'well plaid England', " Mr Freedman, the firm's managing director, joked.
"There will be some who think this is some kind of theft of Scotland's national identity or something to be embarrassed about. But I think it illustrates just how acceptable the kilt has become.
"There will be plenty of Scots in England who are desperate to show some national pride in the most traditional way possible - particularly to counter all the post-Ashes triumphalism."
Cameron Ross, which claims to be the world's biggest kilthire business, always see the biggest demand for their 10,000-strong stock of kilts over this time of year.
They supply more than 1000 hire shops across the UK and say the gap between hire numbers in England and Scotland has gradually eroded in the past 10 years.
Figures for the period of December 26 to January 1 show that of all the kilts leaving the Glasgow depot during that time, 52-per cent will go to England, while only 48-per cent will remain north of the border.
The company says it is impossible to tell whether the kilts are being snapped up by Scots living in England, or Englishmen themselves, but a spokesman said anecdotal evidence suggested a "large percentage" were in fact being hired out to snappy-dressing English gents.
Mr Freedman added: "There's been a huge surge of interest from non-Scots in wearing the kilt which goes beyond national boundaries.
"Kilts are even seen as a way to make a bold fashion statement these days and all sorts of celebrities have been photographed wearing kilts."
Contemporary tartans that have no historic clan affiliations have also helped fashionconscious men to wear a kilt without worrying about having no Scottish roots, he said, adding: "Ultimately it's about wearing what you are comfortable with, and having fun, so I suppose that's what people in England have been doing more of this festive period."
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