Welsh Kilts Explained: The Cilt, Welsh Tartans and Who Wears Them

A Welsh kilt, or cilt in Welsh, is a kilt worn as a sign of Welsh and Celtic identity, usually in a Welsh tartan. It's cut and made exactly like a Scottish kilt. The big difference is age: the kilt was never part of traditional Welsh dress, and the first Welsh tartan was only designed in 1967. So Welsh kilts are a modern tradition, but a genuine and growing one, worn at weddings, rugby matches, St David's Day and Celtic festivals.

If you've got Welsh roots and fancy a kilt, or you're just wondering why you saw one at the Principality Stadium, here's the full picture: what the Welsh actually wore, where Welsh tartans came from, how they differ, and how to put a Welsh kilt outfit together.

Is the Kilt Welsh?

Not originally. The kilt developed in the Scottish Highlands, from the belted plaid of the late 1500s to the tailored kilt of the 1700s and 1800s. Wales has its own long Celtic history, its own language and its own music, but the kilt wasn't part of it. There's no record of the Welsh wearing kilts before the 20th century.

What happened instead was a 20th-century Celtic revival. As Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man celebrated their shared Celtic roots, the kilt became a sort of pan-Celtic symbol. Ireland took it up around 1900, which we cover in do the Irish wear kilts, and Wales followed later in the century.

Fun detail: there's no letter K in the Welsh alphabet, so in Welsh the word is spelled cilt.

What Is Traditional Welsh Dress?

When people talk about Welsh national costume, they usually mean the women's dress that became popular in the 1800s: a tall black hat, a shawl, a flannel petticoat and a bedgown or jacket. That's the outfit you'll see on Welsh dolls, postcards and on school children on St David's Day.

There's no equally famous traditional costume for Welsh men. Historically, Welsh men dressed much like men elsewhere in Britain. That gap is a big part of why the kilt appealed when Welsh men started looking for something distinctive to wear for special occasions.

Where Welsh Tartans Come From

The Welsh National Tartan (1967)

The first Welsh tartan on record is the Welsh National tartan, designed in 1967 by Don Richards, a Welshman, to show that Wales belonged to the wider Celtic world. Its colours, green, red and white, are taken from the Welsh flag.

A kilt made from that cloth in 1967 is now in the collection at St Fagans National Museum of History near Cardiff. It was made in Scotland, by a Perth kiltmaker, which tells you a lot about how the Welsh kilt began.

St David's Tartan

The other tartan most people in Wales know is the St David's tartan, or Brithwe Dewi Sant. Brithwe is a Welsh word for a checked or coloured cloth, and Dewi Sant is St David, the patron saint of Wales. It's a universal tartan, so anyone can wear it, and it's a popular choice for St David's Day on 1 March and for weddings.

Family and Brand Tartans

Since the late 1990s and 2000s, dozens more Welsh tartans have appeared. Some are named after common Welsh surnames like Jones, Davies, Thomas, Owen and Griffiths. Others are themed, such as tartans inspired by Welsh slate, the Welsh dragon or Owain Glyndŵr, the last native Welsh Prince of Wales. One of the best known is Pride of Wales, with a dark ground and the colours of the Welsh flag running through it.

It's worth being clear that Wales never had a clan system like Scotland's. So a "Jones tartan" isn't an ancient family pattern. It's a modern design named for the family, and anyone called Jones can wear it with pride, but it doesn't come with the centuries of history a Scottish clan tartan might.

Are Welsh Tartans Woven Differently?

Sometimes, yes. A traditional Scottish tartan is "balanced": the same pattern of stripes runs across the cloth (the weft) as runs down it (the warp), so the checks are square.

Many Welsh tartans use a different stripe sequence in the warp and the weft. That gives the cloth a more striped look, with stronger vertical lines than you'd see on a Scottish tartan. Some Welsh designers see this as part of what makes a Welsh tartan Welsh. It also means a Welsh kilt can look a little different from the back, as the pleats pick up those vertical lines.

Not every Welsh tartan does this, though. The 1967 Welsh National tartan is a conventional, balanced sett.

Who Wears a Welsh Kilt, and When?

• Rugby fans. Wales internationals at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff are probably where you'll see the most Welsh kilts in one place, often with a red rugby shirt on top.
• Grooms and wedding parties. A Welsh tartan kilt is a lovely way for a Welsh groom to stand out, especially at a wedding with a Scottish or Irish side too.
• St David's Day. 1 March, when Wales celebrates its patron saint.
• Eisteddfodau and Celtic festivals. Cultural events celebrating Welsh music, poetry and Celtic links.
• The Welsh diaspora. People of Welsh descent in America, Canada, Australia and Patagonia, who often want a visible way to show where their family came from.

Day to day, most people in Wales don't wear kilts, and some find the idea a bit too Scottish. Like Irish kilts, Welsh kilts are an occasion garment rather than everyday wear.

How to Put Together a Welsh Kilt Outfit

The kilt itself is the same as any other, so dress it much like a Scottish outfit, with a few Welsh touches:

• Tartan: Welsh National, St David's, a family tartan, or a themed one like Pride of Wales.
• Jacket: a Prince Charlie or Argyll jacket works well. Some makers offer jackets with dragon or Prince of Wales feathers buttons.
• Kilt pin: a Welsh dragon, a daffodil or a leek, instead of a thistle. Browse our kilt pins for options.
• Flashes and hose: red or green flashes pick up the colours of the flag nicely.
• Sporran: any style works. A few have a Welsh dragon on the cantle.

If you'd like everything in one go, have a look at our kilt outfits, and how to wear a kilt covers getting it all on properly.

Welsh, Irish and Scottish Kilts Compared

The Scottish kilt

• Called a kilt, or féileadh in Gaelic.
• Worn since the 1500s as the belted plaid, and since the 1700s as the small kilt.
• Usually a clan or district tartan. Many clan tartans were recorded in the 1800s.
• Scotland has a clan system.
• Typical pin: a thistle or a clan crest.

The Irish kilt

• Called a kilt.
• Worn since the early 1900s.
• Usually saffron, green or a county tartan. The county tartans date from the 1990s.
• No clan system.
• Typical pin: a shamrock or a harp.

The Welsh kilt

• Called a cilt.
• Worn since the late 1900s.
• Usually Welsh National, St David's or a family tartan. The Welsh National tartan dates from 1967.
• No clan system.
• Typical pin: a dragon, a daffodil or a leek.

Can Anyone Wear a Welsh Tartan?

Yes. The Welsh National and St David's tartans are universal, meant for anyone who feels a connection to Wales. Family tartans are designed for people with those surnames, but nobody's going to stop you if you married into the family or simply love the colours.

Our view: if you're Welsh and you want to wear a kilt, wear a Welsh tartan. It's a young tradition, but every tradition started somewhere, and wearing it to a wedding or a match is exactly how it grows.

Welsh Kilt FAQs

Do the Welsh wear kilts?

Some do, mostly for weddings, rugby internationals, St David's Day and Celtic festivals. It's not traditional Welsh dress, and most people in Wales don't own one.

What is a kilt called in Welsh?

A cilt. There's no letter K in the Welsh alphabet.

When was the first Welsh tartan made?

The Welsh National tartan was designed in 1967 by Don Richards, using the colours of the Welsh flag.

What is the St David's tartan?

A popular universal Welsh tartan, also called Brithwe Dewi Sant, named after the patron saint of Wales.

Is there a Welsh clan tartan?

No. Wales never had a clan system. There are modern tartans named after Welsh surnames, but they're recent designs.

What colours are in Welsh tartans?

Most use green, red and white from the Welsh flag. Some add slate grey, gold or black.

What is traditional Welsh national dress?

The best-known version is the women's costume of a tall black hat, shawl and flannel skirt, popular from the 1800s. There's no equivalent famous outfit for men.

Can I wear a Welsh kilt to a wedding?

Absolutely. Pair it with a Prince Charlie or Argyll jacket and a Welsh dragon kilt pin for a clearly Welsh look.

Is a Welsh kilt different from a Scottish kilt?

It's made the same way. The differences are the tartan, the accessories and the much shorter history.

Can non-Welsh people wear Welsh tartan?

Yes. Universal Welsh tartans like Welsh National and St David's can be worn by anyone.