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{{short description|American kilt company}}
==Origins==
{{advert|date=December 2012}}
⚫ ]
{{Infobox company
⚫ '''The Utilikilts Company''' is an American ] company that was founded by Steven Villagas and Megan Haas in April 2000. Villagas created his first Utilikilt in 1999 as a comfortable, "unbifurcated" garment meant to offer the most freedom of movement while working on his motorcycle<ref name="HeraldSun">{{cite news | last = Amjadali | first = Samantha | title = Dressed to the kilt | publisher = Herald Sun | date = ] }}</ref>. Created from an old pair of millitary pants, Villagas was so fond of his creation he wore it quite often around town. He was approached by his first customer, "a bouncer that you wouldn't want to mess with", at a local bar.<ref name="HeraldSun"/>
| name = Utilikilts Company
| industry = ]
| founded = April 2000
| founder = Steven Villegas <br>Megan Haas
| products = ]
}}
]
⚫ '''The Utilikilts Company''' is an American ] company, was founded by Steven Villegas in April 2000. Villegas created his first kilt in the late '90s as an alternative to pants, intended to offer freedom of movement, while working on his motorcycle.<ref name="HeraldSun">{{cite news | last = Amjadali | first = Samantha | title = Dressed to the kilt | newspaper = ] | date = 2002-11-17 }}</ref> Made from an old pair of military pants, Villegas was so fond of his creation he wore it quite often around town. He was approached by his first customer, a local security guard.<ref name="HeraldSun"/>


That first encounter encouraged him to produce more kilts, and sell them at the ] where he would meet company co-founder Megan Haas<ref name="SeattleWeekly">{{cite news | last = Downey | first = Roger | title = The breeze between your knees | publisher = Seattle Weekly | date = ] | url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/0115/arts-downey.php}}</ref>. Together they would form the Utilikilts Company, establishing both a brick-and-mortar and web based storefront for their product. That first encounter encouraged him to produce more kilts, and sell them at the ] and Fremont Street Market, in ]; where he met co-founder, Megan Haas.<ref name="SeattleWeekly">{{cite news | last = Downey | first = Roger | title = The breeze between your knees | newspaper = ] | date = 2001-04-11 | url = http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/0115/arts-downey.php | access-date = 2007-01-12 | archive-date = 2006-12-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061205045620/http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/0115/arts-downey.php | url-status = dead }}</ref> Villegas and Haas soon formed the Utilikilts Company, establishing both brick-and-mortar and web based storefront for the product.


==Commercial Success== ==Commercial success==
⚫ ]
Utilikilt's commercial success is primarily from word of mouth, as the company does not pay for product placement or commercial endorsement and eschews professional models in favor of photos of actual customers<ref name="PostIntel">{{cite news | last = Frey | first = Christine | title = Retail Notebook:Local companies go to Hollywood | publisher = Seattle Post-Intelligencer | date = ] }}</ref>. Despite this low-key approach, they grew from sales of 750 kilts their first year to over 11,000 three years later.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news | last = Villano | first = Matt | title = Seattle:Utilikilts | publisher = New York Times | date = ] | url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/11/05/travel/05foraging.html}}</ref><ref name="Dominion">{{cite news | last = McCurdy | first = Diana | title = Men in Skirts | publisher = The Dominion Post | date = ] }}</ref> The company received a big boost in recognition after ] donned a Utilikilt on-screen in ] All-Stars<ref name="WashPost">{{cite news | last = Fernandez | first = Sandy | title = Utilikilts | publisher = Washington Post | date = ] }}</ref>. Utilikilt's commercial success is primarily from word of mouth, as the company does not pay for product placement or commercial endorsement and eschews professional models in favor of photos of actual customers.<ref name="PostIntel">{{cite news | last = Frey | first = Christine | title = Retail Notebook: Local companies go to Hollywood | newspaper = ] | date = 2004-02-21 }}</ref> Despite this low-key approach, sales grew from 750 kilts the first year to over 11,000 three years later.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news | last = Villano | first = Matt | title = Seattle:Utilikilts | newspaper = ] | date = 2006-05-11 | url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/11/05/travel/05foraging.html}}</ref> The company received a big boost in recognition after ] donned a Utilikilt on-screen in '']''.<ref name="WashPost">{{cite news | last = Fernandez | first = Sandy | title = Utilikilts | newspaper = ] | date = 2004-02-15 }}</ref> After working together for five years Haas left the company in 2005.
<!--unsourced: The wearing of Utilikilts by ], ], ], ], ], ], ],and Members of ] are also notable.-->

The Utilikilt was also used as part of the costume for the O.Z. rebels in the ] miniseries '']'' (2007)

The character Lafayette wears a Utilikilt in the premiere episode of ] series '']''.

A Utilikilt is the featured prop promoting gender equality in Linda Biggs' artwork, "One of the Boys."


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
<references/>

===Other press mentions===
==Further reading==
⚫ {{cite news | last = Spitznass| first = Jill | title = Real men skirt the issue | publisher = Portland Tribune | date = ] | url = http://www.portlandtribune.com/features/story.php?story_id=24477}}</br>
* {{cite news | last = Weinstein| first = Farrah | title = Wanna Be A Real Rebel? Try Rocking A Kilt - Interview with Joe "Photognome" Hunt at Bonnaroo| publisher = MTV News | date = 2007-07-11 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1536111/20060711/guns_n_roses.jhtml| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090113184659/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1536111/20060711/guns_n_roses.jhtml| url-status = dead| archive-date = January 13, 2009}}
{{cite news | last = apRoberts | first = Alison | title = Kilt trip | publisher = Sacramento Bee | date = ] }}</br>
⚫ * {{cite news | last = Spitznass | first = Jill | title = Real men skirt the issue | newspaper = ] | date = 2004-05-28 | url = http://www.portlandtribune.com/features/story.php?story_id=24477 | access-date = 2007-01-12 | archive-date = 2007-09-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225716/http://www.portlandtribune.com/features/story.php?story_id=24477 | url-status = dead }}
⚫ {{cite news | title = From cargo cult to cargo kilt | publisher = Sydney Morning Herald | date = ] }}</br>
{{cite news | title = Escaping the tyranny of trousers | publisher = US News & World Report | date = ] }}</br> * {{cite news | last = apRoberts | first = Alison | title = Kilt trip | newspaper = ] | date = 2003-05-06 }}
⚫ * {{cite news | title = From cargo cult to cargo kilt | newspaper = ] | date = 2002-12-21 }}
{{business-stub}}
* {{cite magazine | title = Escaping the tyranny of trousers | magazine = ] | date = 2003-05-05 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website|https://www.utilikilts.com}}


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Latest revision as of 17:08, 1 July 2024

American kilt company
This article contains promotional content. Please help improve it by removing promotional language and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic text written from a neutral point of view. (December 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Utilikilts Company
IndustryClothing
FoundedApril 2000
FounderSteven Villegas
Megan Haas
Productskilt
Villegas and Megan Haas at Burning Man. Villegas is wearing a Utilikilt.

The Utilikilts Company is an American contemporary or "utility" kilt company, was founded by Steven Villegas in April 2000. Villegas created his first kilt in the late '90s as an alternative to pants, intended to offer freedom of movement, while working on his motorcycle. Made from an old pair of military pants, Villegas was so fond of his creation he wore it quite often around town. He was approached by his first customer, a local security guard.

That first encounter encouraged him to produce more kilts, and sell them at the Pike Place Market and Fremont Street Market, in Seattle; where he met co-founder, Megan Haas. Villegas and Haas soon formed the Utilikilts Company, establishing both brick-and-mortar and web based storefront for the product.

Commercial success

Utilikilt booth at 2004 Skagit Valley Highland Games

Utilikilt's commercial success is primarily from word of mouth, as the company does not pay for product placement or commercial endorsement and eschews professional models in favor of photos of actual customers. Despite this low-key approach, sales grew from 750 kilts the first year to over 11,000 three years later. The company received a big boost in recognition after Richard Hatch donned a Utilikilt on-screen in Survivor: All-Stars. After working together for five years Haas left the company in 2005.

The Utilikilt was also used as part of the costume for the O.Z. rebels in the Sci-Fi Channel miniseries Tin Man (2007)

The character Lafayette wears a Utilikilt in the premiere episode of HBO series True Blood.

A Utilikilt is the featured prop promoting gender equality in Linda Biggs' artwork, "One of the Boys."

References

  1. ^ Amjadali, Samantha (2002-11-17). "Dressed to the kilt". Herald Sun.
  2. Downey, Roger (2001-04-11). "The breeze between your knees". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on 2006-12-05. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  3. Frey, Christine (2004-02-21). "Retail Notebook: Local companies go to Hollywood". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  4. Villano, Matt (2006-05-11). "Seattle:Utilikilts". The New York Times.
  5. Fernandez, Sandy (2004-02-15). "Utilikilts". The Washington Post.

Further reading

External links


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