Mevhan Kilts

Mevhan Kilts are a variety of regional and diaspora styles of pleated, heavy woolen twill wrapped skirts, worn near universally by Mevhan of all genders in two major aesthetic and material forms. Traditionally once a simple blanket-woven wool outer garment, draped and fastened with belt and brooch, in modern days only the simplest and meanest kilts are made without a tail sleeve, though inversely, stitched knife or box pleats are hardly direct indicators of wealth. Patterns likewise vary widely, several different twill weaves being preferred by individual weavers and tailors. Single, or double-width looms of approximately 30 or 60 inches are used depending on desired length to the knee or ankle, with a selvage to ensure proper draping without a stitched hem.    Bands of complementing or contrasting colours, horizontal or vertical, solid dyes or even inventive modern patterns can be found, as can be every kind of embroidery practiced across the Continent. Truly a common garment of the new Mevhan, a cultural unifier displacing the trews and breeches of other Old World peoples, the decorative practices and complexity of construction used has been integrated purposefully into the modern kilt enthusiastically, promotion of such one of the first steps by the Continental Congress made towards cultural and spiritual unity in the New World.   Woven in a single uncut piece approximately eight yards long, and shortened only by the use of pleats and overlap at the opposing hips, a long, shallow scallop is formed in the top center of the selvaged fabric ideally by practiced narrowing and widening of the weave itself on the loom, or sometimes but careful cutting and hemming, to which a smaller strip is stitched across the beltline above the pleats, left open on its underside at the shallow point. This forms the tail pocket, a far more advanced and practical technique than the ancient form of kilt without, or less durable cut and hemmed kilts, or even stitched and knit constructions, and was key to the kilt's wider adoption outside of the Old World Mevhan by other now-minority refugees to the New. Likewise above the pleats, on the fully stiched waistband, belt loops for fastening are a common feature or addition, though sometimes a woven or leather belt is integrated directly, and a certain fashion trend exists currently for pouches, bags or pockets to be sewn or buttoned directly to the belt and waistband of the skirt, though traditionalists scoff at this as a weakening of morality and mere temporary excess.