(278)  KILT IS MENSWEAR

The kilt has been reclassified as menswear by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical agency, and the UK Office of National Statistics.  Earlier, the ONS, acting on behalf of Eurostat, had issued a questionnaire designed to elicit information from businesses on manufacturing trends, using a classification designed by Eurostat.  Kilt manufacturers had been told to fill in the number of kilts they sold under a section providing for women’s skirts, and threatened with fines of £1,000 if they failed to comply.  However, talks between Eurostat, the ONS and the Scottish Executive led to a satisfactory resolution: kilts may be included under wool or fine animal hair” in the men’s and boys’ section of the questionnaire.  For previous discussion of the nature of Highland dress