This kilt is a ‘bumbee’ – a pattern reminiscent of the Macpherson Ancient Red, but not actually that. It’s a Caledonia Ancient – a pattern that is adjacent to into the Macpherson Red. It was on Wilsons of Bannockburn’s books as ‘No 155’ and ‘Caledonia’, and is a ‘sibling’ to their pattern ‘No 43’ that developed into the Macpherson Red.
This is my first kilt. I had never worn a kilt before this – I was in my 40s when I bought this. My wife, Mairi, bought it for me after our first Gathering, which we attended as guests – Mairi had been invited to give the lecture that year and we went along to the Games. We knew that this kilt wasn’t ‘right’ – not quite the Ancient Red Macpherson pattern – but thought it was close enough. Recently I learnt that it is the Caledonia pattern – No 155 on Wilsons’ books – and that changed how I feel about this kilt.
Threads of Belonging 