It was actually while clambering over the Bayon (near Angkor Wat) in searing tropical heat that Simon Cusack and Adam Florance noticed that Sally Jones was markedly cooler, skipping around the ancient ruins in a lightweight cotton skirt and sandals, while the sweat that was collecting in their t-shirts was soaking through their heavy cotton cargo shorts and dripping down into their hiking boots. Simon then suggested that a kilt would be far more comfortable in the circumstances, although the heavy wool that kilts are traditionally made from would negate the benefits of increased breeziness. The relative merits of other materials was discussed and the winning idea of a tropical kilt made from 100% hemp was soon reached.
Sally (who still thinks it's an insane idea) then suggested that if you’re making a Hemp kILT, the obvious name would have to be "The Hilt".
Simon and Adam immediately fell in love with the idea and for the next three months as they traveled overland through Cambodia, Vietnam, Southern China, Tibet and Nepal, worked on the idea, revised designs, and came up with the concept for a full range of rugged, practical, yet stylin’ 100% hemp clothing based around the Hilt.
While at first it sounds a bizarre idea it actually makes a lot of sense upon closer scrutiny. It's cool, breezy, naturally moisture resistant, allows far more freedom of movement, and looks great! It’s easy to wash, dries quickly, is the toughest natural fibre used in cloth production so is extremely hard-wearing and durable, and yet also very soft and pleasing to the touch.
The ecological benefits of hemp are manifold and well-reported (for great background info on hemp please check out: http://www.earthrepublic.com/EarthFacts.asp?FirstFact=0 )
These benefits are becoming more widely known and the number of hemp garment manufacturers is increasing rapidly. However, due to the relatively high cost of the raw material (currently about 5 times that of cotton due to much lower-scale production) most hemp clothing manufacturers stick to very mainstream styles whose principal attraction is to minimize cloth wastage and be as in-offensive as possible (the K-Mart approach). The other extreme is those manufacturers aiming directly at "the hippy" market with crocheted hemp hats, embroidered string bags, etc...
The aim of the Hilt is to make 100% hemp clothing that combines modern technology with classic styles to be both practical and hardwearing as well as turning heads when worn in an urban environment.
Why a hemp kilt? Why not simply hemp shorts or trousers?
The Scots are natural colonists (7:1 live outside of Scotland); you find them in the strangest places (Northern Thailand, Western China, East Africa, the wilds of Canada, and even the South Island of New Zealand!); and though they seem such unlikely candidates for Empire building it was actually the Scottish regiments (in their kilts) of the British forces that did all the hard work and tamed the far flung reaches of the most expansive Empire the world had ever seen. But they had a secret weapon. They were dressed and ready for whatever those foreign and hostile climes could throw at them.
Why do you think they have such elaborate rules barring non-Scots (and even non-homeland-born descendants) from wearing their national dress? They don’t want to let everyone else in on the secret!
Our idea is simply to take that well road-tested, practical and elegant garment and apply it to a modern setting with the strongest, softest, 100% organic fabric known to man.
Now obviously NOT every man and his dog is going to wear a kilt, be it traditional, hemp, cotton or leather (popular with American Metal bands these days), which is why the rest of the range has been designed to work both as stand alone items of clothing or as part of the complete Hilt outfit.
Since coming up with the concept in mid 2000 we’ve spent 18 months researching and developing the Hilt and began actually making and road-testing the prototypes in January, 2002. The Hilt is currently only available online through www.the-hilt.com but plans are afoot for more mainstream retail distribution as well as appearances at various festivals around the world and catalogue sales in the near future.
The Hilt is designed to be a practical yet elegant alternative to traditional travel/adventure sport attire. The raw materials are handmade by Hmong hilltribes people in Northern Laos and we purchase directly from them, benefiting the primary producers and eliminating fat cat middlemen.
All Hilt products are manufactured to last and will be replaced free of charge if they don’t live up to expectations (see The Hilt Guarantee). We believe in Hemp and the propagation of other technologies that are sustainable and good for the future of the planet. While we are a new enterprise it is our intention to cooperate with other sensible organizations around the world in promoting such concepts as: solar cooking; wind, wave and sun generated electricity; alternative fuel sources to petroleum and a generally sensible, holistic approach to living life and conserving the planet (while having fun and living life to the Hilt!).
We sincerely believe that our products are ideal for adventure- seekers, travelers, sporty types and basically anyone who wants to look good while leading an active lifestyle.
While the current range of Hilt products is aimed at fully kitting out anyone who wants to hit the road tomorrow, plans are afoot to extend the range of Hilt products as we grow and develop. Any ideas you may have in this regard are most welcome. Just send us an email with your suggestions.
We sincerely hope you enjoy your Hilt experience and urge you to get in touch with us if there’s anything you wish to know, suggest, discuss or simply chat with us about, regarding the Hilt.
Yours truly,
| Adam Reveirs Florance | revs@the-hilt.com | |
| Simon Cusack | sim@the-hilt.com | |
| Sally Jones | society@the-hilt.com | |
| Alice Srinuwattiwong | psalice@the-hilt.com |