When people think of Scotland, one of the first things that comes to mind is kilts. While kilts have a deep-rooted place in Scotland's history, their origins were mainly confined to the Scottish Highlands. The earliest version of the kilt from the 16th century was called the féileadh mór or belted plaid, which was essentially just a long piece of tartan cloth wrapped around the body, secured with a belt. The excess was draped over the shoulder, which helped keep the wearer warm, even during the cold winters of the Scottish Highlands. These early kilts were extremely practical, doubling as clothing that could be worn during the day and blankets during the night. Being made from wool, the féileadh mór was an exceptionally good insulator and also very durable, perfect for the highland way of life, but before the 1800s, kilts were far less common amongst the lowland population of Scotland.