The Leine

The Leine is an ancient garment worn by the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland. The word Leine itself means in the Gaelic “shirt” or “tunic”, but in Scotland the Leine was known as the “Saffron Shirt”. The Leine is first seen in stone carvings in Ireland and later drawn by foreigners in the 16th Century. In Scotland, records show a Norse lord writing his King in 1093 about this garment, and also King James V of Scotland had a “Saffron Shirt” made for him in 1538.
The Leine was worn in Ireland until about the early 17th Century, then Irish were forced to adopt English style clothing. In Scotland the Leine was replace by the forerunner of the modern Kilt, the Belted-Plaid around the mid16th Century.
In Gaelic culture, the amount of fabric a person had showed their status and wealth. The excess fabric was used to make a pouch; they just simply tucked the fabric into their belt. The pleats were also made by hand after the garment was put on.
The Leine is a truly unique and wonderful garment, reminiscent of a simpler time, the days of the Irish Kings and Scottish Clans......


				The Leine



	Home \| The Belted Plaid \| The Leine