The "Mission" of USA Kilts - America's Leading Traditional Kilt maker

In a world of fast fashion, USA Kilts stands apart as a successful business founded on heritage and hands-on craftsmanship. Based in Spring City, Pennsylvania, the company has carved out a unique niche by making kilts accessible, wearable, and relevant for modern Americans.

Rocky Roeger founded the company in 2003 as a hobby business. The first workshop was in a small cottage in Audubon, Pennsylvania where Rocky, his wife Kelly and one other person made all the kilts. 

Since then the company has flourished into one of the leading Highland Dress suppliers in the United States providing custom kilts and all the accouterments for individuals, pipe bands, colleges and many civic organizations such as the VFW. Now located in a two-story building in Spring City, PA, USA Kilts employs twenty individuals including eight kilt makers and a dedicated media team.  

Roeger has been a fan of the kilt and Celtic culture all his life. His own heritage is a mix of Scottish and German. He says he got the idea to start his business after adopting the kilt as part of his personal look as a young man. 

"I had the heritage growing up," he laughs. "But I first fell in love with kilts because I was basically a punk. I was a huge fan of Celtic rock and punk rock. I would drive up to Boston to see the Dropkick Murphys and other bands on the regular. Wearing a kilt was rebellion."   

Inspired by the success of companies like Utilikilts Inc., Roeger developed a kilt that suited his own lifestyle of the time; lightweight, durable, washable and most of all affordable. But he wanted it to be tartan rather that the plain-color cotton utility kilt makers were using. The result was the "Casual Kilt” - a low-yardage tartan kilt with a Velcro waist closure.  

While the ‘Casual Kilt’ and ‘Semi-traditional’ models are still standard offerings, USA Kilts quickly grew into crafting traditional tartan wool kilts and now produces five- and eight-yard wool kilts. All tolled they put out about 5,000 per year. Each is custom-made in their Spring City shop using cloth from the Scottish tartan mills. 

 “The more I got into this the more I wanted to make. My tastes became more sophisticated I guess," says Roeger. "And as we sold more and more we saw just how hungry Americans were for the chance to express themselves, even on an everyday basis. As a lifestyle even.

"Our goal became bringing traditional Highland wear to a broader audience, in a modern context.”

Step inside the USA Kilts workshop, and you’ll find a mix of old-world techniques and modern efficiency. The production team of eight kilt makers handles everything from measuring and cutting to pleating and finishing, ensuring each garment meets strict standards of durability and fit. Rather than being made in an assembly line, each kilt is sewn by a single craftsperson, whose signature appears on the care sheet received by the customer.

“Highland Dress is extremely personal,” Roeger says, “You have a lot invested emotionally in your kilt. Especially if you have never worn it before. It’s our responsibility to make sure you feel confident in the quality and the looks of your gear. You take care of people from the start and you get return business. And they go out and become ambassadors for the heritage.”

Roeger believes that what sets USA Kilts apart is its inclusive approach. While rooted in Scottish tradition, the company embraces a broader interpretation, recognizing the interconnected histories of Ireland, Wales, and other Celtic regions. This has included introducing new tartan designs that express the unique Celtic American story.

Roeger started designing tartans twenty years ago with such "setts" as American Heritage, German Heritage and Firefighter Memorial. To date, he has designed over 150 original tartans. 

In 2024, the company launched a two-year project; The America’s 250th Tartan Collection; 13 unique tartans designed by USA Kilts to visualize and celebrate different aspects of the American experience. The designs range from E Pluribus Unum and American Worker to Grand Canyon and Pacific Northwest. 

“Ambassadorship” and “stewardship” are watchwords at the company, which actively promotes understanding and appreciation of Celtic heritage through educational content and by promoting Celtic community engagement. 

Since 2018, the company has aired a monthly Question and Answer live show on YouTube called Kilts & Culture. Roeger, along with marketing director and historical researcher Erik Munnrsen, field questions about Highland Dress, Celtic/Gaelic cultural customs, history, "kilt etiquette" and the lifestyle that has blossomed around the wearing of kilts in modern life. 

"If we were just making commercials I'd be a lot less excited," says Munnrsen. "I mean I'd done that for years. But Rocky decided a long time ago that you can not separate kilts from the culture that created them. If that culture dies, if love for the traditions goes away, you just can't get it back. Dozens of festivals, musicians, artists, hundreds of artisans like us would disappear. All cultures are worth preserving." 

In 2024 USA Kilts independently produced a 30-minute documentary, ‘Celtic Heart – Irish and Scottish Festivals in America’, which explores the world of American Celtic festivals. Other content includes guides on how to wear a kilt, explanations of tartan history, and even discussions on the evolving role of kilts in contemporary society. 

In essence the message of the company is that Celtic identity is not confined by geography, but lives on through shared stories, art, and craftsmanship. 

By making kilts more approachable and versatile, USA Kilts hopes to ensure that this iconic garment remains not just a relic of the past, but a living, breathing part of contemporary culture.