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(There's a whole lot going on in this newsletter, so here's a break down...)

Yes, indeedy, today marks that fateful day, 19 years ago when our fearless leader, Krash née Steven Villegas, signed the papers to officially establish The Utilikilts Company. (And he thought it was gonna be a short term gig...Joke's on him!)

Check out Baby Krash, diligently designing and vivaciously vending at the Fremont Sunday Market in Seattle, circa 2000. What chutzpah! What energy! What hair! Oh, to be 32 again...

And we're still churnin' and burnin', almost 2 mother lickin' decades later! The Little Company That Could is old enough to drive, old enough to vote, and almost old enough to buy its own beer.

This also means that next year we HAVE to throw one hell of a party, right!? Stay close by, because if you thought our 7-Year-Itch Event was legendary, can you imagine what a 20 year celebration will look like?

We are already on the lookout for entertainment and performers! Musicians, dancers, stand up comics, magicians, improv troups, burlesque dancers, freaky-deaky side show acts and the like are all encouraged to apply! (mimes are eligible but must submit video footage of your act, a 1,000 word personal essay, and a $100 non-refundable application fee in order to be considered). Everyone else should shoot us an email: [email protected] subject: Double Decade Debauchery and Save the Date for the first weekend next April, 2020.

The MOHAI

Believe it or not, Utilikilts are not the only functional piece of clothing to have been fabricated here in Seattle. The Pacific Northwest has produced enough innovation within the realm of fashion design to sustain an entire museum exhibit...

Seattle's Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) is excited to showcase their most prominent collection to date entitled " Seattle Style: Fashion/Function ," And guess what? Utilikilts is featured in it!! Raincoats too, probably. Flannel shirts, maybe, but definitely, definitely Utilikilts.

The exhibit opens this May 4th and runs through October. For you locals who have never been to this gem of a museum, or anyone playing tourist in Seattle this summer, we highly encourage a visit. Tell them we sent you.

Boston's MFA and other Notable Mentions

For those of you who plan to be on the opposite coast in the next few months, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts has included Utilikilts in their current " Gender Bending Fashion" exhibit which seeks to celebrate and expose the evolution (dissolution?) of binary boundaries within the clothing industry. This show is on now through August and features brilliant contributions from designers around the world.

Last but not least, Utilikilts got a wee nod in the online publication, MEL Magazine, whose editors, while well intentioned and supportive, possibly have been making their homes under rocks these past 19 years. The article examines a 'growing trend' that sees more and more men choosing the practicality of the un-bifurcated path in their day to day lives. Glad they finally caught on...

It's always a bit of gas for those us who live and breathe the mantra of Un-bifurcated Freedom to hear how Utilikilts are perceived and portrayed by the pants wearing (yet to be converted) denizens. Do the above representations of functional and fashionable man skirts inspire or irk you at all? Do you feel they capture what it means to be kilted? If you had to include Utilikilts as a supporting contributor in a museum exhibit or magazine feature of your own device, what would your thesis statement be? Let us know what you think: [email protected].

This summer, just for fun, we'd like to play a game called "Guest Host" where you, yes You, Come On Down to Seattle for a weekend and make a cameo appearance as "Sales Person #1" on the floor at the Utilikilts Flagship Store!

Pioneer Square is jammin' with foot traffic during the summer months. There are walking tours, pub crawls, cruise ships, duck boats, and independent travelers flooding the sidewalks of the oldest neighborhood in Seattle. Last summer our dear city put a crimp in everyone's groove digging up the streets and sidewalks along 1st Ave--deadly for the local small businesses--but this year is looking clear and the neighborhood is excited to make up for it.

Many visitors who step through our door come in intentionally, they made a beeline here straight from the airport, slip off their pants and go on to enjoy their freedom. Then there are the folks wandering in who have never heard of us (gasp!) But they sure do think we're a hoot to tell the folks about back home!

Either way, our store attracts tons of attention due to its killer location, and let's be perfectly blunt, it's just fucking cool. We've always got cold beer in the fridge, afternoon sunlight beaming through the front windows, sexy white leather couches that look like they're off the set of an early 90s porno, and bad ass employees who can walk you through the history of the neighborhood or discuss the Ancient Paracas Skulls of Peru .

We are wild to engage with our visitors, and not just the ones who come to buy something. Everyone who walks in our door has a story to tell, a way to connect. This is what we're here for.

For those visitors teetering on the edge of epantsipation this is an opportunity for you, our Utiliclan, to truly Evangelize. You are the walking, talking Agents of Freedom and the best voices we have for Converting the Masses. Anyone can buy Utilikilts from us online, but the experience of dropping trou in the middle of our store and walking out with the breeze between their knees is a legendary experience our customers never forget. You remember this feeling.

Maybe you've worked an event with us and already know how we roll. Maybe you are that die hard Utilikiltarian who convinces all your friends and family to go un-bifucated. Maybe you've got loads of charisma and want to stand on a soap box for a day or two. Maybe you are just looking for a reason to come to Seattle and visit the store because you have always wanted to check us out ( #Kilt Nation we're looking at you)!

We know you're out there, now you really have a reason to visit! We pay in Utilikilts and beer. To start planning for the summer with us now, email [email protected], subject: Guest Host

In our last newsletter, we launched a new column to celebrate the creativity and ingenuity that fuels your lives and makes the daily grind worth it. Jay started us off with a tour of his work in progress, the 'Tiny House Truck' or 'Moving Home' or "UHaulUrHouse or whatever the hell he's calling it these days...

Today we'd like to introduce the talented tinkerer, Skip Fantry, who has been a true, blue Utilikiltarian since way back in the early days when Krash was still hustling from his booth at the Fremont Sunday Market. (remember that photo from earlier?)

Skip is the kind of musician whose expertise would make your high school Music Theory teacher weep with pride. When his regular ole' store bought instrument couldn't accommodate his vocal range, Skip said, 'Fuck that, I'll make one that can!'

So he rebuilt a standard Bass neck with two extra frets giving credence to the phrase: "if it ain't broke, you can still make it better".

His first design, "The Quake" was 6 inches longer than regulation, which meant that in order to play it, he needed a set of customized strings. Which he also created. And then....well, I won't spoil the end. Just go ahead and watch the mini documentary below for yourself. Then call your parents to apologize for wasting their money on music lessons that you never put to use.

Spring is springing and all you twitter-pated kids are getting hitched! It is a thrill to be invited to your most specialest of days, and obviously we like to show off how gorgeous you all look when you stick Utilikilts in with your personal style.

Actual Genuine Stats: Weddings of Utilikiltarians are 97% more likely to have an open bar, 120% better music, 75% more bum pinching Grannies, and 100% guaranteed wedding night consummation (our tuxedo boosts libido, doncha know)

We've had numerous happy couples send us photos from their dazzling ceremonies, so without further ado, we are pleased to present to you: