My first USA Kilts-A review

[NorCalPiper]

Hey Y'all-
Back when I started the kilt drive for the paraplegic Iraqi war vet, and Ken generously bought the Captain a BW Semi-Traditional Kilt-I couldn't resist the chance to go ahead and include with the order my own very first USA Kilts (A casual Isle of Skye).

I own 2 PV from Scotland kilt Co. that have been great. 8 yards, solid-Great to kick around in. After receiving my M.N. Box-Pleat, I found myself not liking the "off-the-rack" sizing of the 2 PV kilts....I know its weird, but it just happened. I thought long and hard (Those PV w/ shipping off ebay are about 60.00$-Very tempting on a tight budget), my order with Rocky came to about 140.00$ (I did the rush-Just couldn't wait-PLUS-As many of you may guess, I believe in supporting American businesses-GO USA KILTS!!!!!).

OK-So I promptly received my kilt. There was a slight mix-up about the pleating to no ones fault, but the kilt was indeed made to measure, so it fit the way I wanted it to. One problem that I did not like was that the bottom of the entire kilt was frayed and raggedy. Almost as if the fabric was "ripped" and just left. This was incredibly unsightly to my taste, and I asked Rocky for some help. Rocky had me send the kilt back and within 24 hours, my kilt was hemmed providing a clean line at the base , and on its way back to me. THAT IS THE KIND OF CUSTOMER SERVICE I WANT PROVIDED TO ME. So, by tomorrow I will have my first USA Kilts YAY!!!.

One issue that I hope Rocky and the gang will fix is this issue with the bottom of the kilts. I received the Iraqi Captains Semi-Traditional BW kilt today and it had the same issue that my casual had. The base of the kilt was frayed and raggedy. Since we are having to alter the kilt a touch to suit someone in a wheel chair, I had the seamstress hem the baseline. Here is a pic of what I'm talking about. This was just after it was hemmed, but you can see how ragged and frayed the base was-



I don't know if we're supposed to request a hemming, but I would ask 2 things of Rocky and Kelly. 1- Please hem the bottom of the kilts. I find that not having it hemmed makes the product look unfinished and unsightly. 2- Please add lining- The material is EXTREMELY light and would greatly benefit from this.

At this point I have worn all the casual kilts on the market. USA Kilts is at the top of my list now. Since they are UBER lightweight and comfortable, as well as made to measure-I just don't can't go back to an ebay PV kilt....No matter what!! USA Kilts is sitting solidly on the top of my list. 'NUFF SAID!

[KFCarter]

Great to hear that the Captain's kilt is in hand!
I'm really a traditional kilt fan at heart, but I love my USAK semi-trad and get a heck of a lot of use from it. Those folks are aces in my book.

:ootd:

[Monkey@Arms]

I suspect its not frayed, its fringed. The scottish mill that makes PV doesn't make always supply the fabric with a kilt selvedge (a clean edge). As I understand it the choices then are either to leave the bottom with a fringe, which does not fray further, or hem it. The default at USAK is to fringe.

Best regards,

Jake

[Dan R Porter]

I like the fringe personally. I dn't know how I feel about hems yet, I am still torn. Kilt Selvedge is my favorite so far.

[RockyR]

Josh,

I'm sorry about the mix up and I hope the new kilt is more to your liking.

To address your points, here's the deal...

M@A is right. The mill has 2 looms. 1 gives a tuck selvedge and 1 gives a frayed selvedge. ALL of their wool material is woven on the tuck selvedge machine, but only SOME of the PV is woven on the tuck selvedge... in fact, most is woven on the frayed selvedge machine. If the material has a frayed selvedge, we have 2 options... to hem it or to leave it frayed (it won't 'unravel' or anything if left 'as is'). Hemming would add time (and therefore cost) to the kilt AND the pleats, being 'doubly thick' at the bottom, would tend to 'kick out' a little bit. Leaving the FRAYED selvedge, while not ideal, will not add cost and will allow the pleats to hang straight down. In our opinion, it's the lessor of 2 evils.

About the lining... the main reason a traditional kilt is lined (leaving aside the horsehair canvas bit for now) is b/c the pleats are all scalloped out on the inside. Since our Semi Trads aren't as thick in the back, we don't need to scallop out the pleats. Since we don't need to scallop out the pleats, we don't need to do the horsehair canvas and line the kilt. Lining a Semi Trad would serve no 'structural' purpose and would only add to the cost.

I hope this helps to clarify a few things!

[Nighthawk]

Thanks for the answer, Rocky. Personally, I like the fringed edge. I think it makes for a unique look.

[Merlin]

Rocky gets good advertising here.... true word of mouth is more valuable than any billboard or advertisement. I'll be calling Sir Rocky tomorrow to speak about my first kilt purchase.

[Dan R Porter]

Rocky gets good advertising here.... true word of mouth is more valuable than any billboard or advertisement. I'll be calling Sir Rocky tomorrow to speak about my first kilt purchase.

you wont be disapointed.

[Phogfan86]

I, too, like the fringe. I don't know a thing about what kilts looked like 150 years ago, but for some reason, when I think of them, I see them fringed in my head.

[Riverkilt]

Boy, am I a slowpoke or what....never noticed - or remembered - went back and looked and 8 of my USA Kilts have that fringe. If I never noticed can't be that big of deal to me.

Tell you what, I had hemmed Utilikilts and they beat up the back of my legs when I walked. Would think the fringe would be a bit easier on the back of the legs when hiking any distance.

Ron