Whats everyones opinion of PV kilts

[Steve Ashton]

You seem to be getting answers that are all over on your question. If I can, let me put some facts to the question.

P/V is the short name for a synthetic fiber blend of Polyester and Rayon. (the "V" stands for Viscose which is the British term for Rayon). There are only two or three weaving companies which weave Tartan in P/V with the most recognized and respected being Marton Mills just outside Leeds, UK.

Acrylic is a completly different synthetic fiber. Most of the Tartans and Kilts woven and made in Pakistan, India, Hungary, China, and Taiwan use Acrylic. (Your Stillwater Kilt is made in Pakistan.)

These two fibers feel, look, wear, and swish complely differently. If you do a google search for Acrylic you will probably find at least one site that states that Acrylic is the closest of the synthetics to Wool. That would be true if the fibers were Worsted.

Worsting is the process used when weaving Wool Tartan fabric where the fibers are pulled, and stretched so that all are straight and parallel while spinning into yarns. The yarns are also twisted very tightly. This results in a fabric whos surface feels more "nubbly" than "fuzzy". And because it has fewer wool "hairs" sticking out sideways most Kilt wool does not have the caractaristic wool itchyness. Sadly acrylic is seldom worsted and hard twisted. Sadly some acrylic fabrics feel closer polar fleece than to Kilt Wool.

OK, we now have a fabric but not a Kilt. When a Kilt is made, regardless of what fabric it is made from, the Kiltmaker has the decision what the Kilt will look like, how many pleats, how much fabric, and how it will fit. These things are up to the Kilt design not due to the fabric.

So why do some people object to the synthetics. Well, mostly because its not 100% Scottish Wool. Because its not 'traditional". With the exception of Marton Mills most synthetic fabrics, and Kilts, are made somewhere other than the UK.

Since the advent of the "modern' kilt and the proliferation of Kilts made outside of the UK all synthetics have suffered from a bad reputation due to some of the advertising policies of some of the companies making and selling Kilts and Kilt like garments. Some of these companies do not adhere to the actual thread count of registered Tartans. Some advertise 100% Acrylic Wool. And some advertise their fabric content as "heavy weight P/V" when in fact it may be Acrylic and may be far lighter per yard than the usuall for P/V or Wool.

These advertising policies are what actually upset most people. And this is where X Marks comes into its own. The members here are some of the most educated and discerning consumers in the world. Over and over you will find references to the different fibers, fabrics, Tartans and Kilts. We usually know far more than the average tourist walking the Royal Mile in Edinburgh who simply wants a souvenier of his visit to Scotland.

Many of us know the difference between Wool, P/V and Acrylic. We also know Kilts. If we want a Kilt to participate in the Heavy Events at Highland Games we know enough that we may choose a synthetic over Wool. We know that the synthetics usually cost less, are machine washable and that the creases of the pleats may be almost permanent requireing less care. Most of our members are also frugal Scots. We know enough to match our Kilt purchases to our budget.

Where many new members make their first mistake is to believe the advertising. They have not yet learned that Synthetics may not be as heavy as Wool. They may not yet know that synthetics feel, act and look completly different than Wool. They may believe that Acrylic is the same as P/V. And they may believe that just because a Kilt is made from a synthetic that it is inferior in some way.

The truth is that a Kilt made by a competent and reputable Kiltmaker from the Polyester/Rayon blend known as P/V woven by Marton Mills and worn in the manner that the kilt was designed to be worn can look very good.

[RockyR]

Ditto what Steve said.

My "short and sweet" personal opinion on PV -

I've seen swatches and kilts made from all kinds of material woven all over the world. Poly Cotton from Mexico and China, Acrylic from Pakistan, Wool Acrylic blends, Cotton, PRINTED calico cotton bedsheets, flannel, you name it. The ONLY material that I've seen that comes anywhere close to the properties of a wool kilt (in drape, swing, feel and weave) is PV from Marton Mills. Aside from wool, it is the only fabric we'll make a kilt from and put our name on it.

Is worsted wool from one of the Scottish mills still the BEST material to make a kilt from? You bet. However, for someone on a budget or someone alergic to wool, it's the next best thing.

Also, as a small point of clarification:

SNIP... It rides lower ...

It does not HAVE to ride lower. You can wear the Casual at the natural waist OR the jeans waist. The difference is in how / where you measure for length.

[NewEnglander]

Just when I was ready to weigh in with my 2 cents (more like a bent old penny) The Guys That Would Know get there first.
Anyway, I'm sure you've read through the entire USAK forum here on XMTS for reviews of Rocky's work. I have 2 of his casuals and wear them daily...and next month I'm going to order a Semi-trad. They feel and look great, Rocky makes them to your measurements and I don't worry about when and where I wear them -- if they get dirty they get tossed in the washing machine, hung out up to dry and come out looking as good as ever.

[JOHNNY FAIRLESS]

Wow. I can't believe how help everyone is here ! And thanks for your expert opinions Rocky and Steve. I think my minds made up. You've all done an outstanding job iving advise and passing on the wealth of knowledge to this rookie. Im going with a semi-tad from USAK !!!

It's good to be of Scot stock. No matter how spread out we get, we still look out for one another.

[Riverkilt]

I've owned 25 of Rocky's PV kilts. Never a problem, all good looking and well made. You can't lose. I prefer the semi-trad since it looks like a kilt, but I own a bunch of casuals too, which are the perfect garment for hot humid weather.

And, that Marton Mills fabric is Teflon coated - a boon for an olde geezer like me AND the young kilties that may need to wash their kilt after a night of fun.

[Santa Wally]

Wow. I can't believe how help everyone is here ! And thanks for your expert opinions Rocky and Steve. I think my minds made up. You've all done an outstanding job iving advise and passing on the wealth of knowledge to this rookie. Im going with a semi-tad from USAK !!!

It's good to be of Scot stock. No matter how spread out we get, we still look out for one another.

You've made a good decision. You'll enjoy your semi-trad for years.

[auld argonian]

Yeah...in a perfect world, they'd make Robertson Hunting Modern in PV and then I could order a semi-trad from USAK...that'd be killing two birds with one stone. I do have a casual and it's so functional that it makes me want a semi even more...

While we're on the subject, does Marton Mills ever change the PV line? Drop one and maybe add another?

Best

AA

[seanachie]

While we're on the subject, does Marton Mills ever change the PV line? Drop one and maybe add another?

Best

AA

This is a question I, too, have been wondering about. I will look forward to the replies.

[RockyR]

Not often. More often than not, if you see USA Kilts add tartans to our stock range, it's b/c we special order them (130 M or more per order). Specials / New Tartans are kind of hard to do b/c of the length of cloth (and COST) needed to add one to the range. That being said, keep your eyes peeled for some new tartan announcements in the next month or so... and before you ask, no, it's not Robertson Hunting (unfortunately).

MOST kilt companies that use MM PV fabric typically just carry their stock range of 70 or so tartans. Sometimes a company will branch out though... I know Steve from Freedom Kilts carries the Xmarks tartan in PV from a special run he did a while back.

[kennethrmc]

To clarify, you can order a USAK casual made to "pants height" (rides lower) or traditional kilt height. My USAK casual was made to the latter specs and rides just like my two expensive Scots wool kilts.

And to compare, I owned a SWK in acrylic and got rid of it--never felt right to me, and was not fitted right to my shape. By contrast, any USAK is CUSTOM FITTED for your exact measurements and so looks and feels very sharp--as a bespoke kilt should.

USAK casual or semi-trad are both great deals, the difference between them being whether you want a kilt for--well--casual use, or more formal appearance.