Quote Originally Posted by Thistle Stop
The kilt has historically been a practical garment, and if one is going to wear it everyday in all sorts of conditions and for all sorts of tasks, it makes sense to have a knock-around kind of kilt for times when it's appropriate.
Amen. I have three PV kilts now, and I will do anything in them that I would do in business casual clothes and a few things that I wouldn't do in business casual clothes (like hiking in the woods). OK if I'm working on the car, I put on the blue jeans because (1)modesty and (2)I don't feel bad about wrecking a pair of levis. But when I finally save up the $$ to commission a traditional wool kilt, I'll never wear it anyplace that I feel it is likely to get snagged or stained. It's not for pubbing, not for hiking, no way. At that price it's not practical for day to day use. I can wear it to the office from time to time so it will get more use than a suit but far less than a PV kilt.

But I don't see that as a cheapie imitation of a kilt, only a different kind of traditional kilt -- one made with a bit less fabric.
How about the Traditional USA Kilts that are made with the full amount of fabric, cut like a wool kilt, but just made out of PV?

I agree that those who respect tradition will respect the traditional kilt. But will they be able to have one if the traditional kiltmakers go out of business?
I don't think that will happen.

Look at how the members of this board progress. Many will start out with a cheap Pakistani kilt. Then they see what else is out there and move up to a PV kilt from one of the well known kilt makers. They might get a few more PV kilts and then graduate to wool. I don't think anyone denies that the wool traditional kilt has its place at the head of the table. There will always be a place for the kilt makers who are better known for the quality of their wool kilts.

We live in an age in which huge manufacturers and retailers dictate what we should wear, and most of it is of mediocre or poor quality, made offshore in places where workers are paid little for their labour.
Obviously this forum would not exist if that were universally true.

If the kilt does catch on with the masses, it will be a fad. Like parachute pants. It will come and go. The upside to that is we will have been ahead of the curve. The downside is when the fad fades away we may be in worse shape in the public eye.

But if Wal-Mart and their suppliers, for example, got into the casual kilt business, it might very well spell your demise.
The only way Walmart would be selling kilts is if they got those cheap import kilts and could retail them for under $50. That probably nips at the lower end offerings of the kilt makers here. But maybe it serves like a gateway drug.

You can buy a men's suit for about $100 if you wait for a good sale. But a well tailored $500 suit looks and wears so much better. The $100 suit didn't make those $500 suits go away. They just put suits within the reach of more people who otherwise wouldn't own one.