So, I'm at the one day Flagstaff, AZ Highland Games yesterday. Lots of vendor's booths. But what struck me was that the Utilikilts booth and the Kathy's Kilts booth were very near each other and both were VERY busy.

Kathy Lare www.kathyskilts.com is an old line traditional hand sewn kiltmaker. She went to Scotland and learned all their stuff and got all the traditional certificates.

Utilikilts of course is the forerunner in marketing contemporary kilts.

BOTH booths were VERY busy all day. Kathy was answering questions, helping folks find their tartan in her stacks of tartan swatch books, and taking measurements to go with orders for traditional tanks. Kept coming back to see her to talk about my stuff because she and her husband were constantly busy.

Over at the UK booth, same thing. Lots of folks with their pants around their ankles while trying on UKs. Both Jeff and Jay were busy working the booth full time. There were LOTS of folks wearing UKs at the games.

Stumbled on to one new UK owner sitting on the grass a long way from the UK booth. He was wearing his new UK black workman's and he and his girlfriend were trying to figure out what the modesty snaps were. Gave them the info and warned about what they feel like in cold weather.

Buzz Kidder Kilts had a booth there too but the guys manning it were less than enthusiastic. They kept their kilts in plastic storage bins and the one they put on a manaquin had pleats that curled as much as the base of the letter J. You'd think they'd at least iron a display kilt. They did sell a lot of their wide belts though.

Point is, there's no competition between traditional kilts and contemporary kilts. I saw crossover both ways. Guys wearing contemporary kilts at Kathy's Kilt's booth and guys wearing their tartan tanks at the UK booth.

I'm guessing this is happening at all Highland Games type events....??

Ron