Arrogcow,

If you will re-read my post you will see I did not say Utilikilts ran a sweatshop.
I was biting my tongue not to go on a rant about the mass production of product without regard for quality.

I'll go on that rant now.

The concepts of mass production were originally designed to improve quality while increasing production ability. In this day and age those concepts have many times been used to increased profits without regard for workers conditions, quality of end product or enviromental or community impact.
Many modern production machines actually decrease quality. (holes in fabric caused my drilling thru multipe layers has a sole reason of doing a job as fast as it can possibly be done.) Time = Wages. Therefore, every minute saved is money not expended. The best example I can give of this is the US Auto industry in the '60s and '70s. Until the Japanese showed the world that Mass Production could increase Quality, improve workers conditions and still increase profits, "planned obsolesance" was the rule. In other words, Just build it fast, if it breaks they'll buy another one.

Most mass production procedures and equiptment are out of the financial reach of most small companies. Therefore the only choice is to sub-contract to an existing firm. But any time you add a layer of manpower or management you decrease profit to the original company. This usually results in increased cost of product to the consumer.

And most mass production methods require machinery. I don't know if you've ever been in a real garment factory, but those places are sweatshops no matter where they are in the world or how much you pay the employees. If you put industrial sewing machines with their constantly running and humming motors, add powered fabric saws, add constant pressure steam tables, add all the other machinery and you have one noisy, hot, unpleasant work enviroment.
Then ask your workers to sit in one position all day, feeding fabric into a machine capable of 6000 stitches/min. and you have a mind numbing and potentally dangerious situation. Without very good hearing protection, a garment worker can lose 50% of their hearing in under five years. (documentation can be found through OSHA)
This is why most garment worker jobs have gone overseas. Most North American workers simply won't put up with the conditions.
(And by the way, $1.50 / hr. is the average wage for machine operators in India, Pakastan, Thailand, Burma, and Mainland China. Not bad in a country whos' average annual income is less than $5000.00. Perhaps that's why there are waiting lines at the employment offices.) documentation thru U.S. State Dept.

Does everyone see where I'm coming from? Aggrocow, I did not attack the Utilikilt compay. I owe nothing to them. I got nothing from them. I was making kilts long before I even heard the name Utilikilt. And then it was derogitory from someone who saw my kilts and said. "Oh my God your not making one of those Utilikilt things are you."
In fact I am having to deal with the Utilikilt reputation and frankly, it has hurt my business. For example; During the last Gay Pride festival here in Victoria, the largest signs in the parade were held by some men sporting their Utilikilts which read "Make Utiliskirts the official uniform of Gay Pride." and "Wear your Utiliskirt and let everyone know your Gay." This in Canada where Gay and Lesbian marriage is legal, and still I get questions from customers asking if they buy a Freedom Kilt will it be mistaken for a Utilikilt.

I appoligize to anyone who mistook my post as an attack on The Utilikilt Company!

p.s.
And another thing. I support Rocky, Bear, Robert and Jeff because, and for no other reason, than because they participate on this forum, they produce a high quality product, and they support their product with outstanding Customer Service. (I'm sorry I havent's met the guys from Union Kilts yet and haven't seen their kilts in person. I don't mean to slight them by ommision.)

Enough rant. except to say if you thought I libeled your favorite company Arrogcow, then I welcome a visit from your lawyer. And to all those who send PM's and e-mails threatening Patent Infringment lawsuits. Hey guys, bring it on. I'll let my product stand for itself.