Rocky,

I stand corrected then. However, you are the only kiltmaker I've ever come across who machine sews pleats like that and, as you said, it takes quite some time to do so.

As for practicality, I wear my hand sewn (as in sewn by MY own hand) Stuart of Bute to do just about everything in, much to the chagrin of my mother who is constantly asking me "Aren't you afraid of messing it up?". I've changed a tire in it, pulled weeds in it, etc.

People wear clothes for a variety of reasons and practicality is just one of them. Do you not pick out certain clothes for their color, pattern, slogan emblazoned on it, what have you? I don't espouse the idea that form must follow function, because function (aka practicality) is a form of its own.

If you're feeling masochistic, wade through any of the writings of Claude Levi-Strauss on structualism, or, better yet, look for "In Small Things Forgotten" by Jim Deetz. Before reading Deetz, I was a die hard processualist (form follows function) archaeology student, who, I must confess, didn't "get" Levi-Strauss because I was reading a translation from an already dense French. Deetz opened my eyes to a whole new world and one that I've carried over into my everyday life, especially in the how and why of clothing.

But I digress. So long as those of us who prefer a handsewn garment from a trained professional don't look down on those who prefer a machine sewn one, who cares? I've been through this time and time again with fanatic homebrewers who are so in love with real ale that they can practically look with scorn on a fellow who just might like a pint of Budweiser every now and again (such as myself). Arrogance is the enemy here, not who sews your kilt and how!