The expense of kilts!

[cessna152towser]

I'm still seriously considering one of USA Kilts semi-trads for this year

You won't go wrong with a USA Kilts semi-trad, if you want something that looks smart and wears well without breaking the bank.
I got a USA kilts semi-trad in Hunting MacLeod made for me a number of years ago and it is beautifully pleated to the stripe. It looks smart enough that I have sometimes worn it to church on a warm day instead of a full 8-yard wool kilt.

[Tobus]

Most of our clothing today is as cheap as it is because it is made from fabric woven in third-world countries by people being paid pennies-per-hour, in batches of thousands of meters at a time.

This. We Americans (and most of the western world) have gotten spoiled by modern technology and global sources of cheap labour. We seem to think that clothes should be inexpensive, or that they have always been inexpensive. But this is actually a recent trend... only in the last couple of decades has this been the case. Up until the rise of Asian manufacturing, clothing was actually a rather expensive commodity. Which is why so many people made their own 'homespun'. They simply couldn't afford to buy clothes made by others!

Kilts have followed along with other clothing lines. You can buy cheap off-the-rack stuff made in Asia at prices that are more in line with clothes you'd buy from Walmart, or you can buy quality hand-made kilts that are tailored to your measurements, made from high-quality materials. There's really no difference between that and other styles of clothing. The full range of quality and price is there.

But building a 'full kit' isn't something you should just rush out and purchase anyway. For most of us, it takes years of buying one thing at a time, or working our way up in quality. The same is true of the Scots too, unless they happen to inherit it from within the family.

[creagdhubh]

But building a 'full kit' isn't something you should just rush out and purchase anyway. For most of us, it takes years of buying one thing at a time, or working our way up in quality. The same is true of the Scots too, unless they happen to inherit it from within the family.

***

[frank_a]

You won't go wrong with a USA Kilts semi-trad, if you want something that looks smart and wears well without breaking the bank.
I got a USA kilts semi-trad in Hunting MacLeod made for me a number of years ago and it is beautifully pleated to the stripe. It looks smart enough that I have sometimes worn it to church on a warm day instead of a full 8-yard wool kilt.

That is what I am looking at now, but in Ancient Campbell. I have asked my children for small inexpensive items (pins, hose, etc) for my birthday next month and Christmas, so that will help. This is new to the kids as all they generally hear from me for my birthday or Christmas is "I don't really need anything thanks." Nevertheless they always get me stuff!

My grandmother was Daisy Mae Campbell Alguire, and even being stingy, and certainly dressing me down for spending hard-earned cash, I do believe she would be proud of me for sporting the Campbell colors and wearing the kilt. She was a great woman. I so dearly wish she was still around, but all the parents, aunts, uncles, all the grandparents, all gone. We're it!

Thanks for the education here folks, I just couldn't help myself!

Frank

[frank_a]

This. We Americans (and most of the western world) have gotten spoiled by modern technology and global sources of cheap labour. We seem to think that clothes should be inexpensive, or that they have always been inexpensive. But this is actually a recent trend... only in the last couple of decades has this been the case. Up until the rise of Asian manufacturing, clothing was actually a rather expensive commodity. Which is why so many people made their own 'homespun'. They simply couldn't afford to buy clothes made by others!

Kilts have followed along with other clothing lines. You can buy cheap off-the-rack stuff made in Asia at prices that are more in line with clothes you'd buy from Walmart, or you can buy quality hand-made kilts that are tailored to your measurements, made from high-quality materials. There's really no difference between that and other styles of clothing. The full range of quality and price is there.

But building a 'full kit' isn't something you should just rush out and purchase anyway. For most of us, it takes years of buying one thing at a time, or working our way up in quality. The same is true of the Scots too, unless they happen to inherit it from within the family.

I fully understand what you're saying, but nevertheless, I look for bargains. I buy my winter suits in the Spring and summer suits in the Fall. I don't buy any clothes of any kind that are not on sale. As a commercial lender for decades, I intimately understand cost of goods sold, break even points and profit & loss statements. Trust me, it's all I think about when I buy anything.

You may notice I only joined up here recently, and that was because I was able to buy my first kilt (and sporran and sporran belt) for 89 dollars. That purchase was one of long time latent demand, i.e. I have lusted after a kilt for a very long time, and her was one for less than 90 bucks. I couldn't believe it. That led to my joining XMarks, and now looking at the next step for a better kilt. I'll be 60 next month, so it's not like I have loads of time to buy this and that expensive sorts of garments and accessories. In fact, after I retire I intend to live like a monk! Or at least, if the little woman allows me to...

Thanks to all for the comments. I appreciate it!

Frank

[Jock Scot]

Now can you see why many Scots wear their one kilt-------it will be more than likely expensive------- for just for best?

[bikercelt1]

When I first started wanting to wear a kilt I was put off by the expense. I looked for some inexpensive alternatives and ended up wasting several hundred dollars. Once I resigned myself to buying quality I got better value. I have kilts from Rocky at USA, from Matt Newsome, from Utilikilt, and a couple of good Scottish made kilts. What I don't have is a pair of pants. If I amortise out the value of my good quality kilt purchases over the last 12 years I have spent less for clothing than when I wore jeans and Dockers and had to buy several pair of each every year.

Just this last weekend I heard a story on NPR about one of the last bespoke tailors in the United States. He can't even afford to wear one of his own suits, they cost $4000 each. My kilts are bespoke garments and compared to the price of bespoke suits they are one hell of a bargain. And they look better too.

Jamie

[themacmartin]

Buy one good kilt, and then either a used wool, or a poly for everyday wear. I have a Pride of Scotland that has everything imaginable spilled or pushed on it and looks great after a gentle wash.

[Downunder Kilt]

I think the cost of a kilt is very relative to income. I don't know what the average income in the USA, GB is but in Australia it's around $50,000 and the average price of a kilt is in the area of $500.00 so 1% of income. Cant say for sure what the price of a kilt would have been in the 18th or 19th centuries but I would have thought it would have been more than 1%

[themacmartin]

Speaking of stingy, the Scots invented the Limbo. It started when they tried to get into a pay toilet (without paying) while wearing a kilt.