5 Yard Knife-Pleated Kilt in Braveheart Warrior (Marton Mills Jura)

[piperdbh]

I doubt there's a way to get your money back for a product you're not happy with. That's too bad. When I was considering my 2nd Newsome kilt, and having learned about pleating styles, I asked him for a scrap of the tartan. I pleated it in various ways, finally deciding which way I liked best. I then mailed the piece of tartan back to him, with the pins in it, to show how I wanted it. If a kiltmaker won't at least try to accommodate the customer's wishes, it seems to me that the customer should look for a different kiltmaker.

[artificer]

...
However, going back to our previous discussion regarding pleating to the sett or the stripe, I have to say that I am disappointed in the kiltmaker's decision to pleat this to the sett. One thing that frustrates me most about John Higgins's approach to kilts is that he allows the customer very little in the way of choice. I asked to have the kilt pleated to the stripe, and I was flatly told that the kiltmaker would decide how to pleat the kilt. The result of the kiltmaker's decision was to center the apron between sett repeats and to mimic that same arrangement in the back. I will post pictures later, but I'm not in love with the pleating.

Other than that, it's a perfectly nice kilt, but now that I own a MAC Newsome kilt, I'm completely spoiled.

JDB

...If a kiltmaker won't at least try to accommodate the customer's wishes, it seems to me that the customer should look for a different kiltmaker.

Bolding mine. Right here is a perfect example of why it's best to deal directly with your kilt maker, tailor, sporran maker, jeweler, etc- they might cost a bit more, but you get exactly what you want.

That said, I still can't wait to see pix, it's a lovely tartan.

ith:

[TheBrus]

I have purchased three eight-yard kilts, over the years, from John Higgins, and only once did he allow me to even think I had a choice in the pleating. Granted, the other two times, I would have chosen sett pleating, but I didn't have any choice in the matter. And I could be completely wrong about how the kilt should be pleated... and John did explain that he only wants to make a kilt that will perform properly (i.e. hang and swing to the best effect).

While the kiltmakers are on-site, Articificer is right: you need to be dealing directly with the kiltmaker. Period. Lesson learned.

All-in-all, I am not dissatisfied enough to even suggest I'd want a refund. The kilt fits, so I'll wear it. It is a lovely tartan, the kilt was made for a specific purpose (acting as an ambassador for my kiltwalk and as long-distance walking gear), and there's nothing fundamentally wrong with it structurally.

I simply want to give an account of my buying experience for others. Take it for what it's worth, your mileage may vary. Still working on pics.

JDB

[kiltedrennie]

This is a fascinating discussion.

I'm so happy I went with an inexpensive acrylic kilt for my first. By wearing it, listening to conversations like this, and taking the time to learn I feel I'll have gained enough experience to confidently order my heirloom kilt.

Thank You!