Creating a Kilt Experience for the Masses

[Jock Scot]

Expanding on Steve the Wizard's ideas, how about contacting a kilt hire company and working on a plan for a discount for any first time kilt wearer that brings in a business card handed out by you at the show? Perhaps the hire company could provide a couple of mannequins clad in the kilt for your stand?

You need to be aware though, that some kilt hire companies' ideas of suitable kilt attire are not always accurate. So choose wisely.

[scabd]

Jock Scot,
That's a great idea. I have a kilt maker that has done my son's and my kilts, and I highly recommend him to others. He also hires kilts and has done so for some of my kin. I expect to see him this weekend at a regional Gathering (Clans on the Coast, Port Stephens) so I'll discuss it with him.

cheers,
Steve

[OC Richard]

An analogous thing to the OP's idea is regularly done at our largest local Renaissance Faire: there's a booth near the entrance where people who have come to the event in ordinary clothes can hire/rent a Renaissance costume for the day. It's quite popular.

Even though the existence of this service is common knowledge to Faire-goers here, and many of the same people attend the Faire and our local Highland Games, I don't think anyone has ever put two and two together and thought of doing the same thing at our Games. I have to hand it to the OP for his brilliant suggestion.

It would be simple to try: have a Highland Outfitter who does wedding kilt hire put up a special booth right at the main entrance to one of our largest Highland Games, with a big banner saying something like "wear a kilt for the day" or summat and see what happens. Who knows? It might be popular, and could be the first step people take in becoming kiltwearers.

[Pleater]

rather than a great kilt, why not make some simple small kilts, perhaps with the pleats sewn at the waistband and an adjustable under apron pleat each side to get the size somewhere close to the wearer's own?

folded over a belt or a plaited cord - perhaps with a couple of large safety pins for the more timid you could provide the look and feel of being kilted without the cost of the fully tailored kilt.

I make my own kilts in reverse Kingussie pleating style and although I do add waistband and buckle fastening I do not sew down the fell. The pleating seems to lie well enough without it. I do press in the folds which show before sewing.

Perhaps that would be a possibility for the more common sizes if the idea takes off.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Taskr]

I will echo Steve and Jock because I'm not certain I'd be in a kilt at all if it had not started with the experience of a well-made wool kilt. The venture with the kilt-hire company would seem to be the better option for variety and quality for the interest of future and continued contributors and customers to kilt wearing.

[Reiver]

As OC mentioned when I see a great kilt at a Highland Games event I think 'A lost Renaissance fair player'....it does look like dress up to me.
I appreciate your intent though.

[OC Richard]

Just to clarify, the booth at our Renaissance Faire doesn't rent any sort of kilts or Scottish garb, but ordinary English Renaissance costume.

What I was thinking of is not that same booth showing up at a Highland Games, but rather an ordinary Kilt Hire shop, with normal modern traditional kilts, hose, and sporrans to rent for the day.

[scabd]

Just to clarify, the booth at our Renaissance Faire doesn't rent any sort of kilts or Scottish garb, but ordinary English Renaissance costume.

What I was thinking of is not that same booth showing up at a Highland Games, but rather an ordinary Kilt Hire shop, with normal modern traditional kilts, hose, and sporrans to rent for the day.

G'day OC Richard,
I did understand that from your first post that your Renaissance Faire booth did not specialise in Scottish garb, and that what you proposed was a kilt hire vendor renting tailored kilts.

Cheers,
Steve

[OC Richard]

It was the mention of Great Kilts at Highland Games that got me a bit worried

[The Wizard of BC]

I applaud your concept and your enthusiasm to expose more guys to the kilt.

As one who has a rental fleet and deals with kilt rentals on a daily basis perhaps I can offer some insight.

Let's say for example that you don't want to go the Pakistani acrylic kilt route for your rental booth.

1) You will need kilts sized by trouser size simply because 99% of the guys who would visit you have never had a tape measure around themselves and have no idea what their actual size is.
2) You will also need kilts that are fairly short in length simply because 99% of the guys who would visit you have never worn anything at their natural waist. They probably don't even know where their natural waist is. So they will try to put the kilt on where their jeans fit. Almost all of your kilt will need to be about 20" - 22' long.
3) You will need to pick three or four generic or universal Tartans. With 12,000 registered Tartans there is no way that anyone can carry them all. You can't even hope to carry the most common Clan Tartans.
4) You will need more kilts in some sizes than in other sizes. The average guy today is about 36" to 38" around the waist. (yes, this is different than pants size. Pants today are 'vanity sized" and listed 2 to 4 sizes smaller than they actually are so you think your in a smaller size.)
5) As a fair estimate you will need to purchase between 40 and 100 kilts to have enough sizes in enough Tartans to fit your prospective customer base.
As an example my Rental fleet consists of 15 kilts in each of 4 Tartans for a total of 60 kilts.
6) You will also need to purchase about 50 to 60 pair of hose, per event that you plan to attend. Most municipalities won't allow you to return worn socks for hygiene reasons.
7) You will need to purchase around 30 to 40 pair of flashes and garters.
8) Depending on what you expect your customers to wear up top you should plan to purchase 40 to 50 jacobite shirts or 30 to 40 jacket and vest combinations. You may want to forgo jackets as they are usually around $100.00 to $200.00 ea at wholesale where you can get jacobite shirts for $30.00 or $40.00 ea.
9) You will need to find a source for inexpensive sporrans. Rental sporrans take a beating. You may get by with a sporran for 2 seasons but I would not count on a sporran lasting more than 1 season.
10) then there are all the other things you will need to purchase in about the same quantities. Kilt Pins, Belts and Waistplates come to mind.

So you are now into this venture for the tune of about $30,000.00. Then there is the dry cleaning costs to have every outfit you rent cleaned after each rental, business license and all the small sundries like a cash register, a point of sale machine to take credit cards (Do you have a contract with a POS Company?), and bins to carry and store everything along with racks to hang everything at your location.
Do you have a tent or some other booth? Can you man your booth for 8 to 10 hours non-stop or do you need employees so you can take a break, have lunch, or go to the restroom?