Poly-viscose kilts in the rain

[SimplyStuart]

we all know wool works well in rain but how does PV hold up? if it's not warm could it be waterproofed?

[Steve Ashton]

Just so we are using the same terms - -

When you say "Poly-Viscose" are you referring to the 65% Polyester/35% Rayon blend Tartan fabric woven by Marton Mills?

Or are you referring to the fabrics which are used for kilts that carry a label similar to this?

[Geoff Withnell]

With the caveat that I am speaking of the Marton Mills PV, if anything, it holds up better than wool. I have see a competitor at Tough Mudder -basically an obstacle course competition, run it in a PV kilt that got so mud covered it was solid brown in appearance. He then stood in an outdoor rinse off shower. The tartan reappeared, and as he moved around drinking a few beers in the after race party, the pleats sorted themselves out as the kilt dried.

[SimplyStuart]

mine's actually 65% viscose rayon and 35% acetate fibre

[thecompaqguy]

Just so we are using the same terms - -

When you say "Poly-Viscose" are you referring to the 65% Polyester/35% Rayon blend Tartan fabric woven by Marton Mills?

Or are you referring to the fabrics which are used for kilts that carry a label similar to this?

Certainly covers all bases "Scottish Irish Kilt"

[Taskr]

mine's actually 65% viscose rayon and 35% acetate fibre

There are various products for waterproofing synthetic material; nikwax, aqua armour ...

[Steve Ashton]

This is the classic tag style that is found on many kilts produced in Pakistan. Basically anytime you see a tag in green/yellow with an inter-twinned knot as a border it is a good chance that you are seeing a Pakistani made product. There is another, larger one, that has much the same design and says simply "The Kilt".

I seem to have less of an objection to these products than some on this forum. My main objection is not to the product itself but to the labeling and advertising. Notice that no where on the tag does it say where the product is made. It does say "Designed in" but not "made in". This is also sold by a waist size. And not very accurately. The kilt above is listed as 42 but actually measures out as 46" on the smallest strap hole and 48.6" on the largest strap hole.
The fabric care tag is another issue.



This kilt was advertised as being "Heavy weight P/V". The tag attached says 100% Acrylic wool. I often wonder what plastic sheep look like?
If you weigh this fabric it is actually 6 oz if you use the same system we use for wool. I can only assume that "heavy" refers to the thickness of the fabric. This thickness is achieved in much the same way as polar fleece. By being poofy.

The tag lists that between 4 and 6 yards of fabric are used. If you put a tape measure on the bottom, and use the same criteria that we use for wool kilts, this one measures out to be 148.68 inches or 4.13 yards.

There is, to my knowledge, only one kilt quality P/V weaver. (by the way the "P" stands for Polyester and the "V" for viscose which is the British term for Rayon) is Marton Mills of Otley, UK. Marton Mills lists their Balmoral and York lines of fabric as being 250 Grams per square meter. This would come out to 12.28oz using our standard way of comparing kilt fabrics.

Some more facts about true P/V. The Balmoral line are Tartan, the York line are solid colored. Both are a 65% Polyester/35% Rayon blend woven in a hard twist 2X2 twill. Both are Teflon (fluorocarbon for our UK members) finished. Both are machine washable, dryable and dry cleanable. The use of fabric conditioner (Fabric softener) is not recommended as it tends to degrade the Teflon.
I use Marton Mills Balmoral fabrics for my rental fleet as the kilts can be thrown into the washer and dryer after each wearing. I have some kilts in my Rental fleet which have been worn 65 times and washed 65 times. They still look as good today as the day they were made. I can see no fading and they are still totally wrinkle free.

So I guess we are back to the original question of this thread.

we all know wool works well in rain but how does PV hold up? if it's not warm could it be waterproofed?

This is actually a question that is mixing two or three different properties of fabrics. I assume that the OP meant - Does P/V insulate and feel warm when wet? Well, no, P/V is a synthetic fabric so it does not insulate in the same way as some other fabrics. How warm a wet garment feels depends on time, absorption rate, the ambient dewpoint, the temperature of the water and your temperature due to your activity.
But P/V, being a synthetic does not need to be waterproofed. It is already more resistant to water absorption than wool. I actually prefer a synthetic fabric over wool in the rain. It does not become as heavy and so does not distort as much as wool due to the weight. A water soaked wool kilt can become 3-4 times heavier than a dry one. This can lead to some really messy looking pleats when it drys. P/V will come out of being soaked almost totally wrinkle free and if the creases of the pleats are pressed with the right temperature the creases are about as permanent as you can get.

And a wet P/V kilt does not smell like wet sheep!

[Taskr]

And a wet P/V kilt does not smell like wet sheep!

But, perhaps, wet plastic sheep?

Despite the other items, the one text on the tag that has me truly confused is "USED". That is supposedly part of '4-6 Yards of tartan used' But, are we sure?

Though nowhere near the Tough Mudder experience, I've been out in the rain in my PV kilt only once and it didn't cause me any chills or bother.

[seanachie]

If you noted anything on southern California weather this past winter, you know we had a few periods of torrential rains. During one of those storms the water went from normal drain off to cascading stream. There were literally sheets of water overflowing the basement steps and flooding our basement. All I could do was react as fast as possible and I had a Marton Mills PV kilt on. This was by happenstance, not design. The kilt held up in this level of ran for close to 90 minutes before becoming pretty near saturated. I had no complaints, and was actually glad to not be wearing jeans which would have gotten heavy and uncomfortable.

[estimaa]

They are brilliant in the rain and going through rough country.

They are also nigh on impossible to wear out and I've managed to wash mine by simply walking in the sea or in a river (smother with soap first).
They are also very heavy behind so excellent for the back, and can be worn comfortably for hours in the car.

Having just got a magnificent Irish parsons wool one recently (they went out of busines) I can now understand all the very approx sizing issues with cheaper kilts like this.
I will also take a lot more care with it than with the synthetic fibre.