Kilt Buying Question

[Raphael]

One of Jimmy's posts got me thinking. It seems that some of us will only buy kilts from the people who advertise here or if they are classically trained seamstress/tailor from the Celtic nation.

I wonder would you guys buy kilts from this company that I am about to describe.

Let say, if I start this kilt company with a Hungarian Partner. I would be handling the sales/business development/administrative duties and he would be handling designing/supervisory/training duty. We would hire and train under priveledge people to be our kiltmakers. Some of them may be drug-addicts/ex-alcoholic/ex-prostitues. Of course, some of them are not going to have Celtic blood. Because of government grants, the labour cost will be next to nothing. Since we are giving the at risk people a new lease in life, the buliding will be leased to us @ $1.

Because of all these inexpensive labour and lease, we will be able to sell these kilts at a super discount price. Say Under $100 for a 6 yard kilt.

Would you buy one?

[kiltie as charged]

That is an interesting proposal. I think that if these people are working at a decent job to change their lives and are being paid a fair wage for their work as long as they are well trained in kilt making it should not matter if they are celtic or not. As long as they make a decent well made product, then yes I would buy one.

However, if they are being exploited,underpaid and mistreated than my answer would be no.

But I think that your "company" may be based on a real one.

That is only my opinion.

[Silverlake_Punk]

As long as Raphael is personally in charge of exploitation, underpayment, and mistreatment, I'm all for it.

[MDR-V300]

Raphael:
That's an unequivocal maybe.
I'd have to see the kilts first, but it seems to me like I'd be /more/ likely to buy from a business set up as you described.

I'm all in favour of second chances.

[Ugly Bear]

Your staff would still be making a decent wage, right? You would be using government money to lower your per-unit cost, right? And you'd be teaching them valuable skills?

Doesn't sound like exploitation to me. The only one suckered is the government.

I recommend hiring more prostitutes than junkies; prostitutes have more attention to detail and aim to please. "Ex-junky," in my opinion, is a fancy term for "junky."

Be prepared for a lot of staff turnaround. And, assuming that, I would buy one, after seeing the product, but I would assume a long time from purchase to delivery.

[Scotus]

I personally would not buy one of these. My kilt was made by someone who has been making them in Scotland for a very long time. This person makes all the kilts for the shop. When it is one person making a kilt, in my opinion, there is a special attention to personal detail and care. I would never buy a kilt from what seems to be more of a "factory" mentality. When you consider the cost of wool and labor, an 8 yard kilt is a very reasonable purchase compared to other items of clothing.

[Doc Hudson]

If the correct size was available, and if I heard good reviews of the project, I'd be apt to buy, especially if there is a good selection of tartans.

I'd figure that my taxes would finally be put to good use.

Where do I apply for a job? I'm no junky or hooker, but I am a fat old man with bum knees.

[KiltedBishop]

absolutely agree. I think the quality of the garment, which in my mind translates directly to respect for it, is the most important thing. Give someone an opprotunity to turn their life around through kilts? is there nothing these things can't do?

[KMacT]

Assuming no exploitation of the workers (and I can see none in your description), then nothing of the kilts being foreign made would stop me from purchasing one. In fact, the whole setup might *encourage* me to purchase one.

My wife works with street-involved youth in Toronto and these types of projects can be very beneficial to the youth. We have purchased art that was created by youth in similar circumstances.

Please keep us informed.

Kevin

[Jerry]

If the correct size was available, and if I heard good reviews of the project, I'd be apt to buy, especially if there is a good selection of tartans.

I'd figure that my taxes would finally be put to good use.

Where do I apply for a job? I'm no junky or hooker, but I am a fat old man with bum knees.

"A fat old man with bum knees"? Darn doc are you talking about me?