Cost!

[Blu (Ontario)]

... they last so well in respect of standing up to the rigours of day to day wear, weather and all the other things that can happen to a kilt: that in the end they are in fact very cheap... compared to the rest of my clothing, they work out at the cheapest over a period of time. James

Very true, however...

As a traditionalist, I find the ever increasing cost of these garments troubling. Since I bought my first heavyweight kilt, the replacement price tag has risen nearly 20% and, no doubt, justifiably so. Practically speaking, the 8yd / 16oz kilt is now easily beyond the reach of many people. Now that better made and quite respectable alternatives are coming onto the market, puting that expensive traditional on the road daily is no longer necessary.

I'm a traditionalist but also a pragmatist and openly admit that over the past year or so, I've softened my views on modern kilts. In fact, I see a couple of them as possible future aquisitions. Yes, traditionals can take the punishment but, despite the per diem, I've been getting the urge to step out from behind the tartan shield and get a bit more adventurous.

YEEE-HAAAAHHH!!!

blu

[Alan H]

The less expensive alternatives also give guys who aren't quite so sure about all this kilt stuff, a way to try it out without taking out a second mortgage.

A traditional 8-yard wool tank costs anywhere from $350-$600. I, as a newbie kiltwearer, was just NOT going to drop that kind of money on an article of clothing that I might decide I don't really like all that much. I am, NOW, going to do that, but up front, forget it. If I hadn't had access to a $75 Stillwater kilt and a $110 USA Kilt, I'd never have gotten into it, at all.

Here, look at it this way, me mate Phil MacFarlane is getting hitched here, shortly. A number of his macFarlane family are showing up to the wedding in kilts. I'm going with my Bear kilt MacNaughton (assuming Bear makes it in time). Is Phil getting married in a kilt?

No....... Why?

I asked him. He said because he just couldn't see dropping that much money on an item that he didn't know if he'd ever wear again. So instead of kilt, Phil is getting a tartan vest made in one of the MacFarlane tartans. That's a very nice thing, but C'mon. Phil oughtta be kilted for this event.

Here's a guy who KNOWS he's a MacFarlane, has a big event ready-to-go that is perfect for a kilt, but yet isn't getting a kilt for the occasion because the expense is just too much money. If Phil had gotten a budget kilt and tried it out for a while and realized that in fact it's a great thing to wear, maybe he'd have sprung for the traditional kilt. But the "entry fee" in his perception, is just too high.

How many guys are in this situation? I know I was.

[arrogcow]

I was. I spent years trying to find an affordable kilt. Finally I got somewhat lucky. I bought an ex-hire (but never worn) from Thomas Gordon in Glasgow. I paid under $300 for it. I kind of felt the same way about Utilikilts (seemed a lot of money for something I would only wear occasionally), but I decided to bo for it. As I type I an wearing he first UK I bought (almost 4 years ago). And it still looks in better condition that any pair of jeans I ever had longer than six months.

[davedove]

The high cost is also why so many people only own one kilt and only wear it for special occasions. They feel it's too risky to chance something happening to such an expensive garment.

[Andrew Breecher]

I hiked 2,174 miles last year. The clothing I went through:

6 pairs of socks
2 pairs of gaiters
4 pairs of shoes
3 shirts

All of the above were thrown out because they were all so worn out. Unuseable. However, my kilt is still in such good condition that I continue to wear it around town as a clean, neat, kilt. I plan on wearing it for another two long hikes, putting a total of 8,000 miles on it. I have no doubts it will stand up to the abuse of snow, rain, deserts, mountains, and river fords, just as it already has. The only spot of wear on it is on one belt loop in the rear. A kilt is a good investment.

Andrew.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Part of the reason that kilt prices (and accessory prices) have gone up a lot lately (for us in America, at least) is due to the fluxuating exchange rate. The pound to dollar ration is not to the advantage of someone in the US importing British goods. So while the prices from the manufacturers in the UK have actually remained steady, the retail prices in the US continue to climb year after year as the dollar looses value to the pound.

Another comment, about those who would want to try a kilt out before they buy one. Rent a kilt! Especially if the occasion is something like a wedding. Renting a full kilt outfit is not much more expensive than renting a tux, especially if you happen to live near a kilt hire place and can avoid shipping costs. I know people who have rented a kilt (just the kilt, no jacket) to wear at a festival, precisely because they wanted to see if they liked wearing it enough to buy one.

This is both less expensive that purchasing one of the kilt-alternatives that Alan mentioned (he quoted $75 and $110, and you can generally rent just the kilt/sporran for around $50), and you get the experience of actually trying an honest-to-goodness hand tailored woolen kilt.

I have to chuckle a bit when people tell me that they would love to own a traditional kilt if they could only afford one, and then I find out that they own three Utilikilts (for example). If you take that money and add it up, it would just about get you a traditional kilt, which you are much more likely to pass on to your children and grandchildren.

We have kilts in our museum that are 200 years old, and in good enough shape that someone could still wear them if they were so inclined. So I tell people that a kilt is an investment that will last your lifetime, and then some. It will be a family heirloom. Sure it is not cheap. But what quality item is? It is worth every penny if you enjoy wearing it. The only expensive kilt is the one you never wear.

Aye,
Matt

[macwilkin]

Part of the reason that kilt prices (and accessory prices) have gone up a lot lately (for us in America, at least) is due to the fluxuating exchange rate. The pound to dollar ration is not to the advantage of someone in the US importing British goods. So while the prices from the manufacturers in the UK have actually remained steady, the retail prices in the US continue to climb year after year as the dollar looses value to the pound.

When people ask me about getting started in wearing a kilt, I usually tell them about Canadian kiltmakers like Hector Russell's Toronto branch, Burnett & Struth, Bear, etc., since the exchange rate with Canada is much better then with the pound at present. Or American traditional kilt makers like Kathy Lare, Barb or Cyndi.

I have to chuckle a bit when people tell me that they would love to own a traditional kilt if they could only afford one, and then I find out that they own three Utilikilts (for example). If you take that money and add it up, it would just about get you a traditional kilt, which you are much more likely to pass on to your children and grandchildren.

I've thought about getting some sort of "casual kilt" now and then, but this same line of thought always stops me -- why spend the money on a "casual" when I can save a wee bit more and get a traditional? If I wore a kilt everyday, then maybe a casual would be make more sense -- but since I wear the kilt for Scottish functions, educational programs, etc., a traditional kilt is the better option for me -- it may not be right for someone else though.

Matt was "spot on": for some, the traditional kilt will be an "hierloom" -- something that can be passed on to another generation -- and that is something that is priceless in the long run.

Cheers,

Todd