The OUTRAGEOUS Price of kilts!

[Kilted-Marine]

ai have nay interest in supportin' oiny kind o' thirdworld sweatshop that makes a cheepo kilt...

Some times you read a post and think "man, I just need to leave it alone" and I usually do, but just this once - I will place myself square in the firing line.
I can not speak for any other seller except myself BUT the weavers that produce the items we sell are not running a sweat mill or employing 8 year old children. They are professional and one is a family business. They do not have forced labor or slaves. Some quick research will tell you that in Pakistan a Factory job pays 5 times the amount as a farm job. Also if some folks had their way there would be no more kilt imports from Pakistan - then you have NO PAY instead of LOW pay.
Some folks think that if a worker is not paid what we make here in America they are being abused.
These "Cheepo Kilts" are made by folks with a lot of talent and a long history of being under British rule and having kilted troops and pipe bands stationed there for many many years and only gain their independence in 1947+-.
Don't think they woke up one morning and said "HEY LETS MAKE KILTS"
Many Pakistani's served in The British Army.

And did not the UK just award a contract to a company in Pakistan to make Kilts for the Military.

For some-only a hand made- wool kilt- made in scotland by little old scottish gentlemen in their 80's will do. But for us huddled masses dreaming of the freedom of a Kilt and a lower cost way to show our Scottish pride, thank God we can always turn to those old subjects of the crown who have decided to offer us an alternative to the costly and itchy wool kilts that are forefathers were burdened with.

So give us your poor, your huddled Scots, Those that labor hard for every dollar and have families to feed and taxes to pay, Those crying out for an affordable kilt that they can wear to the games with pride or change the oil in the cars... We shall cloth them in the brightest or tartan colors for about 20% of what they would pay for a handcrafted one from the scottish shops that are air conditioned houses of luxury.

[Alan H]

.........We shall cloth them in the brightest or tartan colors for about 20% of what they would pay for a handcrafted one from the scottish shops that are air conditioned houses of luxury.

While I agree with much of your sentiment, I'd like to inect a little bit of humour and suggest that Barb's house, while it's undoubtably very nice, is probably not air-conditioned, nor is it likely very luxurious.

After all, she's a kiltmaker and a geologist, and lives where air-conditioning is not the usual... ;).

Honestly, this one isn't worth fighting over, I don't think. There's plenty of room in the world for both the very traditionally made kilt, constructed from traditional materials, and a much less expensive alternative, made with care and professionalism by people in a ocuntry with a less high standard of living.

My only concern is that we not judge each of the products by the standards used to judge the other.

It's not fair to scream that traditional kilts are outrageously over-priced, and point at the kilts that Stillwater and The Frugal Corner sell as evidence.

It's also not fair to claim that those Pakistani kilts are utter trash, and point to a handmade Barb Tewksbury or Kathy Lare or Matt Newsome or other hand-made kilt as evidence.

There are junky hand-made kilts passed off as the Real Deal....there are handmade kilts that are a joy to see and to wear. If it says "Handmade, custom" on it, and claims to be 100% worsted wool, then let those kilts be judged against one another.

There are truly awful Pakistani kilts, and there are some great garments out there made in that country. Let the truly awful items be judged against the Stillwaters and the Frugal Corners products.

[Archangel]

These "Cheepo Kilts" are made by folks with a lot of talent and a long history of being under British rule and having kilted troops and pipe bands stationed there for many many years and only gain their independence in 1947+-.
Don't think they woke up one morning and said "HEY LETS MAKE KILTS"
Many Pakistani's served in The British Army.

And did not the UK just award a contract to a company in Pakistan to make Kilts for the Military.

That was the original plan, it's been changed to Scottish Kiltmakers.

Your other points are good. My grandfather spent a good part of his life in India, as a Scot in the British Army, helping make it a place where people could earn their bread and butter.

From here the conversation will move to the balance between Free Trade and Protectionism. Probably not where the mods want it to go. Fair enough.

A well made kilt, of good material, is worth every penny and I haven't heard anybody say a price that is unreasonable here.

[emolas]

Comparing the custom kilts to the inexpensive ones is like comparing the price and quality difference between a mass-produced assembly line automobile and a hand-made Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.

I'm sure everyone would just love to have a McLaren but the money just isn't there for some people so we have to settle for a less luxurious vehicle. Additionally, the McLaren would not be as practical to drive down a dirt road to your favorite fishing spot. While I don't see myself ever owning a McLaren... I will be getting at least one expensive, hand-made, heavyweight wool kilt. When I do get them I will only wear them for special occasions. For general use I will continue to use cheaper kilts of lower quality and workmanship simply because they are more disposable.
Both types of kilts have their uses and comparing them to each other is pointless.