The OUTRAGEOUS Price of kilts!

[Alan H]

Hear, Hear, Panache!

As I've said three times in this thread, so far, there is a place for the $70 kilt. Heck, there's a place for the $37.50 kilt. What prompted this thread was my observation in a couple of nearly-simultaneous threads on the board, from three separate people, of posts more-or-less accusing custom kiltmakers of charging outrageous prices. I wrote the original two posts ot illustrate the kind of labor it takes to make a kilt, what the costs were, and where those stiff prices come from. It seemed to me that we've become so accustomed to Stillwater prices and the Frugal Corner prices, that somehow we've (not ALL of us!) lost sight of what goes into hand-making a kilt. The "yardstick" developed by pricing the Frugal Corners kilts is not really applicable to judging fairness of pricing on a custom-made wool kilt.

Along the way, this discussion has turned into a really illuminating investigation into fabric sources, kiltmaking, the time requirements for kiltmaking and so on. I hope that X-markers now have an even more thorough appreciation of why a custom, hand-sewn kilt costs what it does....or why Rock's "premier" kilts, machine sewn but with care taken to hide the stitching, costs what it does.

The only step that can be done to REALLY get the idea across is for those who buy kilts to sit down and make one. Nothing teaches respect for true craftsmanship (craftswomanship!) as to try it yourself. Besides, there's nothing quite like buying the material, buying th ebook,and setting yourself down and DOING it...

And you know what? I'm wearing, right now as I type this, the very first handmade wool kilt that I ever stitched up myself. It took me 47 hours of work to make it...worth every single minute of it.

[Ozman1944]

I concur with Jaime; I'd love to own a $500.00 Kilt, but it's never going to happen on my income. So am thrilled with Stillwater, Pittsburgh, UK, USAK etc. The Kilt's the clincher.

Stan

[Barb T]

Jamie

Well said. There absolutely is a place for less expensive kilts. People choose to buy inexpensive kilts for all kinds of reasons ranging from limited finances to the desire to have a kilt they wouldn't mind getting dirt or mustard on. I think mainly that most of us (both kiltmakers and non-kiltmakers) just care that an item is sold as what it is and not passed off as something it isn't. An inexpensive kilt that has a cleverly-worded label designed to make the buyer think it is a traditional kilt hand sewn in Scotland when it really isn't is maddening. The latter situation _is_ a case of "you get what you pay for..." and contributes to people thinking that kiltmakers must be overcharging for a real trad kilt.

Cheers,

Barb

[Archangel]

I read it as an opinion, not a bash ...


CT -

I saw it as a slam, the second one on this thread. Everybody has a right to bread and butter no matter where they live.

Moderator was good to caution before the third one.

[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.

[pdcorlis]

I have really enjoyed reading this thread and hesitate to add anything as its likely to be little more than a "Me too" post. I'd would like to pipe-up and celebrate ALL the kiltmakers out there. Seeing kilts selling from around $40 to over $600 tells me the kilt market is both sophisticated and well segmented. That's good news for kilt wearers. Today I spend my money exclusively on wool tartan kilts, but I doubt I'd have any kilts in my closet if it weren't for Jerry and Stillwater Kilts. I'll bet I'm not alone. I have nothing but the highest regard for anyone who can create a kilt.

Now, I have no doubt the some sweatshops must exist - but I also remember the last time this topic came up. Jerry went to great pains to describe the work and workers and actually posted photos taken in the shops that sew up Stillwater kilts. The shops appeared large, clean, and well lit. And with that - I will show myself the yellow caution card and take my seat.

[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.

[Alan H]

I concur with Jaime; I'd love to own a $500.00 Kilt, but it's never going to happen on my income. So am thrilled with Stillwater, Pittsburgh, UK, USAK etc. The Kilt's the clincher.

Stan

BTW, you CAN own a really superb wool, tailored-to-fit-you kilt. There are two ways to do it.

1. pay for it.

2. learn how to make it yourself.

If I can do it, ANYBODY can do it. I ain't nobody special.

[Kid Cossack]

Huzzah, Alan! I had wanted to post here, but was afraid I'd seem two faced. There is a place for both the SWK and Frugal Corner kilts AND the glorious handmades from true custom makers. Maybe I'm bipolar, but I don't see any problem with appreciating both types.

[Alan H]

BTW, before adding more comments to this thread (I really don't want to see it get closed down) please read through the whole thing. At the very least, please read pages 1 and 2, so as to get an idea what the thread started out as being about.

Thanks, mates!