Hot Stuff!

[McMurdo]

Thanks for this Nick, yet another reason to educate yourself on the state of the tartan industry in todays market. Unfortunately the city council in Edinburgh has done nothing to stop the tartan tat that seems to be consuming the Royal Mile, and until the proliferation of these types of shops is at least curbed than I see that there is little to be done about the situation.

Personally I have noticed that kilt wearers generally fall into two distinct camps, those that don't mind spending their hard earned money on quality products, and those that will spend only if it is the cheapest thing they can find. More often than not this means that they are dealing with a vendor who sells an Acrylic "kilt" as the real thing.

I would like to think of myself in the former category not the later, as I realize that kilt making is indeed an art and the garments produced by these talented people are really a labor of love. With the kind of time that goes into kilt making there are few getting rich from the proceeds. I say support your local kilt maker, not your local tat producer.

[davedove]

I don't have a problem with anyone selling the cheap kilts. For some folks, that's the only way they'll ever have a kilt of any kind.

I DO have a problem with someone trying to pass off one of these cheap kilts as a traditional tailored wool kilt. That's false advertising in my eyes.

That's an interesting demonstration with the fire though.

[DTrain]

A very interesting and educating subject--kilt flammability. I'll remember to avoid any campfires or bonfires whilst in my SWK standard.

I understand the point but respectfully disagree. There IS a place for affordable kilts made of non-wool fabric for those of us who do not have the means or inclination to wear all wool all the time. Yes, those upper end kilts are carefully hand crafted and indeed a work of art. But to say that those are the only "true kilts" is not fair. Many people have been introduced to kilts by trying affordable acrylic kilts and work their way up to an all wool "tank."
No doubt there is an uneducated segment of the public who doesn't understand the difference in quality, only in price. I myself was in that group until discovering XMarks and finally got educated

There is room for those kilts, but I agree with davedove that they shouldn't be marketed as the same, but rather a good product to explore kilts and wearing them.