The perfect kilt for daily wear?

[creativeaccents]

I made one kilt wherein I incorporated my earlier thoughts only to discover that I really don't like the lowrider style at all for my physique. Even a hint of a "dun-lop", especially when combined with a larger rear (you just can't beat genes" throws the hip riders off both in the flow of how the kilt lies and in the length in the back. This is why I now far prefer the higher waist as in my Kidders, both the Black Watch and canvas.
My impression had been that the X-Kilt was for a front flap that didn't extend from hip to hip. Guess that could be adjusted considerably, but wouldn't the front panel require some vertical darts to span the front from the front of one hip to the other and still lie properly?

[fluter]

I made one kilt wherein I incorporated my earlier thoughts only to discover that I really don't like the lowrider style at all for my physique...

My impression had been that the X-Kilt was for a front flap that didn't extend from hip to hip. Guess that could be adjusted considerably, but wouldn't the front panel require some vertical darts to span the front from the front of one hip to the other and still lie properly?

Several X-kilts (see prototype #2) have been made with wider, more "trad" looking over-aprons. My first ended up as a low-rise, with the apron 10 inches at the top. The next will be high-rise, 12 inch apron and 9 box-pleats. Could go bigger, but I think that in my case the reduced number of pleats might not have enough "give."

I don't understand the question about darts. All of my kilts have aprons that are essentially flat (no tailoring), and my understanding is that that's normal.

[The Wizard of BC]

So can we assume by this thread that you are considering joining the ranks of manufacturers? We can always use more good kiltmakers. Especially if you can find a way to produce a high quality product at a reasonable price.

Before you jump in I suggest you get a copy of Barb Tewksbury's book "The Art of Kiltmaking". In it you will find the first rule of aprons - Never put darts in the aprons! The shaping is all in the apron edges.

[creativeaccents]

So can we assume by this thread that you are considering joining the ranks of manufacturers? We can always use more good kiltmakers. Especially if you can find a way to produce a high quality product at a reasonable price.

Before you jump in I suggest you get a copy of Barb Tewksbury's book "The Art of Kiltmaking". In it you will find the first rule of aprons - Never put darts in the aprons! The shaping is all in the apron edges.

So can we assume by this thread that you are considering joining the ranks of manufacturers? We can always use more good kiltmakers. Especially if you can find a way to produce a high quality product at a reasonable price.

Before you jump in I suggest you get a copy of Barb Tewksbury's book "The Art of Kiltmaking". In it you will find the first rule of aprons - Never put darts in the aprons! The shaping is all in the apron edges.

NO SIR! Not planning on venturing into manufacturing. My degree was in marketing and my career was in marketing (for clarification, marketing is FAR more than sales). I love marketing and this, plus my own wearing of kilts, making of kilts, and research of every possible style, design, and maker of kilts that I can find on the web, plus the observations on this fine board led me to consider where things are and what people love most and desire most in kilts.

I have found those ranging from those in the two digit prices to over 2000 and so many styles. As you well know, there are already fairly established buyer/market segments based upon the pricing and styles. Interestingly, the super expensive kilts are not the most complex, but, rather, fairly simple designs, so even for kilts the same marketing factors as with other "designer" products enters in. But, this is not the mainstream market any more than the very formal, tailored kilt is.

For that matter, I don't see the bottom end or entry level kilt as being the market of most promise when viewed on an international level any more than I do the more rugged waist hugger. Actually, I think there is a huge potential for what I have been ruminating on, a basic style with straight forward features for everyday wear that would enable a fine kilt to be taken easily into more applications with less resistance. I can see the day when a non Celtic kilt would be a part of a suited or even formal item of attire and the same design available in other fabrics for less formal occasions. This would require larger scale numbers for manufacture and broader availability.

For now I simply enjoy the reflection and sharing of ideas, as I work on my own distribution by MENSPLACE on eBAY as a step one towards developing greater world wide awareness and availability. Today, I distribute the Kidder line and within the next couple of weeks will be adding the Utilikilt line, both well made, high quality for their niche. In growing slowly, I have the time to learn and test the waters while already beginning the path toward international distribution.

Manufacturing is not in my plans, but marketing and distribution very much are, while also totally enjoying Barbara's book, making and wearing my own, and hearing other's thoughts, likes, dislikes and desires.

[The Wizard of BC]

For that matter, I don't see the bottom end or entry level kilt as being the market of most promise when viewed on an international level any more than I do the more rugged waist hugger. Actually, I think there is a huge potential for what I have been ruminating on, a basic style with straight forward features for everyday wear that would enable a fine kilt to be taken easily into more applications with less resistance. I can see the day when a non Celtic kilt would be a part of a suited or even formal item of attire and the same design available in other fabrics for less formal occasions. This would require larger scale numbers for manufacture and broader availability.

Thank you for those well written words. It is exactly that thinking that has driven me in the design and manufacture of FK's.

The last sentence is the kicker though. To manufacture on a larger scale I would need significant capitalization to sub-contract the manufacturing. With its associated loss of the personal touch.
The only way to bring the price into range of other garments would necessitate farming out manufacturing to an area with lower labor costs and purchasing fabrics by the container load. Again with the loss of personal contact.
Both of these options also negate the ability of custom work.

I like meeting my customers face to face. I also love to watch the look on their faces when they first put my kilts on.
I like to be able to fit a customer with exactly the kilt they want. One that fits perfectly and has the features they need.
I also like doing some of the work myself.
I straddle the line everyday between taking my business to the next level of marketing and getting bigger than I am to sell a higher number of kilts, and growing slowly knowing that some customers will have to wait in line for the perfect kilt.
I fully expect that one day I will find myself spending my entire day managing a company and not having the time to sit at a machine. Then having a customer read his hang tag and finding "Your kilt was sewn by Steve" on it.
I also fully expect that some day, some hard driving young person will take what I have started, take it mainstream and put me out of business.

Until that time I satisfy myself with the analogy that I am not buying a ship load of Yugos and selling them out of a warehouse, nor am I building a Bentley and selling them only to those who are buying the prestige.

There is something in knowing that every potential customer can call me on the phone and describe his perfect kilt and that soon he will strap it on and walk down the street with pride.