Hand Tailored

[The Wizard of BC]

These terms are getting a little fuzzy in the last few years.
It used to be that Hand Sewn meant that the entire kilt was sewn with a needle and thread by hand with no machine.

Hand Tailored used to mean that the kilt was still custom made but many stitches were done using a sewing machine. The reasoning was that the fabric was guided thru the sewing machine by hand and eyes coordination to line everything up.

Many shops are now using the term Hand Tailored to denote a kilt where the outside of the pleats are sewn by hand and those stitches which don't show or are covered are done by machine.

But if the price seems significantly less for Hand Tailored than for the same kilt Hand Sewn you can bet the the majority of the stitching is done by machine. Possibly even the pleating.

Please remember that in most cases it is the fabric which accounts for most of the cost of your kilt. Most Kiltmakers charge about the same for their labor. The only way to lower the price of the kilt is to use less expensive fabric or find a way to lower the labor cost. That usually means machine stitching or overseas labor. These are not bad things, and I'm not knocking the less expensive kilts. It is just that there are only about three things that will effect the price of your kilt. Cost of the Fabric, Cost of the Labor and the Cost of your overhead to run the shop.

[RockyR]

...It is just that there are only about three things that will effect the price of your kilt. Cost of the Fabric, Cost of the Labor and the Cost of your overhead to run the shop.

Yup. Also, the old adages hold VERY true...

You get what you pay for.
It's it's too good to be true, it usually is.

If you see a deal that looks too good to be true, check with other customers on XMARKS! If the company has been "out in the public" for a while, odds are that someone here has dealt with them and can give a review.