There is absolutely nothing wrong with a machine sewn kilt. And it has nothing to do with how fast or slow you are.

If you can create a kilt that will last, will hang correctly, and will look good then you have achieved the goal.

What I'm trying to get across is the difference between just sewing some pleats in a piece of fabric and calling it a kilt and constructing something that will actually look and act like a kilt.

This is the heart of the Tartan Tat controversy.

Anyone who has taken the time and pride to learn what goes into making any garment hang correctly deserves the respect of us all.

Most guys here understand that a good quality jacket has shoulder pads built into it. But do they understand why they are there? It's not to make your shoulders appear wider. It's not to please the jacket maker. The shoulder pads are there to make the sleeves hang correctly.
Can you make a jacket without shoulder pads? Sure you can. But the jacket will never look the same as one with shoulder pads. It will always hang loosely and be only for casual wear.

The same is true of any garment. We all start out with a flat piece of cloth. We then try to make it fit a round body. How we do that may be different. We may use different methods to achieve a different look or use.

Anyone who showed up for a band parade in one of the kilts sold at Lidl's and bought for 20 pounds will probably be asked to go home and change. That one kilt will be noticeably different among all the others and will ruin the look of the band.

That same kilt worn to a football game is perfectly acceptable. I own two USA Kilts Semi-Trads, I have a SWK Standard. I bought them and use them for completely different things than I use my Tewksbury Tank.

That is because I understand the difference and use the kilt appropriate to what I am doing.

If someone wishes to try their hand at kiltmaking I am all for it. I will try to help in any way I can. All I ask is that they have, at least, been exposed to a Full Traditional and understand what it is. They should have been exposed also to the other styles and types of kilts out there. Then knowledge becomes power and they can choose what they wish to make.

If all someone wishes to do is make as many as they possibly can and sell them to people who have no idea what they are buying, then that is what we call Tartan tat.