Value vs. Tradition

[ChubRock]

I have decided my next kilt is going to be a MacLellan ancient Tartan. I am also considering a USMC in honor of my Pop, but am focusing on a family tartan. However, since MacLellans aren't as common as other clans it needs to be a custom. $500 and up.

The fine kilt makers on this forum, and you know who they are, can get the fabric and hand sew me a fine garment/heirloom. I wish there were a $150 version of what I want.

My quest for advice is, is it worth the big bucks for a family tank if I don't plan on wearing it to more then a Scottish Assoc. dinner or perhaps a Burns dinner someday?

Any low cost solutions for a kilt in this tartan that any of you know of?

[slohairt]

MacLellan Ancient is available in Lochcarron's 13 oz. Braeriach and 16 oz. Strome Select, as well as the House of Edgar's 13 oz. Mediumweight Old & Rare range. Your best best for a more affordable kilt is a lower yardage one. You can visit my website to see the different options. My prices are in Canadian dollars and I do offer a 10% discount to XMarks members.

Though, I'm obviously a bit biased (), I do think it is worth it. You'll probably eventually find more occasions to wear it as time goes on and you'll also have something to pass on as the kilt will likely last as long as you or longer.

[Jock Scot]

Until I joined this website I had no idea that there was any other option than the hand made, expensive, and we are talking £'s not $'s! I wear my kilt for nearly every sensible event without giving it too much thought. I draw the line at changing the oil on a combine harvester though! Yes I do wear the kilt whilst out on the hill, on occasion and yes barbed wire, brambles and the kilt do not mix well, but what I am saying is that from wandering around the countryside to formal occasions my one kilt has done it all and has been expected to. Is it worth it? Yes it is, every penny. Now that I know about cheaper options would I go for those? No, I don't think I would, providing of course,that I have the choice of affording the best.

[Big Mikey]

My tank gets worn a lot. Christmas, my birthday, fathers day, mothers day, any occasion where I want to dress up and go out. It just wouldn't do to have such a fine garment wasting away in the closet.

[slohairt]

Until I joined this website I had no idea that there was any other option than the hand made, expensive, and we are talking £'s not $'s! I wear my kilt for nearly every sensible event without giving it too much thought. I draw the line at changing the oil on a combine harvester though! Yes I do wear the kilt whilst out on the hill, on occasion and yes barbed wire, brambles and the kilt do not mix well, but what I am saying is that from wandering around the countryside to formal occasions my one kilt has done it all and has been expected to. Is it worth it? Yes it is, every penny. Now that I know about cheaper options would I go for those? No, I don't think I would, providing of course,that I have the choice of affording the best.

It depends what you mean by 'cheaper', Jock. Lower yardage kilts such as a box-pleated kilt are more affordable simply because they use less fabric and take less time (labour) to make. However, they are still made to the exacting hand-made standards of the more typical 8-9 yard knife-pleated kilt.

[Jock Scot]

It depends what you mean by 'cheaper', Jock. Lower yardage kilts such as a box-pleated kilt are more affordable simply because they use less fabric and take less time (labour) to make. However, they are still made to the exacting hand-made standards of the more typical 8-9 yard knife-pleated kilt.

You are of course correct, what I was trying to get accross was that most Scots, even to this day, are unaware of these cheaper options. They have no idea that a kilt can be made to a high standard, but using less cloth, for example. Would they go for this option ,if they knew about it? I am really not sure. I suspect that they have in their minds eye,as I have, the 8 yard, knife pleated, hand made, top of the range kilt as their goal and anything else won't do. That is why, I am sure, many Scots do not own a kilt because of the cost and frankly, ignorance of the choices that are available.

[ForresterModern]

If you are willing to suffer with a machine sewn kilt rather than handsewn tartanweb has their standard 8yd heavyweight in all tartans for around $350(US) plus s/h )typically about $30) or scotweb has their 8yd Balmoral standard in 16oz lochcarron for around $450(us) shipped. Thes prices can come down if you are willing to tolerate lesser total yardage, as Keltoi describes above.

[Rex_Tremende]

My quest for advice is, is it worth the big bucks for a family tank if I don't plan on wearing it to more then a Scottish Assoc. dinner or perhaps a Burns dinner someday?

My first Barbara Tewksbury hand-sewn kilt completely changed my mind about all the other less expensive kilts I had been collecting up to that point. My next kilt, then, was a custom weave Tewksbury hand-sewn.

Zero regrets.

Regards,
Rex.

[Bugbear]

I think there's something else going on here; I could be completely wrong, though.

I'm not sure that you feel the same connection to the tartan as Jock or some of the other Scots feel to their clan tartan. I don't think you were born and raised with that being "your tartan," and it isn't in your subconscious that you are part of that clan.

Is it reasonable to expect that of you? I'm not sure it is. You might feel differently about the cost if the tartan was a natural part of who you are and who your people are, though.

Like I said, I could be completely wrong in the way I'm reading your post, but this is something that I have been noticing for quite a while now...

[McMurdo]

I would have to say that I have had no regrets when buying a quality hand sewn kilt, on the other hand I have with cheaper kilts, machine sewn PV etc. I do wear these as well, and for what they are they are fine but I wish I'd saved up a wee bit more for the hand sewn in some cases.

My first kilt was given to me by my Dad, it was sewn up in 1950 by A&J Scott and co. in Aberdeen. The point is that my cheaper kilts will never be handed down to anyone. When you look at that way the hand sewn kilt is actually a better value, the kilt I'm talking about has lasted a lifetime of wear from my dad is now mine, though I do not wear it any longer, this same kilt shrinks if you leave it in the closet, but it will be able to be passed onto another generation.

I never feel unsure when wearing a hand sewn kilt be it an 8 yard of a 4 yard, they simply work in all situations from going to the pub and highland games to a white tie ball, I can not say the same for other varieties. For example at my recent wedding, I would not have worn a PV kilt unless I absolutely had too, I'm lucky in that I was able to wear a kilt hand sewn by Barb Tewksbury in my mother's tartan. Go for the best kilt you can afford, you will not be disappointed.