Kilts, The Wise Financial Choice

[Graham]

I agree a kilt is fantastic value but let remember that you simply cannot buy a decent kilt for less than $300 ($540). Such a kilt will last a lifetime and thus be excellent value. Buy anyting cheaper and it is either a 'pretend' kilt or a cheap imitation and it won't last and certainly won't hang right or look good. Utilikilts and sports kilts and such like have their place in that they get men into the concept of wearing a kind of kilt so that is a step in the right direction - bit like a kindergarden activity. There is simply no substitute however for a trasditional kilt of good quality.

I disagree, although it must depend on how you define "decent" kilts. I certainly regard the USAK 8 yard PV kilts as decent, among others, and definately not "pretend" "cheap imitations or a "kindergarden" kilt.

If you are suggesting that a kilt has to be 16 oz worsted wool, hand sewn to be a "decent" kilt, then you may get an argument here.

[David Thornton]

Those numbers are for the select few that have to have the latest & greatest trendy stuff as soon as it appears. And have the money to buy them.
I bought two pair of $150 slacks last week, sorry didn't mean to just drop the s word without warning. But, for $13 apiece, that's correct $13. Just wait for the next best thing to hit the rack at $150 & go through the over buys.
Now if I could find kilts like that I would be one happy man.
David

[arrogcow]

I agree a kilt is fantastic value but let remember that you simply cannot buy a decent kilt for less than $300 ($540). Such a kilt will last a lifetime and thus be excellent value. Buy anyting cheaper and it is either a 'pretend' kilt or a cheap imitation and it won't last and certainly won't hang right or look good.

So apparently my Thomas Gordan Tank that I only paid $325 for (Much less than $540) is a cheap imitation kilt. If TG isn't a real kilt, someone please tell me what I am missing.

Adam

[Riverkilt]

Aye Jamie,

You are certainly right. If it were not for my seeing my first Utilikilt at a Ren Faire I'd still be on the outside looking in and Kathy Lare would have sold three less hand sewn traditional kilts.

But when I'm out on the river or in the high desert canyonlands around here - in the sand that erodes rocks - I wear my contemporary kilts, built for such wear and tear.

Ron

[Archangel]

Aye Jamie,

You are certainly right. If it were not for my seeing my first Utilikilt at a Ren Faire I'd still be on the outside looking in and Kathy Lare would have sold three less hand sewn traditional kilts.

But when I'm out on the river or in the high desert canyonlands around here - in the sand that erodes rocks - I wear my contemporary kilts, built for such wear and tear.

Ron

Ron, sometimes you're such a diplomat...

[arycogre]

I'm curious to know what the jeans listed as "Skinny Puppy" are all about as I am wearing one of their sweatshirts right. (They're a band from Canada) Somehow, I doubt the jeans and the band are related. Makes me curious.

I nearly never wear jeans though. As I only have one kilt at the moment, my closet is filled primarily with a variety of BDU's in black, woodland camo, and olive drab.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I would normally not chime in on this type of thread, but I think that categorizing a kilt based on price is really not fair. I am new to the whole kilting experience, but I have purchased 2 kilts so far, and ordered a third one from USA Kilts (see related thread). The first 2 were ordered to provide me with the ability to wear a "formal/traditional" kilt, and an everyday around the house kilt in a tanktop shirt similar (or equivalent) to the athletic shorts it would replace. The traditional kilt was a Stillwater standard Nightstalker and the "casual" was a Sprotkilt in Gun Metal Gray. Both cost about the same ($62 vs $69) and fit equally as well. However, I have to say, based on my own tailoring experience and the cloth involved, that the Sportkilt is far superior! Nothing really down on the SW, but after only one full day of wearing, the acrylic has pilled and fuzzed and the pleats need a touch up with an iron. On the other hand, I wore the Sportkilt for almost 2 weks straight, except when I was at work or wearing the SW at the Celtic festival, and I just washed it (arrived 9/13) for the first time today!

Anyway, this has gotten to be another long response, so I will sign off!
RJI

[kiltedpride]

I would normally not chime in on this type of thread, but I think that categorizing a kilt based on price is really not fair.
RJI

I only quoted the price on the basis that you simply cannot buy the quality of cloth and pay for the cost of the time to have the kilt made up into a proper kilt for less than £300 or £250 minimum. It takes many, many hours to make a kilt (all the stitching is hand sewn and fitted to your precise shape) and 8 yards of quality tweed cost about £100. SO add to that labour costs and then a little profit for the shop (bear in mind that it usually takes 1 hour in a shop to make a purchase and 1 hour for fitting when ready). That buys you a proper kilt - anything else is cheap - it won't hang properly, it will crease - it simply is a pretend kilt and there is no argument here. BUT better to get guys into the pretend kilts first to enable them to move towards a proper kilt. Once a guy sees a real kilt made traditionally by a skilled craftsperson and tries it on there will be no going - the diffferences are so obvious. Trust me!
Jamie
PS Let me assure you knowing a number of traditional kilt makers the aforesaid prices are not overstated and there is precious little profit in kilt making - it is a highly competetive market for a very labour intensive product.

[kiltedpride]

Further thought:
Scots are known for being canny and frugal so.. why don't you see Scots wearing Utilikilts or the cheap Asian made traditional kilts that the Tourists buy in Edinburgh's Royal Mile at £37? Why, 'cos they are crap and a Scot knows that there is no substitute for a proper kilt period. Utilikits are available here but they don't sell. The cheap imitation one do but only to tourists who sadly don't know any better - much to the annoyance of the proepr kilt makers as this is ruining the market.
Jamie

[davedove]

I'll have to agree that the off the shelf kilts are no comparison to a tailored kilt. I just recently got my first tailored kilt and it was a joy to strap on - no strange gaps or creases and it just feels better. The less expensive kilts are a great way to get into kilts, and I did it myself. But I have to say that as soon as you can afford a tailored kilt, go for it!