Gonna get slammed for this but here goes...

[Drillagent]

First, welcome to the forum from Virginia. Second, I know how you feel. I have read and expressed those same feelings here.

[CactusJack]

Sounds like you have gotten some good answers to you questions so let me just say.
From St. Louis, Mo.

[Bugbear]

Welcome. From an artist and sculptor's prospective, women are made from flowing curves and men are made from stark plates and lines. In a pleated garment, it takes much more work and fabric to reflect this difference in a man's pleated garmant.
BTW
I don't know anything about wool costs and kilt making, just the art stuff.

[arrogcow]

For the actual time it takes to make a kilt, and the cost of the material, they are actually cheap (now the cost of tartan wool is outrageous). In fact, I am not sure how kiltmakers can actually afford to make them at the usual prices.

Accessories, on the other hand, are priced because they can be. For instance, your flashes, as you point out are $25 for essentially scrap material and 10 min work, but that offsets the low profit margin of making a kilt.

Sporrans too. While I love my nightstalker sporran, it is basically a $5 bum bag with tassels that was priced $25. Why, because we will pay $25 for a sporran (or $125 for a $20 leather purse).

It is what it is. People will always charge what people will pay.

Adam

[ChromeScholar]

No matter what it is (not quite, but you know what I mean), something is worth what someone will pay for it. If something is too expensive, I either do without, or learn to make it myself.

[auld argonian]

I had one of the older ladies at a Hancock Fabrics store giving me the business about the expense of kilts and real tartan material.

"They got you people over a barrel with that tartan stuff...ain't no fabric worth that much money...but you guys are right there ready to pay for it."

The only polite response that I could think of was, "Well, it's really good stuff and I think that it's worth it."

What can one say?

Best

AA

[g koch]

5-yard wool "causals" between $200 and $300

http://www.burnetts-struth.com/sale_items.asp

http://kiltstore.net/browse/mens-wea...e=highlandwear

[James MacMillan]

from Sunny Southern California

As to the cost of kilt stuff. In your present job, what do you make for hour? Why shouldn't those making kilts get a comparable wage?

Our good stuff is not mass produced in third world countries. When you see quality work, you gladly shell out the bucks.....at least I do.

[Marcel]

My first kilt was ordered at a Scottish import store in Edmonton Alberta and it cost me $900. Keep in mind that it was bought when the Canadian dollar was a lot weaker than it is today. I have since discovered that I can get high quality kilts other places for less (Barb may hear from me for my next one) but in my opinion that $900 kilt is worth $900. It is one amazing article of clothing, nothing my wife owns compares to it!

[beloitpiper]

I pay a lot for kilts, but with everything else, I look for deals. My sgian dubh was $9 at the Highland Games. I figured that people only see the top, why should I invest in an expensive sgian dubh right now? And I just finishing altering my own jacket that would've cost around $500 if I had it custom made.

So, for me at least, I pay premium for tartan, but the rest, I look for alternatives. Kilt hose, belts, shoes, jackets, etc.