Lidl Supermarket sells budget kilts

[Don Patrick]

I have to say this is an interesting thread. I'm curious to see what this sale will bring to the future of kilt wearing. I can see the argument for and against, but do tend to lean towards a quality kilt. I must admit though, I can pinch a penny as the best of them and do appreciate a good price. I think it is the Scotch in me.

Maybe if nothing else it might help create a surge in the popularity of wearing the kilt. Though I probably wouldn't stop any future purchases of quality kilts, I have to say I wouldn't mind being able to purchase one of these Lidl 'Black watch' Kilts.

[auld argonian]

That "leading Edinburgh Kilt maker" threw me out of his shop because I was wearing my heritage kilt. he's rude and ill-mannered. I'd never give him any of my business.
a couple of months after that little visit, I spent around £1000 on a full outfit for my sisters wedding. Needless to say he didn't get my business.

I've never met the man myself but have you ever noticed how, for one person, someone may be "rude and ill-mannered" but somebody else thinks that he's some kind of a colorful character who's outspoken and a stickler for detail? Not saying that there was any kind of justification for your having been treated badly but I'm sure that Mr. Nicholsby is being cast as the Last Angry Man standing up for quality kilts and the integrity of the Scottish National Identity. Don't forget that the press LOVES guys like this; he has most likely become the "go-to guy" whenever a issue related to tartan tat comes up.

Still, there will be a market for the low-end stuff, won't there? Perhaps the sad thing is that some of the purchasers will decide that they like it and will have spent what could have been the down payment on a decent kilt on one of these "disposable" outfits.

Many of our members are buying the velcro waisted acrylic kilts that are available as knock-around wear...are these Lidl kilts much different from those? Would we be drawing too fine of a distinction between folks who buy the velcro-waists over here and those who buy the super-market kilts in Scotland? Is it some kind of misrepresentation if a Native Scot wears an inexpensive kilt but okay if an American wears one?

Best

AA

[Mr. MacDougall]

Is it just me who really doesn't think cheap kilts are a good idea?

You're far from the only one. If you go back and read this thread you'll see fairly impassioned arguments on both sides of the issue, including a dismayingly long post on exactly this subject, written by me, on about page three of the debate.

[Paul Henry]

to be honest I didn't really think I was!! somehow I get a little wary of a double standard , as many people have said before you can't always have cheap and quality - you have to choose!!

[fluter]

I've never met the man myself but have you ever noticed how, for one person,
...

AA, the Nicholsby's actually have an unfair advantage: there are two of them. This is Nicholsby fils, mastermind of the Twenty-First Century Kilts line.

[Monkey@Arms]

You're far from the only one. If you go back and read this thread you'll see fairly impassioned arguments on both sides of the issue, including a dismayingly long post on exactly this subject, written by me, on about page three of the debate.

Mr. M. I think your post in that thread raises many good points. Lets face it how many people buying £25 kilts were otherwise about to purchase one for £250? Get people into affordable kilts, and they'll eventually want to move up to better ones if they can. Plastic, its the gateway drug for wool.

Best regards,

Jake

[TheKiltedWonder]

I have to agree with Monkey@Arms on this one. If someone buys a cheaper kilt thinking its the same as a traditional one, well I don't agree with that. And if someone buys a cheaper one while saving up for a more expensive one, I'd say stay patient and keep saving! However, a kilt is a luxury item. It's a meaningful one, a symbolic, cultural, heritage-infused luxury item. If someone doesn't have a lot of money, then pants cover the waist and lower at a cheaper price. Mr. Nicholsby will never business from these people; a kilt is simple not a necessity. The cheap kilts (or "kilts", depending on your view point) give people the opportunity to wear one, who would otherwise not have a chance to wear a kilt. And I think we can all agree that that is a good thing!

Is the quality the same? Of course not. If you can afford both, should you go cheap? I'd say no, since you'll likely have to replace it sooner (I'm sure others may disagree). But is it so terrible to have this option? I say no.

[Casper]

I'm in the same boat. My first 2 kilts were acrylic... had never worn one before. I know others that would never have spent that much for a wool kilt if they didn't know whether or not they'd actually enjoy it.

After that, it's going to be wool from now on. But, if I hadn't started with a lower cost acrylic, I probably would NEVER have worn a kilt.

Really, its like anything. Some people will only buy the cheap stuff. Others will only pay for the real deal. And then some will buy the cheap stuff, gain an appreciation, and then spring for the real deal. In the end, cheap kilts do a measure to enhance the business of the quality kiltmakers.

[ChromeScholar]

I'm going to interject one thought here.

Let's say there's a person who buys all of their suits custom tailored from, say, Noble House. Would we think it reasonable if that person told everyone that the only real suit is a custom tailored suit on a par with his Noble House suit? Would we think it reasonable if that person thought that if a person couldn't afford a Noble House suit they should save up until they could, or go without? Would we think it reasonable for a business like Noble House to complain because there are people selling suits that are mass-produced from cheaper fabric and, therefore, are cheaper than his suits?

No, we wouldn't.

[Panache]

I have written previously a core belief of mine

“Every strength is a weakness, and every weakness a strength”

It all depends on circumstances and point of view.

Cheap kilts and accessories are bad!

Of course they are. People buy acrylic and poly-viscose machine made kilts and think that they are just as good as hand sewn wool ones. In truth they aren’t! When people buy these cheaper alternatives they deprive the gifted kilt makers and quality wool mills of a sale. Eventually there will be no skilled kilt makers or quality tartan available because the whole industry will have gone out of business. These so called “kilts” don’t have the weight, feel, or look of real Scottish wool tartan ones. Tourists visiting the Royal Mile used to purchase traditionally made kilts from quality establishments. Now they are satisfied with these lesser garments as a souvenir from Scotland. It’s disgraceful. It is better to save and get the good stuff, and if you can’t afford the good stuff then don’t bother! If you aren’t serious enough to get the real deal, then you shouldn‘t wear a kilt. Nothing beats the fit and finish of a handmade kilt sewn from the finest quality wool. Nothing beats the pride of ownership and feeling of connecting with your heritage in owning such a garment.


Cheap kilts and accessories are good!

Of course they are. Not everyone can afford the $1000+ dollars for a quality kilt and kit. Is it wrong for someone to want to show some pride in their heritage (or to just like the looks of the kilt) without spending more than they can afford? Perhaps more than a few men are a little uncertain about wearing one. Isn’t it better to spend about $200 to assemble a basic kilt outfit and see if this is something you like? Maybe if you want to wear a kilt more than occasionally and/or formally and having a kilt that can be easily cleaned (or replaced) is a nice option. Maybe people who visit Scotland like having an affordable kilt as a souvenir of their journey. Most tourist destinations have more than their fair share of cheap goods offered for sale as mementos. Is Scotland any different than anywhere else? Lastly, perhaps an awful lot of people who would never have thought about trying a kilt did so because of these affordable and easily obtainable options. How many of those that buy a cheap kilt and gear and wear them will later contact a quality kilt maker for the “good stuff’.

I hope everyone here on XMTS can see the merit and truth in both of the above statements. Traditionally made wool kilts also have their own set of pluses and minuses.

As for me.

I think it is truly grand that we lucky kilties in this day and age have such a plethora of choices


Cheers

Jamie