Lidl Supermarket sells budget kilts

[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

[ChromeScholar]

Also Lidl are unlikely to prove a long term competitor to quality kilt establishments,

The thing about this statement is that it assumes that Lidl is actually competition for "quality" kilt establishments. My belief is that the sellers of inexpensive acrylic kilts are reaching a different market (for the most part) than the businesses selling handmade wool kilts.

[TheKiltedWonder]

I agree completely. There is no competition between the two groups. They're reaching for two different demographics. I don't see Whole Foods and Food Lion as being in competition. They can coexist, because while they both sell food, they're actually selling and marketing different products to different populations within the community.

The main threat to kilt establishments I would say, is that wealthy tourists looking to blow large sums of money are made to believe that the cheaper versions are the real deal.

The thing about this statement is that it assumes that Lidl is actually competition for "quality" kilt establishments. My belief is that the sellers of inexpensive acrylic kilts are reaching a different market (for the most part) than the businesses selling handmade wool kilts.

[McClef]

Perhaps I should explain how Lidl operates for the benefit of our transatlantic brethren.

Besides selling groceries etc from less well-known suppliers they have weekly special offers for various household/electrical items which are only in stock on a very temporary basis. Some of these sell out very quickly indeed and once gone they are gone. My car stereo is from them - it has a an FM radio, a CD player and an MP3 player (using SD cards). It came out on a Thursday morning and was sold out by the the afternoon!

This line in kilts will be very short term indeed.

[Darkislander]

This topic is certainly grabbing a lot of attention, and they haven't even arrived in store yet. All I can say is if you can afford a Rolls Royce you'd probably buy one. I'm sure anyone who buys one of these kilts will know what to expect.
Incidently, Lidl is a European company. I'm not sure if it's German or dutch or something.

[Frank McGrath]

Does any one have a picture of Burns in a kilt?

[McClef]

Does any one have a picture of Burns in a kilt?

Well I have never seen one and it's highly unlikely he ever wore one to begin with being a Lowlander who lived and died before the "Highand Revival" following the visit of George IV to Edinburgh which took place many years after Burns' death.

All the kilted connotations we now have in celebrating him are of later origin (although I am sure he would love it).

[macwilkin]

Does any one have a picture of Burns in a kilt?

Well I have never seen one and it's highly unlikely he ever wore one to begin with being a Lowlander who lived and died before the "Highand Revival" following the visit of George IV to Edinburgh which took place many years after Burns' death.

All the kilted connotations we now have in celebrating him are of later origin (although I am sure he would love it).

Weel Done, McClef!

Burns did mention Highland dress in several of his songs & poems, especially those that were Jacobite in sympathy --The White Cockade, Bonnie Heilan Laddie, etc. That being said, it doesn't mean Burns ever wore a kilt.

There is a painting entitled "The Soldier's Return" that reportedly depicts Burns in discussion with a Sergeant of the Black Watch in a tavern -- I'd love to have a copy for my library.

Cheers,

Todd

[Pour1Malt]

here ya gae lads...

went tae Lidl the day...

they gae oan sale Monday....

lueks like the same auld plastic sweatshop crap ya find in tat shops...

note the wrinkles....