New Stillwater Kilt Tartan Announced!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

The issue of Pakistani-made kilts has been discussed on this forum before, but that's not really the point I'm making. Rather, it's this particular tartan, sold to honor the USMC, being made in Pakistan. It just doesn't seem right to me. Like buying an American flag made in North Korea.

[Blu (Ontario)]

Does anyone else have any concerns over the fact that Stillwater is selling kilts designed to honor the USMC that are made in Pakistan?

At the end of the day, cheapness wins out over most other considerations.

[cavscout]

I don't want to get into a deep philisophical discussion but I don't mind answering the questioin.

I don't mind that the kilts are made off-shore. I understand it is impossible for an American company to compete with that. But the other side of this coin is that the American companies have a wider tartan selection than Stillwater. Stillwater simply made a very good business decision to provide what his customers want.

The discussion has come up on the boards many times about how nice it would be for a local kiltmaker to start carrying a line of military tartans and the sales would have gone thru the roof for that company. Jerry simply moved on the idea, even though it is only the one branch of the military currently.

I struggle with the same issue with my belts. I cannot compete with the mass-produced belts coming from L&M or the other suppliers. I can't buy in the bulk quantities that Wal-Mart can. The only place I can fit into the picture is to provide a Unique design and a quality that a customer cannot get from anywhere else. I'm OK with that.

Edit:

My customers will appreciate the quality of the products they get from me, just as Steve, Matt and Rocky's customers know that if they want a Custom Tailored kilt they will be more than happy with their products. Will people buy a L&M belt after one of mine? Probably. But that is becuase we love variety and everyone brings something different to the party.

More on the angle Matt's moving, We would still have to buy wool from Scotland or Canada. We never hear much about American tartan weavers.

[macwilkin]

The issue of Pakistani-made kilts has been discussed on this forum before, but that's not really the point I'm making. Rather, it's this particular tartan, sold to honor the USMC, being made in Pakistan. It just doesn't seem right to me. Like buying an American flag made in North Korea.

Matt raises a very similar point to recent news of the British Ministry of Defence considering having the new Royal Regiment of Scotland's kilts made in the Far East as a "cost-cutting" measure, which was (thankfully) not adopted.

Regards,

Todd

[Riverkilt]

Aye Todd,

Of course. But Kathy is MY kiltmaker. Don't mean any less of Matt's fine work by chosing another. Lets just leave it at geography.

And, hey, if where the kilt is made is an issue then why not pick up a Leatherneck tartan "kilt" from Sportkilt?

Can tell you for myself, if I come to buy a Leatherneck tartan to honor my late brother's years of service and/or my time as an E-1, its either gonna be a hand sewn or a semi-trad from Rocky.

But, if there are any Marines out there who have seen the Leatherneck tartan in a 16oz hand sewn you know its a thing of beauty that's hard to get out of your mind...covet covet

Ron

[switchblade5984]

i dont care where it comes from.....

its not where it was made....
or the place the material came from

its how you wear it! and why you are wearing it

you are honoring marines by wearing "their tartan"
i have noticed alot of kilt makers downplaying pakistani kilts
and i got one from scotland that was made worse than the **** kilts

i appreciate stillwater their prices and delivery time

you know what stillwater has other tartans that honor other families..
wheres the complaint there?

this thread is about the new line of kilts from still water! not manufacting or production

i as a marine will be proud to wear my USMC tartan kilt everywhere i go
i have earned that title
i dont care if its my kilt from alexis malcolm or the 4 stillwaters (2 of which in a heavier wool) i am going to get for the price of the one you know what though its the MARINE CORPS OOOOHHhhhhh RAAAAAhhhhh

[Sciuropterus]

The issue of Pakistani-made kilts has been discussed on this forum before, but that's not really the point I'm making. Rather, it's this particular tartan, sold to honor the USMC, being made in Pakistan. It just doesn't seem right to me. Like buying an American flag made in North Korea.

Matt- You are more than welcome to raise your point, but your comparing Pakistan to North Korea is NOT cool.

Pakistan is a military ally and trade partner of the US. North Korea is NOT. You may wish to discuss your concerns with the USMC 3rd Transportation Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group. They assisted in the delivery of more than 6.5 million pounds of food and supplies to Northern Pakistan during the 2005 earthquake. Or the USMC 3 Marine Expeditionary force that served with Pakistani troops during the earthquake relief efforts. It may also interest you to know that one kiltmaker was KILLED in that earthquake, due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Tattoo Bradley]

:::Bradley slowly backtracks out of the heated room ::::

[M. A. C. Newsome]

this thread is about the new line of kilts from still water! not manufacting or production

Yes, and that's why I'm talking about the new line of kilts from Stillwater here. Again, the issue isn't the production of kilts in Asian countries in general. We've had that discussion before.

The discussion is about the appropriateness of producing kilts in this particular tartan in such a country.

Frankly, when I first saw Stillwater offering the Leatherneck tartan, I didn't even think about it. But I know it's a huge issue for some, because multiple people have brought it to my attention (outside this forum). So now I am thinking about it.

I knew this new line was being discussed here, and I wanted to bring the point up to see what people's reactions might be.

comparing Pakistan to North Korea is NOT cool.

Sorry, I was reaching for an obvious example and that came first to mind. Saudia Arabia is also a military ally, yet there is a lot going on in that country that I wouldn't want my dollars to support.

No, Pakistan is not North Korea. But it ain't Kansas, either.

[Sciuropterus]

No, Pakistan is not North Korea. But it ain't Kansas, either.

No argument there! I'll take lots of pictures when I'm there next year (Pakistan, not Kansas).

Matt, we obviously won't agree 100% on this one, and that's understandable. Having each said our piece in the above posts, I hope we can put this behind us.