Can We?

[Raphael]

From a marketing point of view, I think it is absoulte nonsense to think the inexpensive kilts will kill the traditioanal kilts market.

Inexpensive kilts are going to get more people into wearing their kilts more frequent. It is only a matter of time that they realise that their kilts are not good enough and start saving up for a traditional handsewn kilt. Their off the rack kilts are only going to make them to treasure and appreciate the artistry of a handsewn kilt.

If you take a look of the business suit industry, off the rack suits are a dime a dozen, but they didn't kill off the traditional tailors. As far as I know there are still more than a few tailors in my city. men and women are still buying suits that are tailored for them. These tailored suit may be more expensive but business professionals just love them.

If traditional kilt makers are afraid of these new and cheaper kilts, i think they should either quit their careers or change their marketing effort. Price is only one of the factors. Instead of targeting just anyone, may be they should focus on the consumers that are in the market to upgrade from their off-the-rack kilts.

you may not think that Utilikilts or other contemporary kilts are real, but they will gett men out of their pants and shorts. Eventually, these men are going to think about Tartans and Sporrans. These are the people I think the Tradtional Kilt makers should target on.

These kilts are being bought by many non- Scots as well. If the tradional kilt makers can make them to realise that the Tartan kilts are for them as well, they will look at the Tartan option as well. Perhaps there is a new market for selling non-Scottish Tartas, like the the Italy Tartan that I saw a couple weeks ago. Now, if we can only get Tony Soprano into a kilt.

If you fear that you are going to loose, you already lost.

[KiltedBishop]

That is a point many of the people who buy utilikilts are under the assumption you have to be scottish to wear a kilt, and then can only wear your clan tartan. I have a few friends myself who mistakenly thought that.
Frankly I don't worry about cheap kilts putting higher quality makers under, because people will buy one it will wear out, or fall apart and the person won't buy another. We all understand you get what you pay for. Kilts are no different. I don't care if they go mainstream, I don't think they will, and if they do they won't be a "fad", not many fads based on centuries old style. What I would like to see is a day when a man can wear a kilt, utilikilt, what have you (men's clothing obviously) and not be "the guy in the skirt", but the guy in the kilt. I just want it to be an accepted option, for everyone.

[KiltedBishop]

btw I just noticed "A kilt forum-kilts, not skirts" Since all I own right now are three utilikilts, and three sport kilts, none of which are "real" kilts I guess I need to leave the forum.

something to think about. "OW! that hurt!"

[Thistle Stop]

btw I just noticed "A kilt forum-kilts, not skirts" Since all I own right now are three utilikilts, and three sport kilts, none of which are "real" kilts I guess I need to leave the forum.

something to think about. "OW! that hurt!"

I'd be the first one to run after you and drag you back!

[Magnus Sporrano]

For anyone that thinks that there are all kinds of restrictions on who can wear the kilt and what tartans they are allowed to wear, look no further than Prince Charles. He is often seen wearing the kilt and he doesn't stick just to his own tartans.

[macwilkin]

For anyone that thinks that there are all kinds of restrictions on who can wear the kilt and what tartans they are allowed to wear, look no further than Prince Charles. He is often seen wearing the kilt and he doesn't stick just to his own tartans.

Actually, Prince Charles usually wears tartans associated with the Royal Family, titles of nobility that he holds, such as the Lord of the Isles & the Duke of Rothesay, and regiments that he is associated with as colonel-in-chief, such as the Black Watch.

The Tartans Authority has a nice article with great illustrations about tartans with royal associations:

http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/...yalTartans.asp

Magnus is quite right; Charles is a strong supporter of the kilt and is seen quite often in one.

Cheers,

Todd

[Kilted Kit]

Prince Charles wears the kilt with aplomb most of time in Scotland.
It always struck me as ironic that the Scots who can be embarrassed by or even hostile to kilt wearers in their midst,will accept a Battenberg,descendent of their teutonic conquerors in one.
It may be an indication of how dilute their Celtic blood is.
By appropriating the kilt and other authentic Celtic Culture,the Sassenachs have effectively destroyed it. Their conquest is complete.
Sorry,but they get my Irish up!

[Doc Hudson]

BTW, Prince Charles and the Royal Family are Windsors, have been since King George V changed the name back During WWI. Before that, it was Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, adopted by Queen Victoria in honor of her beloved Albert. Before that, it was simply the House of Hanover. And the Hanovers were descended from Tudors and Stewarts.

So HRH Prince Charles has as much right to wear the kilt as any other thimble Scot, if the right is needed

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Jimmy, perhaps I'm misinterpreting your comment, 'All this talk of WalMart kilts, Pakastani imports, and all this other "gloom-and-doom" CRACKS ME UP!!! I know exactly where that's coming from... and so do MANY of you. '. But it rather sounds as if you mean that there's an ulterior motive to my hypothethical discussion of 'the Wal-Mart effect', which I assume would mean an economic one.

Cyndi, my dear, that has NOTHING to do with your comments at all! You just happened to pick a store that's been used in this debate for years. You're free!

This talk of the "far east imports" and the "mass produced" kilts in discount stores has been on other forum sites for years!!! It's been stoked by individuals with something to loose by the production and success of less expensive kilts. It's a cheap shot at competition. IF the quality of those kilts are poor... then the comments can be (partly) substantiated. IF the quality is good... then the comments just come across as "whining".

How this freakin' subject KEEPS coming around the kilt sites astounds me! If it was going to happen, don't you all think that it would have been done around the time of "Braveheart"? There WERE a load of kilt companies around at the time. This ain't exactly a new industry out there.

[bikercelt1]

I'd like to weigh in on this with a sightly differing view. I promote the kilt by wearing it. Every day. I don't want the kilt to become common wear. I like being slightly contoversial and nonconformist, counter-cultural, multi-cultural, whatever you want to call it. My kilt wearing is like my Harley riding. Some people will buy a Harley (or a kilt) because they saw it on TV and want to "be somebody". I ride a Harley because it's part of who I am, and I couldn't care less who else does. I wear a kilt because it's part of who I am, that's why I started and why I'll continue.

Less expensive kilts alowed me entry into this world, but those less expensive kilts are being replaced with higher quality as I go. Do we need $75 dollar kilts to entice more men to wear kilts? I don't think so. The $50-$75 "cheap daily wear" kilt will only discourage people who might have grown into an appreciation of "real" kilts, whether that be wool Tanks or contmporaries made of alternative materials. Where I work we sell leather pants for $200 and up as well as leather jackets from $600 to $100 dollars. A Langlitz set of leathers starts at about $2000 with no custom features. We sell them to people who barely have two nickels to rub together. That's because they percieve the value, leather has a "macho" quality, and it's slightly "bad boy" in nature. Kilts are just like that.

I would like to not have to explain myself to every horses posterior who thinks he can have a little fun entertaining his friends at my expense. I don't want that same fool donning a kilt and thinking he's the same as me. I'd just as soon we save kilt wearing for those who appreciate whatever aspect it is that appeals to them and let the media driven hoards latch on to some other fad. If a person wants a kilt I'm more than happy to point him or her in a direction to get a good start, and if they really want it they'll find a way to afford it. If a person just wants to be "cool", and to do it as cheaply as possible then I don't want to be bothered.

Jamie