Pennsylvania Kilt Changes...???

[Riverkilt]

Have read bits and pieces on various forums...if I've missed anything formal I'm sorry. Just looking for something formal, from the horses' mouths...

I understand Jeff is putting Pittsburgh Kilts on hold for a while...??

I understand Jimmy is back in the kilt business but without a website...??

Ron

[switchblade5984]

bump!

[Riverkilt]

Bump???

What does that mean??

Ron

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Ron,

I can provide some information (based on other posts!). Jeff (of PK fame) also needs to provide for a wife and at least one rugrat (I mean that affectionately!). As I understand it, he has secured a programming contract that pays much better than kilt making (given his prices that is not surprising) and he has taken on the programming work. I think that it is a short term leave from kilt making.

As for Jimmy, he has posted a few messages indicating he has becom involved in some new initiative involving kilts, although only as a part of the whole package, and that he is providing some input/direction. He has also mentioned that he has sold the idea of kilt pajamas to a large manufacturer.

One thing that I did not realize until some recent posts is that Jimmy and Rocky were originally partners in USAK! At some point, approximately in May of 2004, they parted ways, and Rocky became the sole owner of USAK. I have been reading some old posts that came up as a result of a search I did and this showed up. Not sure what happened or why they went separate ways, but it seems that Jimmy has some historical and family ties to kilt making and also is somewhat sought after for his experience/expertise/contacts. The recent questions from Bear and Rocky (and Jimmy's own posts) make me think that Jimmy signed a non-compete agreement with Rocky that has recently expired, so Jimmy is now free to pursue whatever he wants. Not sure what all this means in a practical sense to the buying public!

Hope this helps!

[Mike1]

Ron, a "bump" is simply a post that adds nothing to a thread, it is just a post to move a thread back to the top of the stack. If this thread had fallen down low enough that it was likely to disappear, you can "bump" it back to the top.

Switchblade, we don't need to bump threads that are less than 24 hours old, much less a mere 4 minutes old.

[ByDand]

Ron, It is true that Jeff is taking some time off from making kilts. I was talking to him about a kilt and he informed me that he had recently landed a programming job that would pay better, but that it was apparently not a permanent thing. He said he would email me when he was back to making kilts. I'll wait!!!! He makes a kilt that I really want so I'll bide my time.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks Mike,

Had never seen that before on this or other forums, shows how old I am...

Don't see the point though. I believe in reality, it is what it is...if it ain't where someone wants it there's a reason and bumping it (?) ain't gonna change anything.

Glad Jeff hopes to get back to kiltmaking, he's sure good at it.

Guess Jimmy doesn't have a website, or won't, looked pretty heavy there with the other kiltmakers.

Ron

[Iolaus]

Don't see the point though. I believe in reality, it is what it is...if it ain't where someone wants it there's a reason and bumping it (?) ain't gonna change anything.
Ron

If a thread participant wants more input then he's gonna bump it. It needs to be on the first page; most people don't bother going to a second page of threads.

I've got a music thread here on XMarks - "So, what's on your shelf" - in which I have a running master list on my first post. I will bump it if it falls off the page (editing the first post won't bump it) simply because I want it to stay on the page for more input.

As was mentioned elsewhere, ttt means to the "to the top", and there is also just a simple up arrow "^" to accomplish the same thing.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

I can't speak for my friend Jeff at Pittsburgh Kilts, so I'll just let him enlighten you all in his own time.

As for me, it's simple. Yes, USAKilts was Brett, Myself and Rocky. It was started as a simple premise to alter SportKilts into a more "wearable" form until we had the funds to begin making our own kilts. It didn't take long before there was a shop and our own designs. That's when I first made contact with Hank to link USAKilts and HighlandTideWear to eachother. That's how that association began. In May of 2004, I sold my share to the current owners and agreed to a non-compete in kilt-making. That's all over now. That being as it is, I'm just not in a position to re-start that whole process again and I really don't want to.

Instead, I've sold my designs for a "lounging" or "sleepwear" kilt to a manufacturer that tends to sit on the fringe of normalcy. They're innovative, respected, and quite well run. What they do (or don't do) with my designs and patterns is all up to them now. The only stipulation that I DEMANDED in the situation, was that they were NOT to be marketed as some freak item, and the heritage of the garment HAD to be respected. They understood the feelings and actually had a wonderful program to present that was quite well-done and impressive.

There's another group of retired kiltmakers and artisans that have a wonderful company that makes specialty items for bohemian ventures and private labels. They've taken my original kilt designs and decided to manufacture a line of "one-time-runs" under the label "East Coast Kilts". With the stupidity out there on the internet, I've already reserved the domains in the .net and .com for the line so as to avoid confusion. There (most likely) won't be a website for "East Coast Kilts" until it gets some recognition for what it actually is... a small branch of a MUCH larger operation. They have my contacts at their disposal, my more-modern designs to go from, and my support. The sales plan for the venture is taking a nice, focused road.

As for myself, I'll make kilts for friends and other bands. It's more of a theraputic thing than a business. I'll be just as happy being paid in Guinness or Jameson than in cash with them. My time is taken-up with work and Barleyjuice at this point. Making kilts will come while I'm watching hockey or just sitting around the house. I may make a few kilts a week just to keep my nerves in check.

As for why the other folks feel it necessary to sling their uninformed barbs and questions this way... that's for you to decide. The force of it hit me as hard as a Kleenex. I'm more interested in helping the kilt companies to succeed. There's one out there that has made some GREAT strides and changes, and knows what I'm talking about. If others wish to confront me... that's too bad, but I really don't care. All the kilt companies can keep doing business the way they are and the market will be just fine. Others will find innovative marketing and design changes to make it better (as UtiliKilt did). I'll be around to help ANY kilt company that decides to make a "go".

As for Pittsburgh Kilts: I honestly and sincerely hope the Jeff will continue to make them in his own time, even if it's as a side venture or hobby. He's a quality man with a quality product. I trust his word, his business decisions and his personal choice. That's a man of character.

[bubba]

Jimmy, Jeff has already said all that needs to be said on what's happening with him. He needs to take a bit of time for the programming contract to put chow on the table on a regular basis. He will be back to kiltmaking regularly after that. No big deal, a man has to feed his family. He is going to fill orders he already has though so no worries.

As for the East Coast Kilts thing, I'd like to see what they're doing. No shots from me, just curious.