Got my white Utilikilts Workman's

[NewKilt]

Got my white Utilikilt Workman's last Friday. It's more of an off-white rather than a pure white. I really like it. It's my 11th UK and my 3rd Workman's. I noticed that it has a somewhat softer feel that my Carmel and Brown Workman's. Wore it today with a colorful flannel shirt in muted blue, red, and green squares, and added cream hose. I think the combo looked quite nice. Took my daily walk in the park today wearing it. The park was really busy - a cookout at the pavillion, several people having picnics, and may people taking walks.

Had a few conversations with some of the other folks walking, but the kilt was never mentioned. I'm a full-time kiltie, and really don't get many comments about my kilts these days whether I'm wearing one of my traditional wools or a non-traditional. Don't know why that is exactly. Maybe it's because wearing a kilt is second nature to me, and people tend to sense this.

Anyhow, I'm going to leave this Workman's in it's original white, rather than dyeing it. White might not be very practical, but I like the look.

Darrell

[Hamish]

Darrell,

Your experiences are my experiences. Like you, I have 11 Utilikilts (plus three on order, but I am likely to get only one of those!) of which four are Workman's models. My off-white one came to me three years ago when I visited the UK HQ in Seattle - and I love it. I would not dream of trying to dye it or change it in any way. One point you might care to bear in mind with this kilt is that of slight colour leeching from the leather straps when it is washed! I now tightly wrap and secure cling-film around those straps before washing the kilt. It does not fully prevent the leeching, but it stops the wet straps coming into contact with other parts of the fabric during the process.

One of the joys of this kilt is that almost any shirt/top can be worn with it, although I prefer plain, darkish colours, brown being my favourite for co-ordinating with the straps, boots, belt, etc. Viz:



Like you, I am a full-time kiltie and, again like you, I very, very seldom attract any comments from others, complimentary or otherwise. I put this down to both my age and the confidence one subconsciously projects - both coming with the passage of time!

I know you are going to really enjoy that Utilikilt.

[Riverkilt]

Good score Darrell,

I finally got a white workman's off the scratch and dent before they were gone. At first I toyed with all sorts of ways to dye it, from tie dye to squishing up some of the abundent sage in my area and doing an old Native dye job.

But, I like it too well just white. Like Ham says its sooo versitile.

Mine is the vegan model so I don't have to cope with leather bleed in the wash.

But I do get leather bleed from my belts that doesn't seem to wash out easily. Not a problem since the belt covers it.




The white workman's would be a great kilt for one of those Doo-Dah Parade drill teams.

Ron

[NewKilt]

Ham and Ron,

Thank you for your replies and advice. Ron, the straps on mine are not leather either. Ham, it looks really good with that brown polo. I have a brown polo and some brown shoes as well. I'll have to go with that look on one of the next occasions that I wear it. Ron, I like that light blue polo with it as well.

I had thought that my age (59) might have something to do with why I don't get very many comments. I'm also bald on top, and leave my blond/silver hair on the sides long so I can comb it down. It may be that we project confidence and maturity, so people just don't say much about our attire.

I'll be getting a photo album started over the next couple week's since I have my son's digital camera on loan.

Ham, hope you thoroughly enjoy your California trip.

Darrell

[redbaronx71]

i bought a white workman's SPECIFICALLY to dye it, but when i got it i was very tempted to keep it white... and i thought that it would be a lot of fun to get dirty

i wore it a couple times when it was still white, and in the dye bath it went. i've got a UK work voucher good for one workman's, and i want another white one, again to dye it. they aren't making them right now, and when i called today they MIGHT be making them again in a couple months. if i were bootblacking regularly, i would want a white one as my bootblack kilt JUST to get it dirty

buying and dyeing a white workman's is a great way to have a "custom" kilt without the Utilikilts custom price. and yes, i've noticed that the white duc is softer than my other workmans, but i didn't know if that was just the way it was or if it was something to do with the dyeing process

[redbaronx71]

oh and yeah, the tool straps on the whites are now always cloth instead of leather because of the color-bleed problem. they call them "vegan" kilts, but being vegan wasn't even WHY they changed the straps. maybe when they start making whites again i'll beg for leather straps on mine...