Kilt makers who make kilts with slash pockets?

[Rob, ClanMacMillan, NM]

Greetings.

Last Friday, I wore my new TDK to work (sans sporran). It was well received by all. I received many positive comments on the cargo pockets but the slash pockets received rave reviews. Personally, I found them rather delightful and useful. They are deep enough that I could hide what normally would be in my smaller sporran with no problem -- and all the rest (which I don't really need to carry) fit in the cargo pockets.

So my question now is, who makes traditional looking kilts with slash pockets? I think I want my next kilt to be in MacMillan Hunting Modern with slash pockets...although US Army tartan would be nice too .

Thanks much!

Rob.

[Chas]

http://www.freedomkilts.com/

Regards

Chas

[Rob, ClanMacMillan, NM]

http://www.freedomkilts.com/

Regards

Chas

So I went to the site, selected "Tartan Model" and when I got to the fabric form, tartans were not an option... So I sent a request to see if MacMillan Hunting Modern is available...

[Germankilter]

*** Freedom kilt is awesome. If at all possible to visit their shop in Victoria. But justs a heads up they have about a 12 week backlog of work.

[Rob, ClanMacMillan, NM]

*** Freedom kilt is awesome. If at all possible to visit their shop in Victoria. But justs a heads up they have about a 12 week backlog of work.

Good to know. Thanks.

Timing is not really an issue. If they could do it really, really quick, it'd be a birthday present (2-Nov). Slightly slower and it would be Christmas gift. Slower than that and it could even be Father's Day (Jun). See how flexible I am ...

Rob.

[The Wizard of BC]

Rob,

I did get your Tartan fabric request and will be replying via email. I am a member of the Scottish Tartans Authority and have commercial accounts will almost all the major weaving mills.

Your Tartan is readily available.

There are some kilt makers out there who offer a couple of different options for Side Slash Pockets. Most are like Utilikilts and your 511 who offer pockets on solid colored kilts only.
Those who do offer pockets on Tartan Kilts are mostly like SportKilts.

If you want a truly traditional looking Tartan Kilt with pockets I'm afraid I'm the one you need to see. I was the first person, and as far as I know the only person, to figure out how to put Side Slash Pockets in a Kilt and have it retain the look of a full traditional kilt and also have the pocket not disturb the hang and swish of the pleats.

As an example here is my Dress Blue Tartan Kilt.



If you look closely you can just see the left side pocket below my left elbow.

Here is a shot with my hand in that pocket.




The majority of my kilts are machine sewn. They still retain the full stabilizer and interfacing of a traditional kilt it is just moved and modified to accommodate the pocket placement.

My Dress Blue Tartan Kilt is fully hand-sewn in accordance with The Art of Kiltmaking.

I'm an Engineer and my pet peeve is bulging pockets. I am trying to find the photo essay I did a few years ago where I pull all the stuff I keep in my pockets and lay it out on a table. I love doing this and love watching the faces of people who cannot tell that there is anything in my pockets even when loaded with a keyring, my pipe, lighter, pipetool, change purse, hankie, and sometimes even a flask.
If I can find that photo I'll post it.

[A Hay]

I have a freedom kilt from Steve in the XMarks the Scot tartan as seen here:


It has the two side pockets and one under the front apron.

The side pockets are practically invisible and will easily hold car keys and wallet without showing. I normally wear a sporran though. I recommend Freedom Kilts very highly.

Tom

[gordontaos]

I am beginning to feel a yearning!

[Chas]

I once watched Steve perform his pocket emptying display in Dumfries, Scotland. I have to tell you that it brought the whole pub to a standstill as this mountain of 'stuff' grew ever larger in front of him. The show stopper was when he got his phone out from the apron pocket. He keeps it set on vibrate. It brought the house down when he smiled to the crowd and said 'Call Me'.

Regards

Chas

[O'Callaghan]

As Steve himself admits, you can also get tartan kilts with slash pockets from

http://www.sportkilt.com

He considers their pockets to have plagiarised his, and there is a thread about that somewhere, but absent a patent, there is nothing he can do (I'm a patent agent, so I know whereof I speak). Plagiarism is not really relevant to structural features, only patent infringement. Getting a patent is an expensive process that depends on proving that you thought of it first, and if your competition is already on the market then you are already too late.

Of course, the SportKilt is a lightweight poly-something kilt suitable for hot weather and competing in highland games, but doesn't quite pass for a traditional kilt. For full disclosure, I own one myself and mine does have the slash pockets. It cost less than half the price of a comparable Freedom Kilt, but obviously contains much less (and cheaper) fabric and takes less labour to make.