Maple Leaf tartan kilt - either very expensive or very cheap, nothing in the middle

[walkman50]

I'm looking for a Maple Leaf tartan kilt, but they seem to sit at the extreme ends of cost.

USA Kilts (and others) has a full 8 yard wool kilt for $700-800.
Etsy for $125CAD in acrylic wool.
Champion Kilts: $60

Over two pages of Google searches, there's no middle ground. I'm thinking about the Etsy kilt (probably made in south Asia?) unless everyone screams and there's a decent mid-grade kilt for under $300?

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1301...-leaf-canadian

Thoughts?

[kilted2000]

A five yard wool kilt would be expensive, but not as much as an 8 yard. It would also last a lot longer than the acrylic.

[jhockin]

Acrylic fabric is highly flammable, plus, there’s no such thing as “acrylic wool”.
I totally understand the feeling that $700>$800 is very expensive; however you also need to understand that wool kilting fabric is at least $70 a yard. In addition, it take many hours to sew a kilt (Barb Tewksbury estimates it takes her about 20 hours, to make a traditional hand sewn kilt, and she is a very fast sewer. )
When faced with this decision, I opted to buy “The Art of Kiltmaking”, 13oz. Wool kilting fabric, and made my first hand sewn traditional kilt. I had to take out many stitches, and redo them, but I ended up with an 8 yard traditional hand sewn kilt.
If you are certain that you don’t want to try making your own, then console yourself that paying $700/$800 is an instance of paying for a quality item that, if taken care of, could last a few lifetimes.

[walkman50]

A five yard wool kilt would be expensive, but not as much as an 8 yard. It would also last a lot longer than the acrylic.

Agreed, but the USA Kilt version is still almost $500CAD.

Three factors:

1. This is the first kilt of my own and I do not have a big budget; I've worn my father's kilt (Dress Stewart) in the past, but it doesn't fit any more; I'm much bigger than him in height and breadth and he's had it taken in a couple of time as he's aged. I'll be using his sporran, flashes, etc.
2. 98% of the time I will be wearing it to Scouting meetings and functions, some more formal (Remembrance Day (outdoors in November in Canada) and formal-ish dinners) and to meetings and camps. I'll be wearing my red uniform shirt and necker with it at those times.
3. I'd love to get it before Remembrance Day (Nov. 11).

As much as I agree with the idea of "buy once cry once", it's still a bit out of my range. I suppose my question is whether an Etsy kilt or a sub-$150 80% acrylic/20% wool kilt is passable or laughable.

I'll look for better ones in more common tartans (Stewart for family, Maclaren for Scouts) later.

[plaid preacher]

I believe what you are saying is: "kilts are expensive." And that is true. In a world of fast fashion, where everything is made of polyester and you wear it for maybe a season and throw it out, a handmade woolen kilt is expensive. But it is also an investment. You are buying a once in a lifetime garment that you will pass down to your offspring.

Unfortunately, the Maple Leaf tartan is not overly popular (like MacKenzie, let's say) so you won't often find one on e-bay all that often. But they do come up from time to time, if you are looking for a deal.

[Macman]

Check out Burnett's & Struth in Barrie, Ontario. They have a range of qualities/prices for wool kilts (e.g. 8, 5 and 4 yard).

[Ninehostages]

I just met a Canadian Veteran wearing some old triservice C.F. kit wearing a Maple Leaf kilt and it looked damned smart with the uniform and medals.
I seem to remember the colours of that tartan to be bright and saturated, though and this one was slightly muted (because of age?) and that looked just right to my eye.

[McMurdo]

There is this one on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/li...are_attachment

[kilted2000]

You could try something like this. https://clan.com/products/kilts-and-...ts/casual-kilt

[Steve Ashton]

May I ask please - What size do you need?

I still have a couple of Maple Leaf Hire Kilts left.

True P/V 65% Polyester/35% Rayon. Machine stitched. Knife pleated to Sett. 2 brown straps & Buckles.