Just received my first acrylic kilt

[dirkomatic]

This is a "clearance kilt" from Atlanta Kilts. I must say, I think it looks nice for what it is. I will try it on this evening and attempt to get a picture to post.

It is obviously machine made. The pleats are top stitched and it has a visible hem in it, but from just a short distance away it is not noticeable. The pleats are truly pleated to sett, unlike a Pakistani acrylic kilt for the same price which I recently witnessed.

The acrylic seems thick. I'll compare it to one of my 16 ounce wool kilts this evening.

I haven't done a real close inspection; just opened the box and looked at the pleating and the hem. I'll post more later tonight.

I'm not a heavy kilt wearer, and I will get it dry cleaned only, so acrylic will probably last me longer than others.

I think, for the $73 shipped which I paid, this may be my "go to" kilt.

More soon...

[SunriseEarth]

I have a MacNaughton (Logan) from Atlanta Kilts with added cargo pockets that I have for casual use. It's thick, definitely a warmer option than Sport Kilts. Overall, I'm quite pleased with it. I'm glad to hear you also had a positive experience.

[dirkomatic]

Well it's a little short, it was supposed to be a 20, but is really probably shorter than that. And the acrylic weave definitely isn't as nice as a good wool kilt.

It's super thick and the interfacing is strong like I've never seen... Although all my kilts are circa 1970 or older, and I'm not sure "interfacing" was really a strong concept with those kilts.

I'm still very pleased and will definitely wear the kilt. Time will tell how well it holds up.

[The Wizard of BC]

Just to clarify What defines a traditional kilt, is what is hidden behind the inner liner. The liner is only there to hide the internal construction elements.

Wool is a dimensionally weak fabric. If you pull on the bottom you can see the fabric stretch and distort. If you add that the hand stitching of the Fell is weaker than machine stitching, and that the inner portion of the pleats is cut away to reduce the bulk, something must be built into the kilt to resist the stress of strapping the kilt on and wearing it.

All clothing used to have interfacings. This is to allow the outer decorative fabric to drape naturally. A kilt has full floating interfacing just like a custom made suit coat. The interfacing also adds vertical stiffness to the garment. The back of a traditional kilt will stand up on its own.

A kilt also has a stabilizer strip. This is a horizontal strengthening element. The straps and buckles are sewn all the way through the outer fabric and anchored to the stabilizer strip.
If you grab the buckles of a traditional kilt and pull you should see no stretching of the Fell area. You should never transfer the stress to the outer fabric or to the stitching.

All of this is then hidden behind a liner. Many people think that the liner is to keep the kilt clean. Well, if that were true the liner would be removable and cleanable. Many of the casual and Pub style kilts have a liner but only because a traditional kilt has one. In fact we define a Casual and a Pub style kilt as one that will look from the outside like a traditional kilt but which lack or have minimal of the internal constructions elements.

[dirkomatic]

Thank you very much for the information! I was definitely calling it the wrong thing... The stabilizer portion is much stronger on the acrylic kilt than my old kilts.

That being said, I knew there was something about it that bothered me. I compared it to a 13 ounce wool kilt I have and the wool kilt has more thinner pleats. This thing has 17 pleats.

So, all in all, definitely not a kilt I'll be wearing to anything super formal, but nicer than any other Pakistani kilt I have seen.

Like I said, a touch short and you'll have to forgive the rest of the attire, I just threw it on before trying to press it. It still has the basting...

[SunriseEarth]

It looks like a good length to me, but then again, I like mine at the top of the knee or 1" above for my casual wear.

[dirkomatic]

Maybe I'm just used to wearing kilts with a longer drop, but I pushed this one down further than felt comfortable around my waist. Usually, I'm up at least to the top of my navel, but I was about 1/2" below it with this one.

I plan on wearing it to the pub on Friday, so we'll see how it goes!