Thoughts on Kilts After the Games

[Riverkilt]

Flagstaff, Arizona is a college town with a population of about 60,000. Flagstaff is a kilt friendly city with a bagpipe shop, a bookstore full of books Celtic, and a couple of Irish pubs. Its over 7,000 feet altitude in the high woodlands of Arizona. Sits on top of a hopefully inactive volcano.

They hold their annual Celtic Festival (sponsored by the Norther Arizona Celtic Heritage Society) every July. Its over a two hour drive from Page and the same for Phoenix, but they draw folks from around the area. No clue how many showed up this year but it was busy and the food lines were long and the booze tent was full. The games went from one day to two days a couple years ago.

Three (or was it four?) years ago Utilikilts had a booth there right across from Kathy Lare's booth. Both were always busy. Since, neither Kathy or Utilikilts has been back (I don't think...UK may have come one more year).

The only kilts that seemed to be present in quantity this year were STACKS of acrylic kilts in about 8 basic tartans. All with the "Designed in Scotland' tag hanging from them.

The folks from Coronado had a good booth and they had Strathmore and House of Edgar's swatch books out - but no one was looking at them. I'm used to seeing people pouring through the swatch books and having to wait my turn to do the same.

So sadly, a man wanting to buy his first kilt had little choice but the stacks of acrylics. And there were a lot of folks going through those stacks. I think the "Designed in Scotland" still has its desired effect of fooling folks into thinking the kilts were, in fact, made in Scotland. I think there were a few contemporary kilts at a Buzz Kidder outlet booth.

As for the kilted folks I saw during the short time I was there - sadly, no kilted police officers this year. The most common tartan was the Leatherneck worn by the military society guys. And, of course a lot of Black Watch tartan kilts. There was a good variety of clan tartan kilts and plenty of band tartan kilts. If there were any district tartan kilts I didn't recognize them. Not even an Isle of Skye. There was one very nice saffron kilt.

If I saw a SportKilt I didn't notice it as such. I did see a few Utilikilts. What struck me more was that I saw a LOT of solid color kilts that weren't Utilikilts. No clue the brands, but they were contemporary kilts for sure. Have the new contemporary kilt makers cut into Utilikilts once dominate place in the market? That was perhaps the biggest surprise for me.

And, sadly, some of the wool kilts I saw looked poorly cared for. Like they were just drug out of the closet for the first time since last year's games.

Many in wool kilts wore full turnout despite the heat. Braver than I was in sandals.

But bottom line, just for one morning of this particular gathering I came away with three observations.

Its hard for someone who may want to buy a wool kilt to know where to go to do that.

The folks selling "Designed in Scotland" acrylic kilts are doing a booming business.

The companies following Utilikilts into the solid color contemporary kilt market are many.

I also have come to believe in the value of participation on this board. The kilted X Markers I met were all well turned out. I believe because of the knowledge they gain here. And there was one unkilted X Marker but he was en route to a gig where he needed the pants...no problem.

Of course none of this means anything but for that slice of time and place. Your milage may vary in other venues.

Ron

[RockyR]

Other solids... perhaps Buzz Kidder canvas kilts? Buzz is based in Arizona and his daughter does a LOT of highland games...

[Birddog]

Sadly, I couldn't make the Elizabeth Celtic Festival this weekend, just too much going on. Hopefully Livingston or Nighthawk can report on how it was.

My theory to your observations is that for someone who would just wear a kilt to the celtic festivals and renn fairs, and has never worn one before, it is a heck of a lot easier to swallow 40-100 dollars for an acrylic kilt than it is for 400 plus for a tank. Interesting about the large number of solid casuals.

I know that when I first expressed interest in getting a tank years ago, I choked when I found out what the price was. I first priced it at a shop on Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Until then, I only knew of one celtic shop in my area. I wonder how many shops would be in Phoenix or any other city near Flagstaff.

Were you able to turn any there on to this wonderful forum? Oh, and what tartan were you wearing?

[Riverkilt]

Hey Rocky, Buzz Kidder seems to have a LOT of different outlets...like a franchise only not a franchise...hard to figure...can't recall the name of the folks at Flagstaff.

And Birdog, did pass out some cards to guys in pants and wore my new Antarctica tartan kilt.

Ron

[Finn]

Hi!
Alphakilts seems to have picked up alot of steam the last few months. IMO, they closely resemble Xkilts.
Is Buzz doing the same that UK did- wholesaling to other sellers?
Even here, acrylics get favorable attention (depending on maker/seller). No surprise that they're slamming.
We are seeing a growth in kilt wearing. People want things NOW. Cheap kilts at festivals are handy. If good vendors are at events, then we'll see a better looking kilts too. After all, Rocky (& others) can't be everywhere!

[Drillagent]

Based on what I saw at Grandfather Mountain, I would have to agree that the price is a major contributor to what kind of kilt people purchase. The Utilikilt tent was always busy, and I saw at least one vendor with racks of Sportkilts. I did however see a lot of Sportkilts. In fact, I saw one gentleman wearing their Works kilt, and I asked him about it. He said that it was a nice casual to wear, but he doesn't wear it for more formal occasions. By the way, I would not have noticed if it were not for the big yellow Sportkilt patch on the kilt. Which reminds me, I have an ACU pattern Boulder kilt from Sportkilt which has a small one inch patch on the back pocket. I was asked numerous times where I got the kilt. I guess the patch needs to be a little bigger. Also, a sound guy at the Barleyjuice concert was wearing his BDU pattern kilt and gave me his card saying his kilts have bigger pockets. Is this a problem? I thought that was the whole fun of wearing a sporran?

[Nick the DSM]

not a problem, just a prefered type and modern adaptation.

[Birddog]

That Antarctica tartan is real popular, Jerry had better not start carrying that one, I might get in trouble! Oh, but the way Ron, I was surfing the tattoo threads, and my wife wants me to borrow upon your full back tattoo. One of the most terrestrailly (sp?)spiritual things I have done is dive with sea turtles. Damn, there goes more money...

[Riverkilt]

Go for it Bird Dog. Sea turtles have deep spirituality in my family of origin. Big stuff with my brother and nephews. Only one's I got to see on Maui were at the aquarium but after I left my brother got some underwater shots when he was snorkling.



What blew me away was the Local's gave me compliments on the tat.

Hey...I've managed to steal my own thread...

I'm happy that men want to kilt up - even tablecloths or cheap tartan fabrics from WalMarche' are fine with me. Bottom line - I'm selfish. Fewer men ordering from my kiltmaker means less jones time for me when I do order.

Ron

[Nighthawk]

Hey Ron- great report. The Elizabeth Celtic Fest was this weekend, and there were NO kilt vendors AT ALL!! I couldn't even find a decent kilt pin!! It was just plain silly! My booth was display and information only, and people were trying to buy my sgain dubhs! Including the one in my boot!! But the festival is only a few years old, so I'm sure it'll be bigger and better next year. It was a good fest, but it was a little small. I would love to go to the one in Arizona. It sounds like it was a good one.