How long will a Poly-Viscose kilt last?

**sadkingbilly** · 1st August 12, 02:20 PM

I know a well made and well cared for woolen kilt can last longer than the person buying it but what should I expect from a PV kilt? I resent buying clothes and treat them carefully so some of my jeans are at least six years old. I hope to get at least this much lifespan out of a PV kilt since it won't be worn daily (I think).

Anyone has an answer or an educated guess?

(oh, and should I store a kilt hanging or rolled up?)

**brewerpaul** · 1st August 12, 02:46 PM

I store all my kilts hanging with some sacks of cedar wood to ward off the moths from the wool kilts. Pants hangers work well, some vendors sell longer hangers for kilts but they are few and far between.

**Chas** · 1st August 12, 02:52 PM

On the face of it, I would have thought that a PV kilt would last longer. Each thread of a PV kilt is made with continuous filaments, whereas woollen threads are made of individual hairs that are no more than 4" long.

As far as I know, most people will store their kilts hanging up rather than rolled.

Regards

Chas

**Laird_M** · 2nd August 12, 04:49 AM

I concur with Chas having been a materials scientist.

I prefer my kilts hanging, but would avoid the 'spring steel clamp' style of hangers as they are a &*^%$£ nightmare to use. go for the type with a bulldog clip type of arragngement to spare your fingers...
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=kil...r:13,s:0,i:120
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=kil...:22,s:46,i:297

**flyrod6057** · 2nd August 12, 05:12 AM

I don't have a scientific answer to your question, but I think a PV kilt will last you for quite a long time, depending on what you're doing with it. If you're just wearing it around the house from time to time, PV should last decades. If you're running around in the bushes, perhaps much less. I own a couple PV kilts, but they don't get much love from me: one's a tad short, and one's for playing in the woods. They both look exactly like they did when I bought them. You might PM Riverkilt and get his take; that dude's got a bazillion kilts and will probably know from experience how PV weathers.

**Thomas H** · 2nd August 12, 05:34 AM

I have a PV kilt and it still looks new and I have put it throught the test.
I would think the PV would last longer.

On the other hand , I Have an Arylic kilt and it might stand up to time but
I am about to throw it in the trash where it belongs

-so it may not last long at all lol

**sadkingbilly** · 2nd August 12, 05:41 AM

Thanks all

I might indeed PM Riverkilt and ask; might be a good addition to this thread. I hoped to get at least a few years' worth out of it before deciding if I'm ready for a real kilt (might buy one if I get to spend my holiday in Scotland in the next couple years) but that might need some saving..

As for how I think I'll wear my kilt, well for just about anything. Shopping, day out to the zoo, the park, hiking.. I'll treat it like every other item of clothing I have. Might take some wear over time and that's fine.

Thomas, why would you throw out a good kilt? Or is it not made correctly? Perhaps you can find it a new owner here

**RockyR** · 2nd August 12, 05:55 AM

The answer really depends on YOU. How often will you wear it? How often will you clean it? Are you dry cleaning it or washing it? Are you using a dryer or laying flat to dry? Are you wearing it daily, once a week, once a month or once a year?

I have 3 PV kilts that are 6 to 8 years old. I only wear them probably 10 times a year, but when I wear them, I work in them (mostly worn in the summer when mowing the lawn or washing my car, etc). They still look very good and show almost no signs of pilling. They ARE softer than when I first made them (the PV coating has come off over repeated washings), but they are still in good shape otherwise.

I hope this helps!

Edit: I agree... Riverkilt is probably the best one to comment on this.

**Ina Murison-McGowan** · 23rd November 12, 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by sadkingbilly

I know a well made and well cared for woolen kilt can last longer than the person buying it but what should I expect from a PV kilt? I resent buying clothes and treat them carefully so some of my jeans are at least six years old. I hope to get at least this much lifespan out of a PV kilt since it won't be worn daily (I think).

Anyone has an answer or an educated guess?

(oh, and should I store a kilt hanging or rolled up?)

My husband is a piper in Cape Town, South Africa.
He only wears kilts, doesn`t even own a pair of trouser/pants.

I design tartans and have all our fabrics manufactured locally in Poly-Viscose.
All his new/latest kilts therefor are in PV.

James, my husband, is also the War Piper for the Mighty Men Movement here in SA.
He has worn his Mighty Men Tartan kilt now almost every day for about 2 years!!!
He did a 1800 km walk in his kilt last year and 2 more walks since then, wearing only this one kilt.
It still looks as good as new!!

I wash it in the machine on the cold water setting and even tumble dry it for about 10 minutes. I get rid of most of the creases that way. Quite frankly, he doesn`t even iron his kilts.
O, can I just say, James was in the Irish Guards and therefor only an immaculate look is what he goes for.
He is adamant about that!! Nothing else will be good enough.

There is no way you can compare a PV kilt to a Woollen one BUT I am so impressed with the durability of PV that we have decided that it is the only fabric we will use in the future for our kilts. (We have just signed up a pipe band and making all their 100 kilts for them)
Hope this helps.

James hangs his kilts. Better airing them. He however uses a kilt roll when travelling.

Ina