Seeking a tartan, a kilt, and a new way of life

[Highwayman]

My name is Highwayman, a 24-year old resident of the Chicago suburbs who just finished up graduate school and am currently seeking my first real job in the nonprofit field. I am of Polish-American and Irish-American descent, 50-50 split, and had never in my life imagined wearing a kilt. Then, on my birthday last year, some friends brought me to Bristol Renaissance Faire...That's all it took. Earlier this year, I dipped my toe into the lifestyle by picking up a Tactical Duty Kilt from 5.11 because I am a competitive shooter and found it to be a very amusing accessory to wear to tournaments while everyone else had BDU pants and heavy duty vests. I know it's not the real deal, but still have worn it to some semi-formal social events, to the Faire, and to a couple notable parties where it got a few laughs and nods. I ordered a Stillwater cargo sporran for it which will hopefully arrive tomorrow, I'm headed to the Faire again this weekend and my friends tend to have me hold things in the TDK's cargo pockets.

Oddly enough, later that day my step-mother saw my kilt and asked what my tartan was. Explaining we had none, she told me to look into a Oddly enough, later that day my step-mother saw my kilt and asked what my tartan was. Explaining we had none, she told me to look into a Farquharson or a Christie as they were her mother's tartans. Mentioning it later to some friends, I did find one Tartan I have full right to. I am a very active Freemason, and as this forum reports in a few threads there is a tartan from Utah which some members have embraced as our official one.

Wandering the Faire last Saturday on my birthday, I stopped by the kilt maker's booth and a very pretty girl working the counter bluntly told me 'Your kilt is a dirty lie'. I agreed, and asked for an estimate for a Farquharson model in my size. I was then told it would cost me the exact amount I pay for a month's rent, not counting accessories. So much for that, sadly. Looking online, I was unable to find ready-made budget models of either tartan, but I did find an acrylic model of the Freemason tartan. Mentioning it to some Masons, I was quickly and strongly told to go for wool or not bother.

So, here I am to spend a long while researching, reading, and considering my options if I can ever afford a real kilt. Until then, I'll be off in my black nylon abomination.

[briansbarkery]

A lot of the Great Rabble owns the casual kilts that the kilt makers sell. I have 2 of them cause I am like you, I can't afford the 16 oz tanks just yet. My first kilt was given to me by a member here. It's a Freemason acrylic kilt. My other kilt is an acrylic also in my clan tartan of MacLaren Modern. Nothing wrong with starting out wearing what you can afford. Wear it with pride. Do you know where in Ireland your family comes from? Cause each county in Ireland has their own tartan and you can wear that. Or wear one of the Scottish universal tartans like Black Watch. Anyway welcome to the Great Rabble from a fellow Illinoisan.

[S Mitchell]

Welcome, from Tempe Az!

You can get the Farquharson tartan in Marton Mills' Polyester/viscose from places like USAkilts or Freedom Kilts. USAkilts makes a PV casual kilt which is much less expensive than a wool kilt but still a very nice, well made garment.

[rtown]

Welcome and Hello
I have a Poly/Viscose from USA Kilts. Highly recommend. Wears well and very comfortable.
Also have a 70/30 wool blend. A little heavier and warmer than the P/V but I like it too.

[Tomak]

USA Kilts semi-traditional is also very reasonably priced and looks great. I have actually worn mine to a formal event and seriously doubt that anyone noticed. Take a look at the makers that advertise here. They are all X-marks members and are very generous with their advice and time.

[Father Bill]

Welcome to the "Great Rabble!"

Check around with some of the advertisers on each page, they can probably take care of you for a good price. I agree that wool is far superior to anything else, but consider a 4 yard box pleat in heavy weight wool. You may be surprised how pleasing it is!

Bill+

[ratspike]

Wandering the Faire last Saturday on my birthday, I stopped by the kilt maker's booth and a very pretty girl working the counter bluntly told me 'Your kilt is a dirty lie'.

So, here I am to spend a long while researching, reading, and considering my options if I can ever afford a real kilt. Until then, I'll be off in my black nylon abomination.

Here's a big, fat welcome from Vancouver, USA and congrats on your TDK! They're awesome and you're lucky to have one, since those things get snapped up as soon as they hit the 5.11 website.

I also feel like I need to say that the girl you talked to in that kiltmaker's booth flat out sucks. That's a crap way to speak to anyone, let alone a potential customer. If I were vending at an event and someone working for me said that, I'd fire them on the spot. Your TDK is bada**, well made, and absolutely perfect for what you bought it for. Anyone who tells you different can go pound sand.

[Highwayman]

Thank you all for the warm welcomes! Half an hour ago I checked the mailbox and found my Stillwater Sporran, just rigged it up to my TDK with some cord and it fits perfectly. Hopefully wearing it to the Faire again Saturday where I'll be carrying everything for my female friends who wear elaborate costumes with no cargo capacity.

This thread has genuinely rerouted my views on kilt buying. Whereas a few days ago it was a long term goal, I'm now looking at the PVC model from USA Kilts and...If any of the job interviews I'm doing this week work out, this could be a feasible purchase. And not only do they have the Farquharson pattern, the American Heritage is really catching my eye for being patriotic in a very somber and subdued manner. Sadly I'm a 28 waist so secondhand buying will be very challenging, but USA Kilts seems to be be giving me a much closer purchasing timeline than I imagined.

[TomFromBama]

Thank you all for the warm welcomes! Half an hour ago I checked the mailbox and found my Stillwater Sporran, just rigged it up to my TDK with some cord and it fits perfectly. Hopefully wearing it to the Faire again Saturday where I'll be carrying everything for my female friends who wear elaborate costumes with no cargo capacity.

This thread has genuinely rerouted my views on kilt buying. Whereas a few days ago it was a long term goal, I'm now looking at the PVC model from USA Kilts and...If any of the job interviews I'm doing this week work out, this could be a feasible purchase. And not only do they have the Farquharson pattern, the American Heritage is really catching my eye for being patriotic in a very somber and subdued manner. Sadly I'm a 28 waist so secondhand buying will be very challenging, but USA Kilts seems to be be giving me a much closer purchasing timeline than I imagined.

Welcome from Lower Alabama. Just had to chime in - challenging to buy for a 28 waist? Try finding a used kilt to fit around a 42" waist! LOL!!!!

Its been well covered in other threads, but should you choose to get a used Kilt, my understanding is that its a lot easier to reduce it by a few inches than to expand it.

Best of luck!!!

[David Host]

My semi trad is in American Heritage. It's a great tartan and it's exclusive to USA Kilts, go for it!