My First Traditional, From USA Kilts

[Mike n NC]

Ok, I wanted to wait a few days before I posted this, let the euphoria wear off so to speak. Last Friday the postman brought the newest addition to my growing kilt collection. Just in time for the “weekend sans culottes“.

My first traditional kilt in medium weight wool is the result of a lucky collaboration with Rocky at USA Kilts. While I was visiting the shop to meet Rocky and Kelly, he mentioned the Confederate Memorial Tartan and I, being a true son of the south, said if you can get it, I want it. Next day he called telling me that he had found it. On clearance yet! From that point, the rest is history.

A beautiful Confederate (light) grey background with the colors of Artillery (red), Infantry (blue) and Calvary (gold) woven throughout. Machine sewn not hand (for you purists) but wonderful none the less. It turned out to be not quite 8 yards since I got a cracker butt.

I wore it for the first time on Friday night to a function at the school where my wife teaches and later out in town. When I put it on the very first thing I noticed was the weight, much heavier than my other kilts. Next I noticed the bulk of the pleats, many more and heavier, sharper even than the others. Then I walked. My goodness but the difference is amazing, it feels like it is literally beating at the backs of my legs. I later had the chance to observe the ‘swing’ in shadow while walking through a well lit parking lot. All I can say is WOW! If I hadn’t been hooked already this would have done it.

Not one of ‘those looks’ or comments during the night, save one of the wife’s coworkers told her “you have a manly man”.

Rocky, should you read this, all I can tell you is that you have outdone yourself my friend. To any and all others, if you have any doubts regarding ordering from Rocky and Kelly at USA Kilts…Forget it, they are nothing but a CLASS ACT!!

By the way Rocky and Kelly, next time I come up your way I’ll shoot for a weekend and the night at Kildare’s (or any other din of inequity you choose ) will be on me.

Mike

[Mychael Sporrano]

All right, Mike. I just had a peek at your gallery- you and your kilt look very nice. There is nothing quite like the feel of 6-8 yards of pleats swinging behind you while you walk. Congrats on the new kilt!

Mychael

[Miah]

Very Nice, I am a huge fan of the Military tartans!
Looks smart

[GMan]

That is one cool looking tartan Mike Definetly a kilt that you can wear with pride

[Riverkilt]

Very nice Mike.

I like the look of the old civil war era leather with the kilt.

Have some myself and have been known to wear my brown belt with CS buckle with a kilt. Haven't tried the cartridge pouches as a "sporran" yet...

Ron
Born across the Alabama River from Selma at Craig Field as an accident of War 2...and I imagine a very dear part of me that was amputated without my permission soon after my birth still fertilizes the spring flowers there....

[Blu (Ontario)]

Wearing a traditional 8yard heavyweight kilt for the first time is pure joy! And kinda like sex... you keep getting the urge to go back for more. 8)

[Graham]

I'm confused Mike, is the kilt in question the latest in your gallery?

You say it's an 8 yard traditional, but it has a badge sewn onto it, I thought USAK only put those on the Philabeg and casual kilts.

[highlandtide]

No Graham. The Confederate tartan is the light grey and red one.

[RockyR]

Hey Guys...

Mike in NC sort of let the cat out of the bag... We're going to be coming out with a new "high end" line of kilts... our "Premier Line". We've opened accounts with a few mills in the UK (House of Edgar and Strathmore among others) and now have access to high quality wools.

The way we build the kilts is a little more complex on our Premier line than our Poly Viscose Traditionals. Also, they're part machine sewn and part hand sewn. The price is going to be $250 (labor) PLUS Material cost (generally about $200 to $250)... overall around $450 to $500. These are the "tanks" that you're used to seeing on bagpipers.

The only thing that will change with these is the turn around time and having to quote each kilt price individually (at least at first). For obvious rea$on$, we can't keep wool in stock at $50/yard. We order the material when you place the order so we're at the mill's mercy until we GET the material. The plus side is that we can get MANY different tartans (including ALL of the Irish counties, SOME Irish names and Irish National) that aren't available in PV.

Hey Mike... if you get a chance, can you take a pic or 2 of the back of the kilt to show off those pleats? We've only made 6 or 8 of these so far... there aren't too many out there, so we have to show off the ones that we can.

[Mike n NC]

Waal hush ma mouf, sorry Rocky if I let the cat out of the bag.

Pictures shouldn't be a problem, just gotta get the wife up off her deathbed and hand her the camara The dreaded intestinal bug has bitten her but look for them in a couple of days.

Mike