J. Jiggins kilts

[Benning Boy]

I've had some p/v tartan laying around for a while that kept saying to me, "make me into a kilt." Not wanting to struggle with it myself, I looked for alternatives.

Today I took it to J. Higgins in Lenxa, Kansas, where it will be kiltified soon. Higgins offers a basic kilt of p/v they call the Value Kilt. My 3 yards of double width tartan will be turned into one of those, with a few modifications. The Value Kilt compares in someways to the casual kilts made by Burnetts and Struth, as well as the casual kilt and semi-tradition kilts offered by USAKilts. The basic value kilt is unlined, like the USA Kilts casual kilt and semi-traditional, but it has straps and buckles like the USA semi-traditional. The Burnett's and Struth casual kilts, which are comparable, have a flimsy lining, and are offered in wool, but are otherwise comparable to the Higgins value kilt.

As are the other kilts mentioned, the value kilt is machine sewn. Unlike the B&S cauals, but like USA kilts lower cost items, the value kilt pleats are sewn underneath, that is it is pleated from the right rather than the left, and no visible stitching shows.


I asked that a lining be put into my value kilt. Higgins uses a medium weight duck for the lining that I think may well take a lot of the load from the straps and buckles, instead of straining the actual tartan. We'll see. The Higgins method of lining is far superior to that of B&S casual kilts. The lining added $40 to the price of the kilt.


As I had my own p/v tartan, I will be charged only labor for the finished kilt (and the added price of the lining.) The labor charge was $75. The value kilt normally comes with three straps and buckles. I asked for two instead.


I think Higgins can easily accomodate variations to the basic item if asked.


Higgins is now making 40 new kilts in Polaris Tartan for the United States Naval Academy. They are of 16 ounce wool, and constructed more like a traditional hand sewn kilt. I'd say they are quite a bit like a favorite kilt of mine made by Gaelic Themes of Galsgow. I found the Polaris interesting, I've only seen it in on-line pics before. It is basically Black Watch with a couple of yellow stripes added, somewhat like Gordon, and a narrow blue stripe between. Nothing special.

Higgins has been making kilts since 1983, and employs 12 kilt makers. If you're looking for options, Higgins might be worth phoneing or emailing. By the way, there was a good sized collect of tartan swatch books in the showroom, but they were all by Strathmore. J. Higgins is an easy google, but he website is jhiggins.net.