Yes I know what you said was the truth, This kilt was a total 5 inches above my navel, and it still was below my knee. Yes they did hem it from the bottom, that I ask them to do. They did a suburb job and i don't believe anyone could tell it had a hem. I am 5' 11" tall, and kneeling on my knees and measuring to 1 inch above my navel is 22 inches, the Kilt I bought was 26 1/2 inches long. I bought the kilt only knowing just a very little about the garments and what to look for, It was priced 400 GBP and I talked it down to 275 GBP, I knew that there must be something wrong with the Kilt and when I got it home and examined it closely, I found 28 small holes under 29 of the pleats, another reason to have it cut and hemmed. Even my wife said it hung better with the extra weight the hem made. The ladies I took the kilt to for repair make Kilts there, I didn't know this but they make the kilts for the area high school Kilties, the all girl high school bands, they dont make many , about 200 a year, but they make them all by machine, I know this is not what the true Scottman would want, but it serves the purpose it is intended for. My is hemmed, but it will never be in a contest to where it has to be completely authentic but you know what, no one here will know, only me and I am fine with it, I can still celebrate my Scottish heritage and have fun with it. In the future, I will be hard pressed to even buy an eight yard kilt again, this one I have after it was shortened still weight 5 pounds. I have problem of it slipping down gradually when i walk because of the weight. Maybe I committed the cardinal sin by cutting and hemming a kilt, to those I offended, I do apologize for the sacrilege, But I can remember when the only true Kilt was made of wool, now other fabrics are making it into the market, I am not trying to make a change in the way of the kilt, but I would appreciate some pass here. I am not a true Scott, but I am not trying to be, Just trying to have fun in my own way. thank you for your comments