When it comes to making a kilt, assuming we are talking about a hand-sewn item (whether an 8 yard kilt, a 4 yard kilt, or anywhere in between) there are going to be more man-hours of labor spent making that garment than any other garment that a man can wear. That fact alone is why a decent, hand made kilt will never be as affordable as a pair of slacks.

You estimated four hours of labor to make a kilt. It takes me a few days, at least, to make a kilt, and that's if I have the time to really work on it for several hours a day. Kiltmakers I know with more years of experience than I have can make a kilt in one day if they had to -- but it would be a very full day.

You'll notice on my web site that I charge $220 for the cut, make, and trim if you supply the cloth. So that $220 incorporates my labor, plus the costs of the buckles, leather straps, lining cloth, thread, etc.

I love making kilts, but the only way I could afford to do it for less than that is if I were to only do it as a hobby and make kilts for family and friends. Which is great, but I've only got so many family and friends who would want a kilt!

Now, I could do it for a lot less if I wanted to use a sewing machine -- and a lot of "casual kilts" are made this way, even those by the major kilt firms in Scotland. But I choose to keep mine a hand-tailored item.

So, economically, you are right. Kilts are never going to be affordable by everyone unless the cost of cloth and the cost of construction is brought way down -- and when you do that, you have to be prepared to make sacrifices on the quality of both.

I think a better way of thinking about this issue is not the bring kilts to the mainstream, daily wear, of a large percentage of the population. That just isn't going to happen. But rather for those of us so inclined to wear kilts, that when we do we treat the garment not as a costume, but as another part of our wardrobe that we can wear in a mainstream, daily wear fashion.

The kilt will remain a special garment -- and well it should! -- many people who choose to wear the kilt are attracted to it for that reason. But it does not have to be limited to the festivals and clan gatherings. I tell people, wear it out to dinner. Wear it to work. Wear it to the theater or to your family gathering. Wear it whenever you want. The more you wear your kilt, the less expensive it will become!

But you will never see it become as common place as blue jeans. I don't think that's the goal of anyone here (Although it would certainly mean more buisness for the kilt makers!)

Aye,
Matt