My avatar has me in a traditional hand sewn tartan kilt from Alba, in an almost traditional fashion. The errors were already gleaned in another thread a long time ago. It is in my clan tartan and is the pride of my kilt kollection.

My first "kilt" was shortly after my birth over a half century ago. There are many family pictures of me running around in it. This was long before the invention of colour photography. the shading indicates that it was a tartan, and most likely Clan MacNeil. Now as to the construction, it had "pleats" (more like gathers) in the rear and the aprons in front, until it slid around on me. The "Safety Pin" was not on the lower end of the apron, but used to keep the kilt on me. I did not get my first trousers until I was six, and preferred to wear my "real" kilt. My mother oft told me of my ability to educate my teachers concerning the boy garment that I chose to wear here in the U.S.

Fast forward in time. Real kilt is very expensive and sits in the closet except for special occasions. (Teen years).

Then along comes various contemporary kilts. I am back in the kilt again full time. Artisan Kilt, a self colour, cotton, rayon, elsewhat mix that hangs well, swings well, and is very inexpensive (the cost of two pair of Levis). I am happy. I become a contemporary kilt wearer, with T-shirt and short hose with either boots or trainers.

Fast forward even more.
Artisan is long gone out of business, Utilikilts, Amerikilt, Freedom Kilt are all inexpensive ways to kilt up, until the tartan fabric revolution.

Stillwater Kilts and others bring acrylic fiber and low cost into making a kilt that is assembled much like the traditional kilt, at a cost at or less than the contemporary kilt products.

Utilikilts and their ilk have raised prices up and the cost of a tartan garment has come down. First is the "traditional" kilt shops are now sewing "casual" models of less than eight yards, and are using sewing machines (gasp). The cost of these wool garments is getting close to the self colour garments of the contemporary market. Then along come P/V.
USA Kilts has a Semi-Traditional tartan kilt that costs less than the offerings of Utilikilts for those of us that have to pay a fat tax. Then Rocky has casual kilts made to measure, that is just to good to be true and costs less.

It is now easier to be wearing tartan than to wear a self colour contemporary here in the U.S.

I still wear contemporary garments for working the garden (mowing the lawn). It is more likely that I will be in tartan when I head to the grocer though.

These economic factors have probably influenced the kilt discussion here on X-marks for those of us in the U.S.

For the right side of the salt pond, I believe we are seeing a greater interest in things Scottish by the people living in Scotland. This is brought to the front by the great marketing of Homecoming 2009. Prior to this is the news reports concerning the trade in tourist trap tat, and its impact by such shops as the Gold Bros.

Both the kilt and tartan are making a bigger show in the public marketplace than only three years ago.

Here we are.

Slainte