Wool vs Polyviscose...am I being a snob?

[mookien]

I have several wool kilts in a variety of styles, and I own one genuine PV Casual from USA Kilts (I plan to get another one). I like them all!

The beauty of PV for me is that it is more carefree than wool. The Casual with its Velcro closures is much easier to adjust when I change positions, like sitting to/from standing. I wear it mostly around the house, though I do take it out from time to time and it always looks good. I doubt many folks can tell that it's not wool.

Often, after a shower, I fix a drink, wave to the neighbors, grab my PV, wrap it around me like a towel and kick back and relax. I may have the sequence slightly jumbled (I flunked astronaut training), but you get the idea.

I prefer my wool kilts when I want to look/feel more traditional, eg get in touch with my Scottish heritage. Also, they seem to hang and sway better than PV. My subjective opinion is that PV feels cooler in hot weather than even my shorter-length wool kilts. I have no objective data to substantiate that feeling, however.

Good luck in your decision. The only "wrong" decision would be not acquiring a kilt.

[mookien]

Please be very careful when you see the term P/V being used on the web.
...

Not all fabrics that are listed as P/V are actually a Polyester/Rayon blend. PV has become a sort of buzz word for any synthetic. If you are seeing a kilt in the 40-80 pound range you are probably not seeing a P/V kilt but actually one made from Acrylic.

If you see "Heavy weight P/V" listed you are most definitely not seeing a kilt made from true P/V as the fabric is woven in only one weight of 12oz. per fabric yard.

Steve: Thanks for the clarification. You ought to make that post a sticky for the benefit of future buyers.

John

[auld argonian]

I've seen stuff listed as being PV and just KNOW that it can't be because the price is just too low...that's sort of a warning sign, too. It's nice material and you may get a break but if the price is ridiculously low BEWARE!

Best

AA

[gwynng]

Thanks gents. That is very helpful. I had wondered about the 4-6 yard range, seeing it as a good cost cutter, but never thought about it in terms of cooler for those of us in warmer climes (well here in San Diego we complain if it is over 85 or under 65 degrees, so "warmer" is relative - we have what I would call basic "non-weather"). You very generously answered a second question in the process.

cheers,
Gwynn

[O'Callaghan]

Please be very careful when you see the term P/V being used on the web.

P/V is short for Polyester/Viscose (Viscose is the British term for Rayon). so to be actually P/V the fabric must be a blend of Polyester and Rayon.

The fabric that everyone here raves about is woven by only one mill and that is Marton Mills.

Not all fabrics that are listed as P/V are actually a Polyester/Rayon blend. PV has become a sort of buzz word for any synthetic. If you are seeing a kilt in the 40-80 pound range you are probably not seeing a P/V kilt but actually one made from Acrylic.

If you see "Heavy weight P/V" listed you are most definitely not seeing a kilt made from true P/V as the fabric is woven in only one weight of 12oz. per fabric yard.

Viscose is not the British term for Rayon. Rayon is a trademark, and viscose is a generic term. Rayon is one particular viscose fabric made by one particular manufacturer that owns the trademark. Anyone can make viscose, but they can't call it Rayon. Nor is theirs necessary equal quality to Rayon.

Trust me, I'm a patent agent (in the US) and I'm also a Brit.

As to whether MM are the only makers of PV, I sincerely doubt it. Are other PV fabrics the same as theirs? Probably not. For one thing, the other half of the name is polyester, and polyesters are a whole class of substances, not just one particular one. Ask any chemist. Different PV fabrics use different polyesters mixed with viscose in different proportions, and you will see kilts in other polyester blends besides PV, such as polycotton.

Most of the cheapest kilts are acryllic, but there is no particular similarity between acryllic and PV. Polyester based fabrics are fairly smooth, whereas acryllic tends to be fuzzy. Anyone who has seen both PV and acryllic is not likely to confuse them, and I doubt if many people would try to sell one as the other, or they would not stay in business very long.

ETA: Acryllic tends not to be suitable for hot weather, unlike PV, which I believe was one of the OP's concerns.

[The Wizard of BC]

While you are correct sir with your clarification of the trademarked name Rayon, most in the US know that particular fiber only under that brand name. Just like we prefer to use Q-tip instead of cotton swab or Kleenex instead of facial tissue. Many of our members from the US have never heard the term Viscose until they came here.

I disagree with only one statement in your post.

"Anyone who has seen both P/V and acryllic is not likely to confuse them, and I doubt if many people would try to sell one as the other, or they would not stay in business very long."

This is the problem most of our members have about the use of the term P/V. The fact is that very few have had the opportunity to compare both a P/V and Acrylic kilt side by side. I have, but only because I run a kilt shop.

I see advertisements on a daily basis from companies that state their kilts are made from "P/V" and "heavy-weight P/V". I know for a fact that they are not a Polyester/Viscose blend because I have held them in my hands. I have done burn tests on them to confirm.

Acrylic kilts are advertised and sold everyday listed as P/V. On an almost weekly basis a new member posts about their new P/V kilt because that is what it was advertised as.

And it is because the term P/V is used by some companies to mean almost any synthetic fiber that we must state and re-state this proper definition over and over. Those companies are still out there and are still selling their product to those who do not know the difference.

It is because successful companies like USA Kilts, Freedom Kilts, Canadian Casual Kilts and others, who use true P/V, that these other companies began to use the term.



While I agree there are many different compositions and blends of Polyester and Viscose I stand by my statement that today there is only one kilt quality P/V weaving mill. That mill is Marton Mills and the only weight they weave is 375 Grams per Linear Meter or 12 oz. per fabric yard.

I know exactly how much Marton Mills sells their fabric for. I buy a lot of it. And I can state for a fact that if you buy an 8 yard kilt for under $90.00 US dollars you are not buying one made from Marton Mills P/V.

[flyrod6057]

Thanks gents. That is very helpful. I had wondered about the 4-6 yard range, seeing it as a good cost cutter, but never thought about it in terms of cooler for those of us in warmer climes (well here in San Diego we complain if it is over 85 or under 65 degrees, so "warmer" is relative - we have what I would call basic "non-weather"). You very generously answered a second question in the process.

cheers,
Gwynn

I spent about 10 years in San Diego while stationed at Miramar. Bought my first kilt from the shop in Coronado (Scottish Treasures I believe). I went with a 13oz wool, since I was concerned about California heat. Turns out (as mentioned above) that wool breathes quite well; I had nothing to be concerned with. That same kilt is still with me, and has been worn in Arizona heat and Washington snows with no complaints. San Diego's marine layer and perfect weather means that you're in perfect kilt weather all year 'round.

I vote for wool. You'll love it!

...and

[RockyR]

While you are correct sir with your clarification of the trademarked name Rayon, most in the US know that particular fiber only under that brand name. Just like we prefer to use Q-tip instead of cotton swab or Kleenex instead of facial tissue. Many of our members from the US have never heard the term Viscose until they came here.

I disagree with only one statement in your post.

"Anyone who has seen both P/V and acryllic is not likely to confuse them, and I doubt if many people would try to sell one as the other, or they would not stay in business very long."

This is the problem most of our members have about the use of the term P/V. The fact is that very few have had the opportunity to compare both a P/V and Acrylic kilt side by side. I have, but only because I run a kilt shop.

I see advertisements on a daily basis from companies that state their kilts are made from "P/V" and "heavy-weight P/V". I know for a fact that they are not a Polyester/Viscose blend because I have held them in my hands. I have done burn tests on them to confirm.

Acrylic kilts are advertised and sold everyday listed as P/V. On an almost weekly basis a new member posts about their new P/V kilt because that is what it was advertised as.

And it is because the term P/V is used by some companies to mean almost any synthetic fiber that we must state and re-state this proper definition over and over. Those companies are still out there and are still selling their product to those who do not know the difference.

It is because successful companies like USA Kilts, Freedom Kilts, Canadian Casual Kilts and others, who use true P/V, that these other companies began to use the term.



While I agree there are many different compositions and blends of Polyester and Viscose I stand by my statement that today there is only one kilt quality P/V weaving mill. That mill is Marton Mills and the only weight they weave is 375 Grams per Linear Meter or 12 oz. per fabric yard.

I know exactly how much Marton Mills sells their fabric for. I buy a lot of it. And I can state for a fact that if you buy an 8 yard kilt for under $90.00 US dollars you are not buying one made from Marton Mills P/V.

***

[Henderson]

my tupenny bits worth is that PV has a practical space, many people have an allergy too wool and PV is hypo-allergenic, thus can be worn by all skin types. its also moth proof.
I still vote wool but I have to be diplomatic sometimes

[opositive]

when my wife does not want to wear her diamond ring, she has a cubic zirconia that she calls her "stunt ring." i think of my p/v kilts as my "stunt kilts."