Do kilts hold their value and what to buy next?

[Troglodyte]

I have some clan.com kilts. One supposedly hand sewn kilt needs the pleats repressed. I suspect the kilts are being made elsewhere, st Kildare perhaps.

I have mixed feelings about Kinloch Anderson. They are supposed to be bespoke, or top of the ladder.
I ordered an Inverness Cape for around $1000 USD and selected a Tweed from Lovat Mills called Ettrick 860.
I paid $180 import duties.

The cape came in today. Th workmanship looks very good. I am unsure what happened, but the cape was not made with the Ettrick 860 tweed, 21oz with teflon coating. I do not think it was made with tweed from Lovat Mills at all.

I have various flat caps, a kilt, and a Field Jacket made in Ettrick 860. I also a few other caps made other variations of the Ettrick tweed.

The tweed in the cape looks like Marton Mills “Midnight Ocean” CHE160. It’s a 15 oz cloth.

I am finding it hard to believe that Kinloch Anderson would deliver a product with such a glaring mistake. They charge a fortune on some things and pride themselves on delivering the best. They did not check an order to make sure that they are using the requested tweed.

Or has the KA packing department mixed up the shipping labels? Maybe there is another puzzled customer wondering why they have a cape in Ettrick tweed, and not their specified 'Midnight Ocean'.

Although it is a bit of a bother, you have no need to worry. The distance selling laws in the UK mean that KA are obliged to provide you with what you have ordered - any mistakes like this are for the seller to put right.

All the dealings I have had with KA over the years has shown me they are willing and co-operative in their customer service - even when trawling through their archives for information I need, that is no benefit to them at all.

I would suggest a telephone call direct to the shop, and a polite explanation of the situation - they may well be already aware of the mix-up and are waiting to hear from you, as you probably have another customer's order. The two tweeds are vastly different in appearance, so it is impossible to confuse them.

If they have made up your cape in the wrong tweed, they will have to arrange for it to be returned at no cost to you, and the order restarted. If KA has to order in the correct tweed, and you have the opportunity to change your choice, consider the heavier 'coating' tweeds by Glenlyon - which are Haggarts' of Aberfeldy old cloths. Thier 775gms tweeds suit a cape much better, with the heavier weight.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on...

[AustinDiver]

Perhaps these concerns may need to be deleted. I updated my original comment.

KA is responding very well so far and is going to be arranging the return of the cape.
They do want a picture of me wearing the cape(for sizing and maybe assessing condition).

I want to handle the cape as little as possible.

KA apparently sent the cape to the wrong customer and my cape will not be ready for another
6 weeks.

I chose the ettrick cloth because it was the most heavy weighted on the website. I have a field jacket in the cloth.

As far as clan.com, I am unsure about the quality of the stabilizer canvas in the kilts. The 8 yard essential kilts are pretty robust.
I have a few hand sewn kilts from 4 years ago and 1 of those needs pressing. The pleats were never really crisp.
I think it needs re-basting and a heavy ironing.

I have a few Balmoral kilts in DC Dalgliesh fabric and those have sharp pleats.
I think that one of the 13oz Balmoral kilts may lack canvas over the top of the pleats. The canvas may be fused to the lining.
I would have to look.

I wear the the essential (PolyVicose) more than any and they seem to be holding up well, but they should , since they cost about $300.

[Troglodyte]

I chose the ettrick cloth because it was the most heavy weighted on the website.

Ettrick tweeds are excellent 'suitings' and hugely popular in that way. A good choice.

For a cape, a heavier weight cloth would give better drape and more of a sense of a coat rather than just a covering.

Outfitters like Kinloch Anderson will accommodate all customer desires, but they may assume the choice of cloth is more personal desire, and so will accept it without question or recommendation.

Most good quality 'coating' cloths are significantly heavier than 'suitings' as the increased weight is required to make the garment perform as it should. I would urge you to go for a 28oz tweed or heavier for a cape (hence the suggestion of Glenlyon cloths) as the cape will drape and move much better. The amount of cloth in a cape makes it seem quite 'flighty' anyway, so increased weight makes the cape better behaved when being worn.

I have been wearing suits and jackets in Ettrick tweed for many years, and whilst my experience puts it into the excellent category for a jacket, I would think it too light weight for a cape. The difference in finish and effect could be as marked as the difference between a 16oz and 10oz kilt.

KA will order-in whichever cloth you specify, and choice is personal, of course, but the advice and suggestions of specialist overcoat-makers could be invaluable at this stage.

I would be interested to know what KA themselves recommend.

I would be a nice treat to see the finished cape 'in action' is due course, so remember you fellow XMarkers when the time comes...

[Jock Scot]

Ettrick tweeds are excellent 'suitings' and hugely popular in that way. A good choice.

For a cape, a heavier weight cloth would give better drape and more of a sense of a coat rather than just a covering.

Outfitters like Kinloch Anderson will accommodate all customer desires, but they may assume the choice of cloth is more personal desire, and so will accept it without question or recommendation.

Most good quality 'coating' cloths are significantly heavier than 'suitings' as the increased weight is required to make the garment perform as it should. I would urge you to go for a 28oz tweed or heavier for a cape (hence the suggestion of Glenlyon cloths) as the cape will drape and move much better. The amount of cloth in a cape makes it seem quite 'flighty' anyway, so increased weight makes the cape better behaved when being worn.

I have been wearing suits and jackets in Ettrick tweed for many years, and whilst my experience puts it into the excellent category for a jacket, I would think it too light weight for a cape. The difference in finish and effect could be as marked as the difference between a 16oz and 10oz kilt.

KA will order-in whichever cloth you specify, and choice is personal, of course, but the advice and suggestions of specialist overcoat-makers could be invaluable at this stage.

I would be interested to know what KA themselves recommend.

I would be a nice treat to see the finished cape 'in action' is due course, so remember you fellow XMarkers when the time comes...

Sage advice there and well worth taking note.