UTKilts is knowingly selling synthetic Pakistani tartans using the terms "100% Woolen

[Jock Scot]

That’s very interesting OCR. I am no expert with international laws regarding trading standards, but I imagine there are reciprocal international laws regarding these things to ease the paperwork. Who knows? Certainly not me!

Whatever the system might, or might not be, regarding these things, it appears to me that at the very least that if something that is being sold as wool and plainly it isn’t, then questions need to be asked. And questions need to be answered within the laws of a particular importing country’s satisfaction.

If that is not actually the case, then something is amiss. As a layman I would call that dishonest and it matters not to me which country is supplying the goods.

[User]

I'm disappointed but not surprised to hear that UTKilts has been selling synthetic kilts to other customers and advertising them as wool.
I also performed a burn test, which left me with a hard ball of synthetic crud instead of wool ash. But, UTKilts was quick to claim the burn test results only look synthetic because the kilts have a treatment applied to them.
But, he has no defense against the bleach test, which is objective, removing the subjective interpretation of the burn test results.

I wanted to pursue legal action against him, to prevent him from scamming future customers. But, because I determined it was fake wool right away, and I was refunded in full, I don't know what I can do other than spread the word and hope future customers learn the truth before purchasing from him.

If anyone else purchased a "Woolen wool" kilt from UTKilts, please perform the bleach test and report your results. The more voices added to this, the better.
UTKilts also sells "Made in Scotland" kilts. I *think* those are genuine, as opposed to the "Woolen wool" kilts.
But, I wouldn't risk buying anything from UTKilts after learning that they know they're selling fakes, and that's business as usual for them.

[kiltedsawyer]

I looked up the definition of "wool" in an online dictionary. The definition is below.

1. the fine, soft, curly hair that forms the fleece of sheep and certain other animals, characterized by minute, overlapping surface scales that give it its felting property.
2. fabrics and garments of such wool.
3. yarn made of such wool.
4. any of various substances used commercially as substitutes for the wool of sheep or other animals[/U]
5. any of certain vegetable fibers, as cotton or flax, used as wool, especially after preparation by special process vegetable wool.
6. any finely fibrous or filamentous matter suggestive of the wool of sheep:
glass wool; steel wool.
7. any coating of short, fine hairs or hairlike processes, as on a caterpillar or a plant; pubescence.
8. Informal. the human hair, especially when short, thick, and crisp.

Still clearly misleading at best.

Cheers,

David

[User]

I looked up the definition of "wool" in an online dictionary. The definition is below.

1. the fine, soft, curly hair that forms the fleece of sheep and certain other animals, characterized by minute, overlapping surface scales that give it its felting property.
2. fabrics and garments of such wool.
3. yarn made of such wool.
4. any of various substances used commercially as substitutes for the wool of sheep or other animals[/U]
5. any of certain vegetable fibers, as cotton or flax, used as wool, especially after preparation by special process vegetable wool.
6. any finely fibrous or filamentous matter suggestive of the wool of sheep:
glass wool; steel wool.
7. any coating of short, fine hairs or hairlike processes, as on a caterpillar or a plant; pubescence.
8. Informal. the human hair, especially when short, thick, and crisp.

Still clearly misleading at best.

Cheers,

David

The dictionary provides everyday definitions, but industry-specific definitions, including textiles, are stricter to protect consumers. Intentionally using loose definitions for your business isn't permitted by law.

When I told them that testing proved the kilts are synthetic, they preemptively tried to invalidate the results of burn tests by claiming the wool has treatments applied that make it appear to be synthetic, when it's actually 100% wool. What they didn't say is "Well of course! Our wool is made of various substances used commercially as substitutes for the wool of sheep, as permitted by the dictionary definition!".
Additionally, UTKilts differentiates by labeling their products separately as "wool," acrylic, and PV, indicating an understanding of material distinctions, as expected from a professional importer. So this doesn't appear to be a misunderstanding about the definition of materials.

When I told them their wool failed the bleach test they promptly refunded my order and resold the kilts, again advertised as "100% woolen wool".
Unfortunately, I don't think this is anything other than deliberate fraud.

[kiltedsawyer]

The dictionary provides everyday definitions, but industry-specific definitions, including textiles, are stricter to protect consumers. Intentionally using loose definitions for your business isn't permitted by law.

When I told them that testing proved the kilts are synthetic, they preemptively tried to invalidate the results of burn tests by claiming the wool has treatments applied that make it appear to be synthetic, when it's actually 100% wool. What they didn't say is "Well of course! Our wool is made of various substances used commercially as substitutes for the wool of sheep, as permitted by the dictionary definition!".
Additionally, UTKilts differentiates by labeling their products separately as "wool," acrylic, and PV, indicating an understanding of material distinctions, as expected from a professional importer. So this doesn't appear to be a misunderstanding about the definition of materials.

When I told them their wool failed the bleach test they promptly refunded my order and resold the kilts, again advertised as "100% woolen wool".
Unfortunately, I don't think this is anything other than deliberate fraud.

I agree that it does appear that their concealment of the actual fabric reaches the level of being fraudulent. However, at that price one would have to think it too good to be true. Glad you received a refund and thank you for alerting the community.

Cheers,

David

[Pleater]

I was just considering this last night and checked my join date - I was wearing my own-sewn kilts 20 years ago.
I thought back to the kilts I made in the early years, the ones which got remade to be reverse kingussie style. I used any suitably weighty fabric back then.
Over time I had to give up on one as the pattern was printed on and it was not aligned with the grain. One got ripped, one damaged when painting.

Of the remaining kilts, none of the man made fabrics have lasted, I think they were probably all gone some considerable time ago. The cotton ones are still in fairly good condition apart from the colour - all have faded. One has been turned inside out and resewn.

The straps which are real leather, not coated cloth or suede/split skin have also stood the test of time. I sew them on by hand and remove them for washing along with the buckles and rings.

The ones which have lasted are all woollen, though there might be an additional factor in that they have needed to be protected from being eaten which could have affected their preservation to some extent.

These days I have the luxury of being able to afford all wool fabrics, even to the extent of named tartans in specific colourways, and I expect that they'll see me out, bar accidents.

Anne the Pleater

[User]

I just received three lengths of tartan fabric from Lochcarron. Although I had zero suspicion they were fake, I love the scientific process. So, I put them through the bleach test. As expected, all fibers from all three fabrics completely dissolved. I used less bleach and larger threads than in my other tests. As a result, the threads took longer to fully dissolve, roughly 30 minutes instead of 15 with the Strathmore fibers.