The Future of Traditional Kiltmaker's

[Riverkilt]

This addresses both contemporary kilts and traditional hand sewn kilts so put it here, hope that's okay. Also, this doesn't really lend itself to a simple poll.

Okay, talking with my traditional kiltmaker she remarks that the schooled, trained, certified, old line, hand sewn traditional kiltmakers are worried that the new contemporary kilts will drive them out of business and disrupt the traditional Scottish dress.

My response was I thought just the opposite. But it was because that's what happened to me. Though my blood is mostly Scot, I never considered spending the money to buy a traditional hand sewn kilt until I owned a few contemporary kilts and experienced the joy of wearing a kilt.

It was wearing contemporary kilts that interested me in paying for a hand sewn traditional. In fact, I'm now waiting for special weave fabric to arrive next month for her to sew a second traditional kilt for me.

I suspect others have moved from solid contemporary kilts or poly tartan kilts to traditional hand sewn tanks. I guess that most of us who have done that would not have ordered a tank for our first kilt.

My conclusion is that the contemporary kilt boom is/will actually help build the market for hand sewn traditional kilts from the old line traditional kilt makers.

And, I also suspect that old line traditional kilt wearers who did start there are now buying, or considering buying contemporary kilts for variety, or to knock around in, or have an easier care kilt to wear day to day.

So contemporary kilts boost sales of hand sewn traditional kilts and the hand sewn kilt wearers are expanding to contemporary kilts.

Think neither type kiltmaker has to worry about a declining market.

Other opinions solicited. Thank you.

Ron

[James]

I think you are right, and the growing numbers wearing the kilt, be it traditional or variant will promote an ever increasing demand for both types.

James

[bear]

I think a hell of a lot of guys start with a Sports Kilt and work their way up through casuals to a traditional.

A few traditional kilt wearers might buy a casual to wear to the pub but for formal occasions there will always be a need for traditional kilts.

There have been cheapo kilts made for a long time. Some of the offshore kiltmakers that sell for 25 pounds claim to sell 10,000 kilts a year. That's more than all the casual tartan kiltmakers combined.

I think traditional kiltmakers will see a boon from casual kilt interest.

[Magnus Sporrano]

I don't think your friend has anything to worry about.

The kilt boom is getting a lot of people into the kilt every day now, and more and more people into the kilt for special occasions or even just for church on sundays.

Being a not particularly Scottish person myself, I never would have seriously considered the kilt if I hadn't searched around and found the contemporary kilt makers. A traditional kilt just costs way too much to try out kilt wearing, and has more troublesome maintenance needs. But I was able to get all set up with my first casual kilt with belt, sporran, everything for around $200 (just wore that one yesterday, actually).

Having access to low cost casual kilts has allowed me to get to the point where I'm pretty much wearing the kilt about 6 days a week now. I would not be doing that if I could only buy a traditionally made kilt.

But like I said, she has nothing to worry about... guy like me are popping up all over and we're going to eventually want that nice traditional kilt for going to church in, weddings, funerals, etc. Her market is getting bigger and general acceptance of the kilt is increasing.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

In my experience retailing kilts to the public through the STM gift shop, the great majority of people who are interested in purchasing a kilt want what is still the "standard" kilt -- eight yards of their clan tartan, knife pleated either to stripe or sett.

We also sell Lochcarron's Casual kilts (which are machine stitched, four yards, and knife pleated), and of couse I offer my own box pleated kilts. I notice that these are becoming more popular lately, mostly I beleive because they cost less. The pound-to-dollar ratio has not been good for those of us who import goods from the UK!

We began to also offer Buzz Kidder's canvas kilts a couple of years ago. We get sporrans and shirts from him, so we thought we'd offer his canvas kilts as a less expensive alternative. I thought that our buyers for that item would be mostly guys in high school or college -- in other words people who would get a traditional kilt if they had the cash, but in the meantime wanted something they could wear to Highland Games, and at parties, that they could afford.

In actuality, what I found was that most of our customers who were interested in the cheaper canvas kilts were men who already owned one or more traditional, woolen, Scottish kilts and enjoyed wearing them so much that they wanted a less expensive kilt they could hike in, lounge in, wear at the Games during set-up and take-down, etc. In other words, in places where they would never wear their nice kilt, for fear of mussing it up.

So I think the two markets can be complimentary, if everyone plays nice. :-)
M

[Blu (Ontario)]

... I never considered spending the money to buy a traditional hand sewn kilt until I owned a few contemporary kilts and experienced the joy of wearing a kilt... My conclusion is that the contemporary kilt boom is/will actually help build the market for hand sewn traditional kilts from the old line traditional kilt makers. And, I also suspect that old line traditional kilt wearers who did start there are now buying, or considering buying contemporary kilts for variety, or to knock around in, or have an easier care kilt to wear day to day.

I'm one of those who came in through the opposite door. Traditional first - contemporary later. I never would have dreamed of wearing a contemporary until meeting up with R-Kilts and seeing them first hand. Now I appreciate both styles. Contemporaries haven't softened my appreciation for tartan or traditionals in the least.

... think neither type kiltmaker has to worry about a declining market.

I own 3 wool traditionals (2 made by Scot fingers) and can see a 4th in my closet at some point. Although some day I hope to merge both worlds and order a leather in a (more or less) traditional cut. There should be enough denim jean weary, kilt hungry bodies for all kiltmakers to share.

[Bob C]

I think the new kilts are neither a boon nor bane to the trad kiltmakers.

There will always be people like me, and so many of you, who want the real deal. My eight yards of tartan, specially woven in Scotland and sewn into a kilt by an old Scottish lady with over 50 years of experience in kiltmaking, is my most prized physical possession. It was worth the admittedly high price, at least to me.

On the other hand, you have the guys who purchase the cheaper casual kilts. It's unlikely that most of them would ever spend the bucks for the traditionals, but the new kilts let them enjoy kilting, too.

I've been thinking of adding a casual kilt to my closet, as some of you know from another thread. That decision does not affect my kiltmaker, as I was not going to buy a second traditional, anyway.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

If I had not CONSTANTLY heard from the guys in this region that they are sick and tired of kilts that lose their stitch-lines, wear thin, and have the look of immitation crud... I would not have taken the time to become educated by certified, hand-sewn masters. There will ALWAYS be people who prefer the look, feel and quality of a truly skill-made kilt. I have yet to see ONE hand-made kilt that was crafted by a trained kilt maker that has wandering pleats, horridly puckering aprons, and visible tapering lines in the tartan.

Beyond that... who's got the talent or knowledge to repair or alter kilts? TRUST ME... it's a thriving venture!!!;-) Between OLD kilts that need re-stitching, improperly constructed kilts, and alterations for the sake of "Thanksgiving Syndrome", there's a HUGE need for the knowledge.

All the casual kilt makers in the world are not going to dent the fact that a certified and trained kilt maker produces a product that will always be appreciated. Her callouses (which I'm just now starting to get) are not lost.

[GMan]

I like wearing both, and definetly want more of both. It is nice to dress up while kilted so the traditional is a given for such events, but for every day a casual is the way to go. They both are very near and dear to my heart.

[Riverkilt]

So just saw in the Utilikilts Newsletter that they'll have a booth at the Arizona Highlands Celtic Festival in Flagstaff. And, so will my traditional kilt maker Kathy Lare.

So have to decide whether to wear my traditional tank in my clan tartan or a kilt from my UK collection (now up to 11).

Probably gonna wear my hand sewn traditional since it there are so few chances to wear it and I want Kathy to see how the measurements on my first hand sewn came out post "Thanksgiving Syndrome" before she sews up hand sewn number two, hopefully, later this month.

And of course, as a member of the Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society I wanna "strut my stuff"....or fly my "gang colors."

Ron