Quote Originally Posted by Riverkilt
... 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.