The Future of Traditional Kiltmaker's

[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

[Scotus]

I'm still stuck on Matt's comment about people not wanting to mess up their traditional kilt! That's too bad that some people feel that a wool kilt can't be worn for setting up, taking down, hiking, etc. Wool kilts are made for wearing in all conditions. Oh, well.... <sigh>.

[Bob C]

I'm still stuck on Matt's comment about people not wanting to mess up their traditional kilt! That's too bad that some people feel that a wool kilt can't be worn for setting up, taking down, hiking, etc. Wool kilts are made for wearing in all conditions. Oh, well.... <sigh>.

I think we're just hesitant to engage in activities that might damage them.

[Christopher]

I started with a traditional heavy weight kilt and then went to a contemporary kilt for the casual option and promptly replaced it with another lighter weight traditional kilt. The contemporary experience was enought to convince me that traditional kilts are a good investment.

[Magnus Sporrano]

I'm still stuck on Matt's comment about people not wanting to mess up their traditional kilt! That's too bad that some people feel that a wool kilt can't be worn for setting up, taking down, hiking, etc. Wool kilts are made for wearing in all conditions. Oh, well.... <sigh>.

Maybe so, but wool is also not very stain resistant, and cleaning can be costly.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

I'm still stuck on Matt's comment about people not wanting to mess up their traditional kilt! That's too bad that some people feel that a wool kilt can't be worn for setting up, taking down, hiking, etc. Wool kilts are made for wearing in all conditions. Oh, well.... <sigh>.

Ain't THAT the truth?!!!

A nice 11 or 9.5 ounce wool kilt is just as (if not more) comfortable than some of the other fabrics out there. Wool breathes... period.

As for the maintenance, what's the problem with plopping a thinner wool kilt in the washer... on the gentle cycle... with Woolite? I've done it MANY times! You just don't dry the thing in a dryer! You HANG DRY it.

My "tanks" are all done with the home dry-cleaning system when they're spotty, and professionally dry-cleaned when they've been in a smoke-filled pub. I just ask that they DO NOT press it. I think I can do that for the longevity of the pleats.

This pure, unadulterated BS about wool kilts not being easy to maintain has gone on long enough. Can you get the stains out as easily as other fabrics? Nope... but then how often is that really a problem?

I would put a solid black wool kilt in a lighter weight up against ANYTHING out there for comfort, ease of sewing PROPERLY, ease of maintenance and durability. Think about it for a while.

[Scotus]

Thank you, Jimmy. I agree totally with everything you have written in the last post! A wool kilt is made to be worn in all conditions, weather, work, etc. A kilt is a garment made for wear and tear.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I hope my comments are not being taken the wrong way. I never meant to imply that you cannot or should not perform any of the aforementioned activities in a traditional woolen kilt. Merely that I meet a lot of men who enjoy wearing their kilts, want to wear them more often, but are somewhat hesitant to wear a garment that they spent $500 on in situations where it might get soiled or damaged -- especially if they plan on wearing it to a special occasion later in the week. So for these gentlemen, a less expensive kilt in a material that they can throw in the washing machine is attractive.

As for myself, every kilt I own is wool, either tartan or tweed, and I wear them in all seasons and for all occasions. I *personally* have no problem wearing my kilts on occasions where they might get messy. I know how to clean them and take care of them, and I've always got a few more hanging in the closet, anyway. But I can see where someone who paid a lot of money for his first kilt might be a bit more protective of it.

Aye,
Matt

[bubba]

Getting a stain, depending on what kind, out of wool isn't that hard. I use a Shout stain stick, let it sit an hour or so, then hand wash in the bathtub in cold water. No problem at all.