Help me understand utilikilts

[Graham]

Thanks Steve for that explanation, that's really what I'm looking for, to understand and know what makes them popular.

My problem, as you point out, is that I approach the UK with traditional thinking.
I'm still in the early stages of accepting plain kilts, I tried a Victory kilt and didn't like it, my next USA kilt will be plain, but traditional.

Don't get me wrong, I applaud UK and anyone else who is getting kilts on bums - that's what it's all about.
I may even buy one, one day, for the same reasons as Dreadbelly.

[Hamish]

Graham,

My first casual, non-traditional, non-tartan kilt was a Utilikilt. Actually, it was a Workman's model in the now discontinued 'Standard' style, pleated all around and with a zipper fly (a style I liked so much that I bought three more of them before the axe fell!). Currently, I have eleven Utilikilts and love them - at least the nine that I can still get into! Being Utilikilts there is no means of making those minor adjustments at the waist necessary at certain times in one's life!

When those kilts were still new to me, I'd press them after every wearing because I did not like the crumpled look. Now, I let them go until I can no longer bear to appear looking such a 'casual' mess. As others have stated, Utilikilts are not designed for a smart look, they are work clothes and great to wear when one might otherwise be concerned for the cleanliness of a traditional kilt. My most recent Utilikilt, a Caramel Workman's, is reserved solely for gardening and car-washing - I wouldn't dream of wearing it away from the house/garden although it is newish.

As for the length: yes, there is the matter of them being off the peg and therefore coming in a fixed range of lengths, and there is the matter of camera angles. However, over the past six or seven years, I have become very much aware that many American 'newbies' to kilt wearing, especially those opting for the casual kilt (such as Utilikilts), select the below-the-knee length. This is very evident in so many of the photos we have seen, and I noticed it on my American travels in 2003. Whether this has any connection with the ghastly so-called shorts that people wear nowadays, or whether it is some sort of attempt at modesty, I have no idea. I do know, however, that that length of kilt has a distinctly 'skirty' look to it - you would not catch me wearing one of such a length!

[Cawdorian]

I'll bet car washing is a real achievement in a kilt.

Jim

[davedove]

Whether this has any connection with the ghastly so-called shorts that people wear nowadays,

I hadn't thought of that. I guess since they wear their shorts that way, they assume they should wear their kilts like that. I personally don't like that look in shorts either.

[Rigged]

I guess since they wear their shorts that way, they assume they should wear their kilts like that.

Remember that Utilikilts are designed to be functional first and fashionable... well... maybe.

For a lot of guys (like me), the extra length is just more practical. I could not teach a CPR class wearing a traditional-length kilt. I'd be teaching my class things I hadn't intended.

[PaulS]

One other thing, though. Although Utilikilts may have meant their product to be a "jeans or work trousers replacement", that really isn't in line with the price of their product, IMHO. An Original Utilikilt is now, base price, $125.00. A Workman's Utilikilt is, base price, $185.00. Now, that's not nearly as high as the cost of a hand-sewn wool kilt, but it's still very pricey for work clothes. No one that I know that has a Utilikilt would dream of changing the oil in their car in one, because they've paid between $125 and $200 for it. That may not be much for some, but it's a significant investment to many, especially when a pair of jeans can be had for under $20. They view it similarly to how many view a traditional kilt, something to be worn on special occasions (like going out to a club, party, etc.) where they won't be engaging in activities that could damage it. Unless the price came down to around $60 or less, then no one I know would be using it for the purpose it seems to have been meant for, as they don't want to have to pay well over $100 to replace it.

Now, does that mean that no one uses a Utilikilt for work or that many people don't? No, it just means that people I know don't. And I think that if you really looked at UK's customers, the attitude would hold true for the majority.

But it's up to UK to set their prices, I have no problem with anyone charging whatever trade will bear, and they certainly seem to sell a lot of their product. I just think that kilts won't gain as widespread acceptance as they could until the price comes down to the point that they are comparable to trousers. Stillwater seems to be leading the way in this, with their $44.00 economy kilt, made in a few standard tartans and with stock ready to ship as soon as they are ordered, and I hope the trend continues.

[RockyR]

Minor point...

MANY things are not used for what they are MEANT for... Example...

SUV's. What percentage of SUV owners actually drive them offroad on a regular basis? MANY people still buy them though. SUV Makers KNOW this and now market them a little differently ...

It's not that you WILL drive it offroad. The point is that you CAN drive it offroad if you WANT to. You're buying an OPTION to do something.

One other thing, though. Although Utilikilts may have meant their product to be a "jeans or work trousers replacement", that really isn't in line with the price of their product, IMHO. An Original Utilikilt is now, base price, $125.00. A Workman's Utilikilt is, base price, $185.00. Now, that's not nearly as high as the cost of a hand-sewn wool kilt, but it's still very pricey for work clothes. No one that I know that has a Utilikilt would dream of changing the oil in their car in one, because they've paid between $125 and $200 for it. That may not be much for some, but it's a significant investment to many, especially when a pair of jeans can be had for under $20. They view it similarly to how many view a traditional kilt, something to be worn on special occasions (like going out to a club, party, etc.) where they won't be engaging in activities that could damage it. Unless the price came down to around $60 or less, then no one I know would be using it for the purpose it seems to have been meant for, as they don't want to have to pay well over $100 to replace it.

Now, does that mean that no one uses a Utilikilt for work or that many people don't? No, it just means that people I know don't. And I think that if you really looked at UK's customers, the attitude would hold true for the majority.

But it's up to UK to set their prices, I have no problem with anyone charging whatever trade will bear, and they certainly seem to sell a lot of their product. I just think that kilts won't gain as widespread acceptance as they could until the price comes down to the point that they are comparable to trousers. Stillwater seems to be leading the way in this, with their $44.00 economy kilt, made in a few standard tartans and with stock ready to ship as soon as they are ordered, and I hope the trend continues.

[arrogcow]

Yes there are a lot of people that only wear a UK for nicer things. Some don't, I work, do home carpentry and plumbing, and have even worked on the car.

And yes the price is higher than jeans initially. For instance I just priced carhartt unlined work pants (basically a bifurcated workmans), and they are $40.00. However, I would probably go through 5-6 pairs before I will wear out a UK because of holes in the knee or crotch. Jeans are even cheaper as a good pair can be had for under $25, but the wearing out still happens. I have never had a pair of pants of any kind hold up as long as a UK. My first two are still in wearing rotation (and I now have so many that they will never wear out) after 4 years. Jeans I'm lucky if I ever got a year out of. Plus I'm still more comfortable.

Adam

[PaulS]

Again, I'm not arguing the point, and I think RockyR's SUV comparison is very appropos.

And you are very correct in the "no knees or crotch to wear out" aspect, and they are certainly more comfortable. But in my opinion, many people may balk at the initial prices because they think of the prices they would pay for other clothing that they would use for similar work, and I think that this prevents kilts from becoming as widespread as they otherwise could.

[arrogcow]

That is true, no argument. It kind of takes an adjustment in thinking to realize that the UK will probably not be more expensive in the long run.

And I'm guilty of that too. I buy a new $12 weed wacker every summer, because I won't shell out $75 for one that will last.

Adam