Kilts, The Wise Financial Choice

[kiltedpride]

Dear Ron,
I have no quibble if a person starts with a Utilikit, cheap imitation or whatever and the person knows that they are not in fact buying a real kilt and they do graduate to a proper one at a later date when they can afford the price. My concern is a) tourists in this country a tempted by the price to buy cheap imitation kilts in Asian owned shops that have no substance (almost a cheap tartan skirt in efect) and they never graduate - either because they won't return to Scotland or are disappointed with the experience and b) a general acceptance in the US that Utilikilts and similar products are in fact kilts at all - this is questionable. Leaving the second point aside as this has been a matter of great debate and causes heated discussion, my concern regarding the first point is that it really does put pressure on Scottish kiltmakers to reduce cost and to a degree quality. The market is so competetive that swaping of the market with Asian copies is the last straw. A couple weeks ago I saw one shop selling a so -called kilt for £45, another for £39 and then one at £19! all the traditional kiltmakers also are fighting a price war between themselves and it has the effect of driving quality down as well.
Anyway (getting off my soap box ) the more guys that turn to kilts and even pretend kilts the better but,... it is up to those of us who have seen the light to act as missionaries to highlight the advantage of a properly made traditional kilt and secure a higher graduate entry to the school of kilt-dom.
Jamie

[Rigged]

This is a interesting discussion. What constitutes a "real" kilt in light of the fact that the original kilt was just a wool blanket tucked (kilted) around the waist?

The growing popularity of kilts is certainly a two-edged sword. It's easier to make expensive hand-made products when you don't have many customers or competitors.

With more customers and more competition comes the pressure to produce more product at a lower price.

The alternative is to become a high-priced item for exclusive customers. I think of the automobile industry where almost anyone who wants a car can buy one, but the type and quality of vehicles varies from old Volkswagons to brand new Lambourginis.

Maybe a better analogy is the difference between a Ford Ranger truck and a Hummer. A Hummer is certainly a higher-quality and more expensive vehicle. But I don't see people tossing their gardening tools or loads of lumber into them. A Ford Ranger can haul loads, or take a nice cleaning and polish and look good driving to the Opera.

So now Hummer is making a smaller, cheaper vehicle to reach a wider number of customers. Now, if someone wants a "real" Hummer they can spend $128,000 for one, or if they want a "cheap" Hummer they can spend $28,000 dollars for a lesser (and more useful) vehicle.

I've had my hands on hand-made $500.00 kilts. They're like nothing else in terms of material and workmanship.

But they don't have pockets.