Issues with walmart:

First would a wm kilt really kill the traditional kilt maker? Probably not. There will always be a market for cheap, and a market for quality. Does the fact that I can buy a suit for $100 at Value City (WM doesn't sell suits) impact Armani's business? No. Some guys want the cheapest suit that they can get away with, some want to pay for perfect tailoring and long wear. To make it more relavant, Rocky have your casuals or SWK's kilts (the $44 economy is the wal-mart kilt) impacted Thomas Gordon or Geoffry Tailor? No, they are still selling fine quality kilts. Instead, your entry level kilts has fueled the desire for many go upgrade to hand sewn tanks. In fact the only reason that is keeping this from being a complete boom time for traditionl kilt makers is that so many people have jumped into making traditional kilts as well (Viking tech and kiltstore for example).

Second, wm kilts make them less special. Well I'm special no matter what I wear, so that doesn't bother me much. however, from a practical side, if wm (and other regular retailers) ever start selling kilts it will probably be more like UK's than traditional tartans. Why? No clan issues, sewing a solid is easier (no pleating to sett or stripe) so therefore can be made cheaper, and pockets are more practical.

Finally wm's business practices. I'm no fan of wm, but guys that's capitalism at work. Buy as cheaply as you can, and sell what you've got for what ever you can get, pay your minions as little as possible. WM just does it better than most. Do I think their board are a bunch of heartless, short sighted, greedy jerks? Yep, but they're not going away, and as Ron pointed out, it is stupid to pay $55 for something wm sells for $15. Many people can't afford to shop anywhere else other than wm these days. The way to end wm's tyrany is not to avoid then, but to get the govt to stop allowing the importation of products made with slave labor.

As for weather or not a kilt will ever be at wm (or the gap or sears), I think it really is a matter of time, like it or not. These guys know about us (the kilt wearers) and I'm sure that someone is tracking the trend. As soon as they see a tiping point (when they think the average joe might buy an affordable kilt), they will show up. Now them being a fad, yes the Urban Cowboy thing lasted it's 15 min, but I still see more cowboy boots and hats on the street than I see kilts, and no one gets much s#!t for it. On the other hand, I used ear rings in a post yesterday to demonstrate the rising level of acceptance. Ear rings have never been a "Fad", and the majority of guys still don't wear one, but it has become so commonplace to see a guy with one that it doesn't faze anyone much anymore.

Adam