Quality or quantity.....?

[Blu (Ontario)]

With brands like Stillwater and Utilikilts you can have the best of both worlds!!!

Gotta disagree.....

I have to admit that, at a unit cost of $12 to $15 before markup, the mass produced kilts are undoubtedly attractive to the bottom line conscious consumer. And they certainly offer the opportunity to fill your wardrobe.... But do they belong to both worlds..... I don't think so.

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[Riverkilt]

And, I would like to disagree with "outrageous cost" of hand sewns. The quality and value are solidly there.

There is a temptation to sell some of the contemporary kilts I bought when my waist was smaller and use the proceeds to buy more hand sewn kilts.

I can't imagine anyone who enjoys wearing kilts that wouldn't swoon at a 16oz hand sewn kilt in a tartan they like.

Having said that, chances are if you came to my little town you'd find me wearing a USA Kilts casual. Because of weather and dirt. A cooler kilt for the high desert that still conveys the tartan image, and easy care for a sloppy eater living in a dusty part of the world.

If I lived in a city in a cooler part of the world my kilt collection would no doubt contain less contemporary kilts and more hand sewns.

Ron

[davedove]

While I bought several of the less expensive alternatives when I was starting out, now I pretty much only buy the traditionals. I might still get a few of the cheaper ones, but I much prefer the traditionals.

[Alan H]

I don't fit into the poll very well. I buy "cheapies", as in $100 imported kilts and Stillwaters and USA Kilts (Casuals). I haven't yet bought any real "junk".

But I also have two kilts from Scotland which are 5 yarders, polyester/wool blend and built very well by machine. They will last for years, and look great. These are $180 kilts. Is that a cheapie? How about the wool/poly lightweight kilt a six-yarder that I just made myself? I mean, the materials cost me less than $40.

Is a USA Kilt semi-traditional at $220 or so, a "cheapie"?

And finally, I have one wool kilt, a 7 yard heavyweight that's my "Tank". It's custom made.....by ME! So I didn't buy it. There will shortly be an X-Marks wool 6-yard kilt in my closet made by me, and after that a wool box-pleat in the Hall tartan and after that a wool box-pleat in the California tartan. I will make them.

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... Is a USA Kilt semi-traditional at $220 or so, a "cheapie"?....

No....no.... the comparison is really between between the mass produced kilts and the custom made kilts - regardless of style.

Jeepers Alan... I think I may have gotten myself into trouble with my less than precise language.....

Help!



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[Monkey@Arms]

No....no.... the comparison is really between between the mass produced kilts and the custom made kilts - regardless of style.

Jeepers Alan... I think I may have gotten myself into trouble with my less than precise language.....

Help!



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Hmm, in that case, maybe the questions you wanted to ask is are the kilts you buy hand-tailored, machine sewn, off-the-rack, or do you make your own? Or something to that effect. Anyway, Blu, its an interesting thread, and isn't that really what matters?

Best regards,

Jake

[way2fractious]

I don't fit into the poll very well.

Face it, Alan, you and I are just square pegs in a world of round holes...

I would vote in the poll if the wording included "owned", or "made", or "acquired". (How about "inherited"?) The word "buy" is just too restrictive.

BTW, this weekend the weather changed colder, so I changed from camo casuals to a traditional in Black Stewart made by Chisholm and won on eBay a couple years ago for half the price of a cheapie.

(Maybe the word "found"...?) w2f