Fabric for wedding Kilts

[crboltz]

As I posted in another forum, I'm getting married in June and all 6 of the guys in the wedding party will be kilted (and I'm making the Kilts). The time has come to order the fabric. I tried just doing a google search for tarten suppliers, and was a bit over loaded! Any advice on reasonably priced (not cheap - I want decent quality fabric) stores that have a wide variety of tartans and a good reputation?

I'm doing a 4 yard box pleat kilts. My Boyfriend, his best man, and his ring boy have family tartans they will be wearing, myself, my best man and my ring boy all have a complete lack of scottish or irish heritage in the families and will be picking tartans based on (I don't know what at this point, but something). However the time has come and fabric must be ordered -- 6 kilts, a full wedding, and a full time job (oh, and my boyfriend and I currently live in different cities which makes things harder too -- but if we didn't we wouldn't be getting married, since he's going to leave his job to follow me to mine, we need to be "domestic partnered" so he can go on my insurance)...

ANYWAY back to topic, and advice on quality tartan fabric stores would be very appreciated -- I'd like to do 12-14 oz fabric. One person is alergic to wool, so a store that had some cotton or silk options might be nice.

All of this seemed like such a good idea a few months ago, and is now becomeing very scary (making the kilts, and the big wedding, getting married seems wonderful!)

Thanks!
Chris
(And I promise pics will be posted after the wedding)

PS, I don't know that it matters much (except in shipping), but I'm in California in the USA

[Panache]

Chris,

I don't have a fabric source suggestion. But as someone who remembers the stress involved with my wedding may I suggest that you may be making this really hard on yourself by trying to order fabric and make 6 kilts. You should look at the total amount you are looking to spend on kilts and accessories (have you factored in accessories?) to equip 6 people. Then compare that to the price of the Stillwater Standard kilts that are now only $75 each for a nice looking acrylic kilt. You may in fact save money (and stress) going with Stillwater.

Cheers

[McMurdo]

I would second Panache, look around and see what you can find. Stillwater has some very nice looking tartans; I am sure you can find some that would suit the wedding party, and complement the tartans that others are planning to wear.

Check them out here:

http://www.stillwaterkilts.com/economykilts.html

You may also want ot check out USA Kilts

http://www.usakilts.com/
As they also have some very nice options

And Congratulations on your upcoming wedding

[Erisianmonkey]

I would agree that making six tartan kilts for different people in different tartans for a wedding seems a bit of a nightmare to me-and actually more expensive than going with one of the economy kiltmakers. If you really want to do it, I find that as far as prices I've seen, House of Tartan's mediumwieght polyviscose is great kilting material and much less expensive than wool. It's $21.70 a yard right now.(as compared to $62 for their cheapest pure wool) You can find them at http://houseoftartan.co.uk/

Hope this helps

[Rampant Lion]

I would suggest going to http://www.lochcarron.com/ on their site they have contact information for US retailers.

[crboltz]

Thanks for all the advice. There are a lot of other reasons for me to make the kilts myself (my dad was a clothing designer, and in a lot of ways I have failed to live up to his expectation -- by designing and making the kilts in the wedding, we will at least have something to talk about after the wedding) Anyway, I'll look into all the suggestions posted (and anymore that come about)

Thanks y'all!
Chris

[possingk]

You may want to check out this place, I know that they will do small runs, the price is usually quoted around $65. I know some of the kilt makers on this forum use them since they will weace something for one length of kilt.

Good luck in your search and please keep us updated on how the process goes, from ordering to making the kilts.

[Colin]

check out the tartans (especially the remnants page) at Fraser and Kirkbright in Vancouver. Here is the link http://www.wooltartans.com/index.htm

[mexpiper]

If you do order overseas, remember time and shipping and maybe import tax(??). Depending on where in California you live, if you live near Los Angeles- they have a fashion district where selections are much better.. (http://www.fashiondistrict.org/page.aspx?id=125)

[crboltz]

Mexpiper -- I feel like a dolt , I live (part of the year anyway) in Los Angeles, and the fabric district never even crossed my mind. I've printed out most of the groups perfered tartans, and my boyfriend and I will be heading down next week (I know not a great time, but I have to head back to fresno after newyears). I hope we will have some luck


Thanks again
Chris