In praise of cheap kilts

[staticsan]

Cheap^W Inexpensive kilts certainly do have their place. Most people cannot tell from looking the difference between a US$150 poly-blend kilt and a US$700 wool kilt. Coupled with the non-tartan kilts from the likes of NeoKilt, Utilikit, USA Kilts, etc etc, they provide a good way into the scene, as it were.

I used to think the pinnacle of male dressiness was a tailored suit or even a tuxedo, should I ever decide I want to pay that much (the most I've so far ever paid for a wool-suit was ~AU$250). Now I think that a wool kilt ensemble would definitely surpass that - and I this time I actually want to find the AU$800+++ to do it. But before I get there, my non-wool, not-expensive kilts will do me fine. I'm actually expecting to get thrown into a swimming pool whilst wearing a PV kilt in a few weeks - I wouldn't want to do that in an expensive wool kilt!

Wade.

[Riverkilt]

I was taught that in the marketplace the consumer can have any two of price, quality, or service.

That said, after many years of going to highland games in pants it never occured to me to buy my own kilt. Too much money for occasional wear. I hooked on Utilikilts the first time I saw them because they were functional, something I could wear every day.

My first tartan kilts were low cost SportKilts - the unpleated gathered kind. But wearing the tartan hooked me on trying a hand sewn kilt and from there I was hooked. Went for what I consider top of the line with Kathy Lare.

I also bought four AmeriKilts, Mike makes a good product at a fair price. Not sure why we don't see too much about his kilts on the board.

Somewhere in there backtracked to a LOT of camo kilts and eventually to USA Kilts casuals and semi-trads and Freedom Kilt.

If I had to do it all over again I would have spent the SportKilt money on a USA Kilt. I would have skipped the USA Kilt Casuals for the USA Kilt Semi-traditionals. Not that much extra and higher quality.

I don't really have an interest in acrylic kilts. Not sure why, just don't.

For me, VALUE is the key - not price. I know there are other kiltmakers out there I have yet to do business with, and I mean no slight on any.

I have found solid VALUE purchasing from Kathy Lare, USA Kilts, Freedom Kilts, AmeriKilts, and Utilikilts.

And I've left out leather kilts - maybe even more expensive than hand sewn wool kilts. But talk about your solid VALUE. I own both an RKilts and a Utilikilts leather kilt. They are bulletproof. Think the strong leather in a baseball mitt. Sure, you could probably buy a dozen acrylic kilts for the price of a quality leather kilt. But that leather kilt will still be truckin' on when all the acrylic kilts have gone to polish the car rags.

Jeez, not sure any of this makes sense...point is that price isn't the standard for purchasing kilts for me. VALUE is.

Ron

[sporranlegionaire]

Like any other garment, I think there is a place for cheap alternatives as much as topnotch ones. I wouldn't take out the rubbish or sweep the drive in an expensive kilt, but would in a cheap eBay lookalike. As a relative newcomer to kilting, the expense of a higher priced outfit would have put me off from the start. If cheaper compromised designs attract more new wearers, and as they get into the spirit of it all they elect to eventually upgrade and support the bespoke makers, everyone should be happy. I'm now currently saving up the pennies for a traditional one.

[majdan]

Well it looks as if the general opinion is that the lower price point items are, in fact an entry point into the market and increase the potential customer base for the custom makers. Would you agree?

[Wompet]

If cheaper kilts get more guys in kilts, then GREAT!

... USAKilts ... Canadian Casual Kilts ... Stillwater ...

I wouldn't call those cheap kilts. I would call them less expensive (cheaper); good quality for low price.
Cheap kilts are the ones we warn each other about.
Semantics? Maybe, but that how I look at it.

[McClef]

Cheap is one of those words that can be read more than one way.

There are reputable but less expensive suppliers and there are suppliers who are famous for shall we say, less than completely honest in the way they describe them?

But any kilt that starts someone off on a kilted career has its place

[Perldog007]

I'm actually expecting to get thrown into a swimming pool whilst wearing a PV kilt in a few weeks - I wouldn't want to do that in an expensive wool kilt!

Wade.

Hmmmm..... Wade is my middle name, I better get me a pV before the tank. I really want a traditional kilt in my family tartan. Since it is a "special run" and not a stock tartan, it will be some time. In the meantime, I have a U.K, two train wrecks I made mineownself, and an FK on order.

You can bet there will be some pv clad around this Rumpus Maximux before I finally get my tank. If you can afford a closet of hand made traditional kilts, there is little excuse for a cheap one... for the rest of us affordable kilts put men in kilts. AND THAT IS GOOD IMO (is so far as kilted newbies are allowed to posses opinions)