Bridging the gap between ultra-casual and ultra-formal

[Riverkilt]

Cool look. Like the idea of having enough pockets in the jacket (have you considered a second inside pocket option?) to avoid wearing a sporran.

Wearing kilts to work I've found that sporrans and even side cargo pockets can get in the way when seated - a common business position.

Anything to replace the sporran or side cargos for business is good...a vest, a kilt cut sport jacket with enough pockets to hold what needs to be held.

So cool to see the envelope being pushed and having the result look great.

Ron

[majdan]

I really like the two buttons, slash pockets and the side vents. I have converted several tweed jackets but they all end up with one button, patch pockets and a center vent. Yours, as is to be expected, looks much better.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Flashes? We don't need no flashes!
It's CASUAL!
...
I am wearing garters (well, ok, elastic with velcro) but flashes are again too formal for the look I'm trying for.

Steve,

If I may humbly ask, since when are flashes considered formal attire? I (and most others, I would suggest) wear flashes for casual and formal wear, and everything in between.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with not wearing flashes. You are certainly free to not wear them if you like, and I think that looks just fine for less dressy occasions. However, flashes are not, in themselves, considered formal and there would be nothing amiss were you to choose to wear them as part of a more casual kilt outfit.

By the way, nice jacket. :-) To keep the thread on topic, you say the cost is $300 (Canadian) plus the cost of fabric. Dealing in fine Scottish woolens myself, I know that the cost of fabric can potentially add quite a bit. So, understanding that the cost will vary depending upon the fabric chosen, what's a reasonable bottom line price a customer could expect? Let's say he wants the cord? What would the total cost be?

Question two: would you be willing to work with customer supplied cloth?

Question three: As these are not "made to measure" per se but stock sizes, are you willing to take exchanges if the first order doesn't fit properly? For instance, I usually wear a 44, but from some companies, their 46 fits me better. So would I order a L and risk it being too small? Or order an XL and risk it being too large? Hmmm....?

Question four: Please tell me the elbow patches are optional....? Yes?

Aye,
Matt

[The Wizard of BC]

Aye Matt, Good questions all.

The first part of my answer to the flashes question was supposed to be humor. The actual reason I am not wearing flashes is I forgot to bring color coordinated flashes in with me from home.

Your second point is very valid and that is why I chose to price the jackets without fabric.
For example; if a customer requests Corduroy, the jacket will cost significantly less than one that is ordered made from Harris brand Tweed. $12.00/yard vs $68.00/yard. or $330.00 for a jacket in Cord vs $470.00 for a jacket in Tweed. (These are rough estimates only from numbers I pulled off the top of my head. They are not price quotes.)
There is simply no way I can stock every type and color of fabric that may or may not be ordered. The only way we could come up with, was to price the jacket without fabric and allow the customer to specify his choice. Just as we are used to doing with Tartan Kilts.

Of course we will work with customer provided cloth. Within reason. The fabric should be suitable for a jacket. I don't think I'll try to make a jacket from a 3oz. Pink Hawaiian Print. No matter how much a customer thinks he may want one.

I was not very clear when I posted that the jackets were in given sizes. "Stock" is a word that has been misunderstood in the past. So I purposely did not use that term.
A customer will provide us with a set of measurements of Chest, Waist, Back Length, Sleeve Length and specs for buttons/patches etc.. We will then select which pattern to pull off the shelf that will fit that customer the best. The jacket will then be made to the patten with adjustments for sleeve and torso length. I guess Semi-Custom is the best term to use because sleeve length and torso length are adjustable within reason.

Returns? Again, within reason. Just as a kiltmaker may not accept a return for a kilt made to incorrect measurements. If a customer orders a jacket in a 44 reg from fabric that they had specially woven I cannot replace that jacket if they are actually the size of someone who should have ordered a 52 long jacket.

Yes, Matt, I can leave off the elbow patches. I had them put them on these jackets to show what could be done.

Thank you for the comments and chance to clarify some points.

[Riverkilt]

Jeez Steve, break my heart why don't you....

I really really really believe there is a market...albeit a niche market....for Hawaiian print shirts cut in kilt jacket fashion to wear with solid color kilts. No slash pockets of course, just the chest pocket.

Ron

[The Wizard of BC]

That's true Ron. But I draw the line at PINK

[Mr. MacDougall]

That's true Ron. But I draw the line at PINK

How 'bout neon? I've seen some interesting things done with LED strings, and electrolum strips....

[Riverkilt]

Tell you what Steve, I agree. If I rooted through my entire bachelor cave I doubt I could find a single item in pink...okay, maybe an old dried out highlighter...but nada, nil, zilch, zip, zero pink...

You may be thinking about one of our California rabble...

Ron

[The Wizard of BC]

Are you sure you looked real hard Ron? I'll bet, that like I, if you search way back in the back of your old underwear drawer you will find that Pink Thong. *Shudder*

[Livingston]

[snip] Of course we will work with customer provided cloth. Within reason. The fabric should be suitable for a jacket. I don't think I'll try to make a jacket from a 3oz. Pink Hawaiian Print. No matter how much a customer thinks he may want one. [/snip]

Well, Panache, looks like you're out of luck on that jacket to match your pin ahh, MAROON kilt.