Quality of a Tank vs other kilts

[sharpdressedscot]

The real issue with red tartan is sunlight (red dye tends to fade more easily than other colors).

How long does it take to see noticeable fading? Well, think about where Jim wears his kilt. All of our parades are outside, and each parade is a good 3 hours out in the sun, what with warm-up and all. Competitions at games have even more sun exposure, because we wear our kilts in and out of the sun from before massed bands at noon until after massed bands in the evening. Neither of these is typical of most people who wear kilts, except maybe Ron who wears his kilts out hiking and stuff. I wouldn't expect to see your Wallace kilt show fading for years and years unless you're wearing it a couple days a week in the sun for long periods of time.

And, of course, it doesn't look like "weathered" tartan. It's still plenty red. But it is noticeably faded compared to our more recently made kilts, as are ones belonging to some of our other long-time band members.

Anyway, the moral of this story is that, if you want to air your kilt, don't hang it outside on the line in the sun.

Ah, OK. I understand now, thanks.

No hanging it outside on the line for me.

[Riverkilt]

As for fading of wool.

A big thing here in Indian Country is to cut up wool Pendleton blankets and sew them into all sorts of different things.

A couple years ago I bought a steering wheel cover and seat belt shoulder pads made from part of a Pendleton blanket. The shoulder pad thingies didn't work with my seat belts so I laid them out as small decorative pads on the top of my dashboard. They sit in the center of my DashMat right under the windshield.

After three years the orange color has begun to fade from the direct sunlight of Arizona. I don't have covered parking for my car at home or at work so they get a lot of sun.

I also have a jean jacket with a red and blue Pendleton wool insert in the back. I've had it for maybe ten years. It goes out a lot but has shown no sign of fading.

I'm guessing probably the only way to fade a kilt in the sun would be to lay it out under a windshield for a few years.

Ron

[sharpdressedscot]

Or a magnifying glass!!

Wait, that would lead to possible fire!

[AL-58]

I have three, a 13oz wool hand made Buchanan, a PV Heritage of Scotland and a cheap Gordon.

My only problem with wearing the Buchanan is that being fairly bright colours it stains fairly easily, I bought the Gordon purely because it doesn't show grass stains.

I'm now losing weight at a fairly steady weight. Good reason to get an ancient Buchanan I think.

Alan

[McMurdo]

Just to show you that a well made kilt can indeed last a lifetime, here is my Dad in his kilt about 1950


Here I am in the same kilt some 57 years latter

Try that with a kilt from the Gold Bros.

[Nick the DSM]

wow, thats amazing. have moths gotten to it?

[McMurdo]

No moths as yet, they are easily prevented with cedar disks etc.

[Ryan Ross]

Awsome pictures!

...that reminds me that I need to get a fresh copy of the picture of my great grandfather in his kilt, circa 1910. I must have misplaced my old copy.

[Nick the DSM]

No moths as yet, they are easily prevented with cedar disks etc.

i'll have to remember that.

[Jack Daw]

My oldest and most-donned kilt is 8 years and shows no sign of wear and tear. I suspect it will outlive me.