"But I Don't Have Enough Money!"

[JSFMACLJR]

I would rather see any one start with an inexpensive kilt than not wear a kilt at all. The fact that a person's budget has different priorties should not prevent them from wearing a kilt.

I'm afraid I would have to disagree with you, JelicoCat. I would rather see a person NOT wear a kilt than wear an inferior product. Step up to the plate, man, and wear the proper thing! Do your research first; ask questions; save if necessary; but I just think it is a mistake to go down the road you are advocating. The money you would save by not buying a "starter kilt" is most of the cost of a traditional kilt.

Kind regards,
JSFMjr.

[Tony]

The money you would save by not buying a "starter kilt" is most of the cost of a traditional kilt.

Kind regards,
JSFMjr.

Cheap Starter kilt = 50 bucks
Good Tank = 500+ bucks

Most?

[DWFII]

I will go out on a limb (and I suppose that I will be taken to task for it) and say that one of the things that disturbs me here is the way that the context, subject, title, and sub-forum in some of these posts gets completely hijacked. I'm one who understands that you cannot control the way a discussion goes...what twists and turn it will take...but we do have a sub-forum entitled "Traditional Kilts." That sets the overall tone and should warn people what kind of conversations they are getting into. It is not the "General Kilt Talk" nor the "Contemporary and Non-Traditional Kilt" forum.

When someone jumps into a conversation like this and brings up "ultilkilts" or white socks...when none of these have been previously mentioned, my first thought is that it is an attempt to change the subject. Or to argue just for the sake of argument. At what point does it become deliberately provocative?

And to what purpose? To deny those who respect traditional Highland Attire a "voice" on this forum?

It begs the question, my friends.

[Tony]

When someone jumps into a conversation like this and brings up "ultilkilts" or white socks...when none of these have been previously mentioned, my first thought is that it is an attempt to change the subject.

You may want to re-read the first post.

[macwilkin]

A agree that utilikilts are not cheap kilts. They are well made and buy no means inexpensive. I also started with UK's and I am moving toward more traditional kilts. If I used your thinking then I would not be wearing a tartan kilt at all and certainly would not wear a $700.00 kilt on a daily basis. I would rather see any one start with an inexpensive kilt than not wear a kilt at all. The fact that a person's budget has different priorties should not prevent them from wearing a kilt.

Respectfully, though...not everyone wears a kilt on a daily basis. I only wear my two kilts for special occasions & events, such as Scottish functions (Burns Suppers, etc.), so an inexpensive kilt really isn't necessary for me. That's not saying others who choose to do so are wrong, on the contrary -- horses for courses and all that.

Regards,

Todd

[JSFMACLJR]

Cheap Starter kilt = 50 bucks
Good Tank = 500+ bucks

Most?

So sue me Tony! Sorry.

[DWFII]

You may want to re-read the first post.

Well, you're right in the details (and the devil is always in the details) but you took my meaning out of context. An easy enough stratagem if one has a conclusion already prepared or doesn't want to think about the message contained in the whole train of thought.

Such "sound bites" don't exist in a vacuum, however, like they do on TV.

[Riverkilt]

Yikes! What a speedy thread this one is....

To the point, there are ways to afford a hand sewn kilt....a "tank"

Each person's finances are their own business. Credit cards are one option. Charge the hand sewn kilt and pay it off month by month - IF YOU CHOOSE...personal choice.

Deal direct with your kiltmaker. Ordering through a middleman just ups the price and isolates you from the kiltmaker...a breeding ground for errors and misunderstandings we occasionally read about on this board.

One of the reasons I have had Kathy Lare sew up ten of my hand sewn kilts is to be able to afford hand sewn kilts. Kathy has this "two payment plan" deal. I pay her half the estimated kilt price in advance. She uses those funds to obtain the wool tartan I want - she does all the research for free and brings back mill and weight options for me to select from.

While the material is being ordered in, and while I am waiting my turn for my kilt to be sewn up, I am saving money for the final payment which is not due until the kilt is completed. Wait times depend on who else is ordering from her - but it gives me another six weeks or more to gather the final payment.

Since both Kathy and I live in the US there is no customs fee worry. She took the time to go to the Keith Kilt School in Scotland so I have a kilt that was hand sewn in the traditional Scottish manner without having to order from Scotland. And, of course the final shipping cost is much less.

I've posted her kilt prices before and you can see them on her website. Her kilt prices are much lower than some of the numbers flying around on this thread. Take a look www.kathyskilts.com.

A lot of the "expensive" talk is a bad rap - even without considering the VALUE of a hand sewn kilt made from fine wool fabric. Again, the money saving secret is deal direct with your kiltmaker.

I've spoken of Kathy Lare's kilts here because she is my kiltmaker. Each kiltmaker has different policies...but many of the basic savings AND overestimating of costs would apply to other kiltmakers you read about on this board - and those you don't, there are many fine kiltmakers out there - Google is your friend.

The way to afford a hand sewn kilt is to do your research, get the true costs, figure out the best way to pay for it based on your own financial situation, the presenting financial options, and your chosen kiltmaker's offers.

IT IS MUCH EASIER THAN YOU THINK.

Ain't my place to say so, but I have an opinion anyway. Every kiltie should endeavor to own at least one hand sewn kilt.

But dang...talk about fueling the addiction...the first hand sewn kilt sinks the hook deep.

Ron

[macwilkin]

Yikes! What a speedy thread this one is....

To the point, there are ways to afford a hand sewn kilt....a "tank"

Each person's finances are their own business. Credit cards are one option. Charge the hand sewn kilt and pay it off month by month - IF YOU CHOOSE...personal choice.

Deal direct with your kiltmaker. Ordering through a middleman just ups the price and isolates you from the kiltmaker...a breeding ground for errors and misunderstandings we occasionally read about on this board.

One of the reasons I have had Kathy Lare sew up ten of my hand sewn kilts is to be able to afford hand sewn kilts. Kathy has this "two payment plan" deal. I pay her half the estimated kilt price in advance. She uses those funds to obtain the wool tartan I want - she does all the research for free and brings back mill and weight options for me to select from.

While the material is being ordered in, and while I am waiting my turn for my kilt to be sewn up, I am saving money for the final payment which is not due until the kilt is completed. Wait times depend on who else is ordering from her - but it gives me another six weeks or more to gather the final payment.

Since both Kathy and I live in the US there is no customs fee worry. She took the time to go to the Keith Kilt School in Scotland so I have a kilt that was hand sewn in the traditional Scottish manner without having to order from Scotland. And, of course the final shipping cost is much less.

I've posted her kilt prices before and you can see them on her website. Her kilt prices are much lower than some of the numbers flying around on this thread. Take a look www.kathyskilts.com.

A lot of the "expensive" talk is a bad rap - even without considering the VALUE of a hand sewn kilt made from fine wool fabric. Again, the money saving secret is deal direct with your kiltmaker.

I've spoken of Kathy Lare's kilts here because she is my kiltmaker. Each kiltmaker has different policies...but many of the basic savings AND overestimating of costs would apply to other kiltmakers you read about on this board - and those you don't, there are many fine kiltmakers out there - Google is your friend.

The way to afford a hand sewn kilt is to do your research, get the true costs, figure out the best way to pay for it based on your own financial situation, the presenting financial options, and your chosen kiltmaker's offers.

IT IS MUCH EASIER THAN YOU THINK.

Ain't my place to say so, but I have an opinion anyway. Every kiltie should endeavor to own at least one hand sewn kilt.

But dang...talk about fueling the addiction...the first hand sewn kilt sinks the hook deep.

Ron

That was an excellent post, Ron!

T.

[Friday]

First I think we should define cheap kilts as a poorly built low quality kilt. There are many out there and no one should buy them. There are also inexpensive kilts and less expensive kilt. These are quality made product that will last the user of years, but may not be made of wool, have the full "8" yards of material, etc. Then there are expensive kilts, and expensive is a subjective term, that I use to mean quality work with top of the line material that when added together add to the price.

I have a USA Kilts US Army tartan semi-traditional. I would put the quality of work in this kilt against any hand sewn tank. It is not hand sewn but the craftsman(woman)ship is very high.

Lets not degrade the quality of many of the non-traditional kilts by calling them cheap. This word normally is taken to mean poor quality and no matter what the price poor quality should not be purchased.


Second I agree that the full kilt attire can be purchased over time and based on savings and priorities. However, I think we do a disservice to many of our new members who are building and outfit slowly. Go back over the pictures of new members who come to us proud of the new kilt and then they are picked apart because they don't have the correct _______ (fill in the blank). These comments are often written in a way that someone new to the forum may find offensive. This is probably not how the responder intended the post to be taken, but. from a new persons eye it could easily be taken this way.

I purchase a high quality kilt when I purchased the USA Kilts semi-traditional kilt. 1) The tartan has meaning 2) It was less expensive 3) I am losing weight and from where I started this will not be a quick process. 4) The construction of the USA Kilt will allow me to resize it more than a tank. This was checked with Rocky before I made the purchase.

Do I want a tank yes, do I jones for a Matt "4" yard box kilt, a Barb T "8" yard kilt and the work of many of the other traditional kilt makes - you bets ya.

Will I post pictures - NO. I have not completed my many year build of my attire and don't want to read post after post that points out why the entire attire is wrong.

Can we work to build esteem, can we comment on what the new person is trying to take pride in and gently guide them to improved choices. Can we say "that is a great outfit, you know that would also look great if you had colored hose, the white hose you are wearing seem to drain the color from..." Rather than say that those white hose are wrong, they should only be worn by pipers and bands? New people will learn a more correct way to wear items quickly without being told they are wrong.

OK no more soap boxes for at least 30 days.