Hand Sewn 8 Yard Kilt Price List and Comparison

[OC Richard]

Don't forget that, in comparing final kilt prices, you may pay duty if you order from overseas.

Yes indeed. It might be very difficult to cover all the various countries involved, but it would be a useful addition to any kilt price comparison to mention a rough estimate of the import duties for each country.

I bought a kilt from a place in Scotland a few years back that was a bargain... but several months later I got a bill from US Customs for over $100.

Quite a few years ago a person in the business of importing kilts from Scotland told me that kilts with fringe were considered a "fringed garmet" by US Customs, which had a higher duty rate than an unfringed kilt.
He would have the kilts shipped from Scotland to the US with the fringe left undrawn so they would come in at the lower rate.
He told me that the US Customs rules were amazingly complex and were enforced in an almost completely random way: if he received ten packages all containing the same item, half would not be caught and the five that were stopped would be charged five different rates.

[Ancienne Alliance]

Yes indeed. It might be very difficult to cover all the various countries involved, but it would be a useful addition to any kilt price comparison to mention a rough estimate of the import duties for each country.

I bought a kilt from a place in Scotland a few years back that was a bargain... but several months later I got a bill from US Customs for over $100.

Quite a few years ago a person in the business of importing kilts from Scotland told me that kilts with fringe were considered a "fringed garmet" by US Customs, which had a higher duty rate than an unfringed kilt.
He would have the kilts shipped from Scotland to the US with the fringe left undrawn so they would come in at the lower rate.
He told me that the US Customs rules were amazingly complex and were enforced in an almost completely random way: if he received ten packages all containing the same item, half would not be caught and the five that were stopped would be charged five different rates.

May I respectfully point out that this Forum is an international one.
We have members from Italy, Germany, Africa , etc.
When you speak from an American point of view, it would be polite to indicate it for better understanding.
Thank you for keeping in mind that there is a kilted life outside the US.


Best,

Robert

[ForresterModern]

Yes indeed. It might be very difficult to cover all the various countries involved, but it would be a useful addition to any kilt price comparison to mention a rough estimate of the import duties for each country.

I bought a kilt from a place in Scotland a few years back that was a bargain... but several months later I got a bill from US Customs for over $100.

Quite a few years ago a person in the business of importing kilts from Scotland told me that kilts with fringe were considered a "fringed garmet" by US Customs, which had a higher duty rate than an unfringed kilt.
He would have the kilts shipped from Scotland to the US with the fringe left undrawn so they would come in at the lower rate.
He told me that the US Customs rules were amazingly complex and were enforced in an almost completely random way: if he received ten packages all containing the same item, half would not be caught and the five that were stopped would be charged five different rates.

From an American point of view: (thank you Robert, and also for the compliment above)

One should also always remember that importing from another country, expecially retail goods from a formal business retailer, has the risk (some say obligation) of having duty attached and paid, that if I remember for kilts in particular being somewhere from 12.5-17.5% for those coming into the US form EU countries, including the UK (none from within North America----NAFTA took care of that). But also remember that, as OCR says above, many get through customs without being assessed, or if assessed , done so at various and often capricious rates, depending on how the importer labels the package and how the particular customs official decides to code the item. Lastly, and probably most importantly, which method you choose (or get stuck with by your vendor) greatly changes the chances that you will be charged duty----if you import from a vendor who sends your package from the UK to the US via FEDEX or UPS (not USPS), and if that vendor is doing their proper job of correctly labelling the item as a kilt and its retail value, you WILL be hit not only with the obligatory duty (usually around $50-75 per kilt) BUT also with the courier company's ADDITIONAL handling fees, set up so that those couriers can expedite delivery times through customs. Some companies and individual kiltmakers may give you the option of using ground shipping (which often avoids duty costs by comparison to the obligatory FEDEX/UPS charges) while other companies, presumably due to the value of the item and thier desire to insure a trackable method of delivery for their own financial safety, will only send a valuable item like a kilt via a trackable and insurable method, namely FEDEX/UPS. Be sure to check that variable when you get ready to order. Some may call it a "free upgrade" to a faster delivery method, selling it to you as "getting your kilt faster and being able to track it all along its route" when in fact it may be a poison pill that once the imposed duty fees are included is anything but "free".

I would not suggest that any of this info be included in Bryce's listing as that could make things complicated and potentially incorrect, as companies often change their couriers on a whim it seems, but is should be on your checklist of items to inquire about before ordering from overseas for delivery to the US.

Lessons learned by making all the mistakes, but only once each.

Jeff

[Ancienne Alliance]

As far as we know, no duty was ever paid for the kilts we ship to the US.

We never got this information from our customers.


best,

Robert

[Mac Ghille Sheathanaich]

jeez..........I guess I'm not charging enough for the work I do. But then, this isn't my day job either. It takes me one or sometimes two months to make a kilt. An hour or two here and there, and on weekends. Fortunately, my clients aren't in any hurry.

Regards aye,

T.

[jeremy j starche]

There is a another kilt maker who has been in the business for decades:

Kilts 'n More
http://www.kiltsnmore.com/

for the modern kilt:
Machine stitched: $625.00+
Hand Stitched: $775.00+

Includes mini fly, tam and flashers.

[bricelythgoe]

There is a another kilt maker who has been in the business for decades:

Kilts 'n More
http://www.kiltsnmore.com/

for the modern kilt:
Machine stitched: $625.00+
Hand Stitched: $775.00+

Includes mini fly, tam and flashers.

I will look into adding them.

As far as shipping and duties/taxes (referring to other posts), I am not going to include that. It varies so much that it would be hard to add in.

[creagdhubh]

There was a discussion a while back (somewhat heated at times) about why the price of a kilt is the way it is. It got me thinking and I decided to do a list of some of the common kilt makers and their prices. I included all the advertisers on here, plus a few others that I have heard of or seen reviewed on this site. I wanted to limit the list to one type of kilt; therefore, I have included the best of the best from each company: 8 yard (most cases) hand sewn (most cases) tartan kilt (tried to stick with knife pleated). There are a couple of exceptions to this (i.e. some are part machine sewn or less than 8 yards is used). I have noted that next to each one. I have also included the price variations that will occur within each company due to size of kilt, tartan availability, weight of tartan, and/or other details. It does give a basic idea of the least and most one would pay for a hand sewn, custom made kilt from a specific company. Obviously, there will be differences from one kilt maker to the next. The list is only designed to give you a basic price range for a handmade tartan kilt.

Everyone, including the companies listed, please feel free to correct my mistakes that I have made (I am sure there are some). I know this is not a complete list of companies, but it gives you an idea of the wide range of prices out there.

There are a couple of things to note about my list. First, most companies either give you a flat price or a price range. There are only 2 that do not do that. That did make it hard to rank them.

What should you take from this list? Whatever you want. I am not saying TartanWeb is the BEST place to get a kilt. I am just showing a general price range of what to expect from these companies. Some might have better quality than others or better customer service. That is for you to decide. This is just the facts as listed on each companies website.

Here are some basic statistics that I gathered:

Mean: 538.60
Median: 510.00
Range: 322 – 875 (Very big difference)

Least Expensive Hand Sewn (Tartan selection could be limited from these companies for the lower prices):

1. TartanWeb
2. Heritage of Scotland
3. Scotclans

(These companies are about the lowest for most tartans, but not all)

Most Expensive Hand Sewn (for the most expensive. hand sewn kilt listed on their website)

1. Edinburgh Caslte (Salt Lake City Retail Store)
2. The British Shop
3. Celtic Croft

List of all companies (least expensive to most expensive, including all price ranges listed)

1. TartanWeb: $322 – 380
2. Heritage of Scotland: $331 - 392
3. Scotweb: From 350
4. Scotclans.com: $386 – 625
5. Skye Highland Outfitters: $389 – 429
6. Freedom Kilts: $403 - 643
7. Kathy Lare Kilts: $425 – 521
8. Scottish Tartans Museum : $475 – 525
8. Bonnie Heather Greene: From $475
9. Barb T: $485 - 675
10. Keltoi: $492 – 700
11. USAK: $495
12. Burnett’s and Struth: $577 – 696
13. Celtic Croft: $550 – 750
14. The British Shop: $580 – 790
15. Lady Chrystel: $631
16. Edinburgh Castle: $675 - 875


USAK
Price: $495 (part machine, part hand sewn, price can be 40-80 dollars more for hip sizes 47” and up)
Skye Highland Outfitters
Price: 389 (hand sewn and limited tartans)
Price: 429 (hand sewn and any other tartan not listed in the 389)
Freedom Kilts
Price: 403-673 (Machine sewn)
Scottish Tartans Meseum
Price: 475-525 (hand sewn and most tartans available for this price)
Scot Web
Price: From 350 (Hand sewn and price depends on the tartan choice.)
Burnett’s and Struth
Price: 577-696 (Hand sewn and price depends on weight and tartan choice)
Keltoi
Price: 492-700 (Hand sewn and price depends on fabric and weight)
The British Shop
Price: 580-790 (Hand Sewn not specified and price depends on width of fabric and size)
Celtic Croft
Price: 550 – 750 (Hand Stitched Pleats and price depends on weight and tartan chosen)
Tartan Web
Price: 322 – 380 (Hand Stitched and price depends on weight and tartan.
Scotclans.com
Price: 386-625 (Hand sewn and price depends on tartan)
Heritage of Scotland
Price: 331-392 (Price depends on tartan)
Kathy Lare Kilts
Price: 425-521 (hand sewn, price depends on tartan, higher priced kilts are only 7 yards)
Edinburgh Castle (Salt Lake City Retail Store)
Price: 675-875 (no mention of hand or machine sewn, price depends on weight of tartan)
Barb T
Price: 485 - 675 (hand sewn, price depends on tartan)
Lady Chrystel
Price: 631 (hand sewn)
Bonnie Heather Greene
Price: From 475 (hand sewn, higher priced tartans will be more)

Don't forget the grandfather of them all Kinloch-Anderson!!!

[BLHS209]

bricekolob:

I would like to "put in" for my kilt maker Doreen Browning at Kiltmaker's Apprentice in Highland, NY. The following link is to their price page:

http://www.highlandkiltshop.com/Page...ilts&Type=Sale

I have been happy with all my dealings with both Bob and Doreen.

[Stoogy]

I notice you make reference to a Heritage of Scotland Hand sewn kilt.
I've checked with them, and they only do machined kilts