New Kilt, Opinions Sought

**Downunder Kilt** · 22nd February 11, 01:33 AM

Gentlemen of Xmarks, today I received my new MacLaren Weathered kilt. I opened the box and out came the kilt, no wrapping, just folded in half lengthways, then folded in half again effectively quartering the kilt. Below are photos of the front, back (full view) and back (lwr rear quarter) with all the creases. The ones I am concerned about are those on the lwr rear quarter as a couple of them are as sharp as the pleats. The front ones are no worries as I have handled these type before with a simple steam.

Should one really accept this as reasonable when you obtain products from overseas. I recently received a Argyll jacket, secondhand from ebay from Scotland. It was sent in a post bag took 16 days to get here and virtually had not creases and was wrapped in tissue

**Whidbey78** · 22nd February 11, 01:51 AM

That does look pretty bad right now. I'm really surprised to see no basting. Not everyone ships with basting stitches, but most do on anything beyond a 4 yard casual.

I would find that unacceptable, but not something I would be jumping up and down about. It appears that the workmanship is good, but the packaging and shipping left a bit to be desired.

I'm sure a good steaming will take care of it. It may need pressed though. Hopefully it all comes out. I certainly wouldn't say that returning it is warranted. I've had really good luck with shipping from kiltmakers and when buying used kilts and haven't ever had to do more than a light steam or some mild touch up ironing, and have never had to deal with anything that wadded up.

Hopefully a few of our resident kiltmakers have some sage advice for you. Good luck. Hope this winds up being a quick and simple fix.

**Downunder Kilt** · 22nd February 11, 02:09 AM

I dont mind steaming something and I see it as par for the course, but getting something new pressed, when its supposedly been done before delivery really irks me. It means I have to put in the basting stiches then pay for it to be pressed or take time to do it. If a little bit of care is taken in the packing then a light steam would be the only thing required.

**Whidbey78** · 22nd February 11, 02:18 AM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

I dont mind steaming something and I see it as par for the course, but getting something new pressed, when its supposedly been done before delivery really irks me. It means I have to put in the basting stiches then pay for it to be pressed or take time to do it. If a little bit of care is taken in the packing then a light steam would be the only thing required.

I agree. I've used an iron on wool with lots of steam and a cloth between the iron and wool with good results. I never had my uniforms pressed when I was in the military. I've done this with kilts, without basting. I just made sure the pleats were perfectly laid out and flat, and only did three to four at a time, basically the width of the iron. Fortunately, none of those crinkles should be set in.

Even if you're perfectly comfortable touching it up, or pressing it, you really shouldn't have to do anything beyond hanging and steaming it. But, that would be in a perfect world!

**Danwell** · 22nd February 11, 02:55 AM

My kilt from Keltoi came packaged in a way that I could take it out of the box and wear immediately (after taking out the five rows of basting stitches!). It was carefully rolled and wrapped and boxed and made it from Canada to Australia without a single crease. Maybe I was spoilt, but I think every kilt I have shipped from O/S will be compared to that experience. I wouldn't be happy in these circumstance either if I were you, and I'd be speaking to the kilt maker and asking them to reimburse you for the cost of having it professionally re-pressed.

**Chas** · 22nd February 11, 03:35 AM

While I agree that the customer service received fell short of desirable, I don't think that we should be too precious about this.

Every man who wears a kilt should know how to press it. And you don't need to put basting stitches in each time. A bit of organisation and a methodical approach and half an hour and job done. I have pressed every kilt I have ever bought before wearing it.

We don't by a new pair of shoes and expect someone else to polish them - do we?

Regards

Chas

**Danwell** · 22nd February 11, 04:40 AM

No, but then we don't buy a house and have to lay our own carpet, or buy a car and then stand in the parking lot putting the seats in.

When you buy a bespoke garment, and pay quite handsomely for it, there are minimum standards you can expect. Do you think that if the original poster had gone into the makers shop that the maker would have handed over a kilt looking like that? Or would the kilt maker be sure that the kilt looked perfect?

**Jock Scot** · 22nd February 11, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

While I agree that the customer service received fell short of desirable, I don't think that we should be too precious about this.

Every man who wears a kilt should know how to press it. And you don't need to put basting stitches in each time. A bit of organisation and a methodical approach and half an hour and job done. I have pressed every kilt I have ever bought before wearing it.

We don't by a new pair of shoes and expect someone else to polish them - do we?

Regards

Chas

I agree that is pretty shoddy presentation but hang it up in a steamy room and give it 24 hours the creases should drop out, if it is wool.

I have to confess that I have never pressed a kilt in my life and well, yes, I do expect someone else to polish my shoes, new or old. So I am afraid I fall short of Chas's expectations!

**Chas** · 22nd February 11, 05:42 AM

I am not going to argue with you Danwell, or anyone else for that matter. We each have our own perceptions. I do not perceive this as a problem. Because of my up-bringing, I have been forced into self-reliance.

I realised when I got my first kilt, that I did not have the money to waste, shipping my kilt to someone else to do a job that I can do perfectly well, or better, myself. So I read the tutorials here and learnt to do it.

Yes I agree that the customer service and the shipping were below par, but the aggravation of trying to get recompense is just not worth the hassle. The kilt could be worn, looking immaculate, in an hour.

Regards

Chas

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 22nd February 11, 05:46 AM

The kilt itself looks pretty good to me, just wrinkled. I have to admit I've seen worse wrinkles in men's kilts being worn after a long day sitting. The wrinkles don't seem to be anything that a few minutes with a good iron on the high heat and high steam settings won't take care of.

Was this a second hand kilt? Or did you purchase it from a retail establishment new?