The OUTRAGEOUS Price of kilts!

[Robin]

<<<off topic>>>

What to do, what to do?

When you strap on your 1st tank you'll know

<<<on topic>>>

[davedove]

my only problem with $500 dollar kilts....isn't the actual cost per se...(I get why they're expensive, even if it does hurt my pocketbook) It's....when to wear something that costs so much.
I'm in between "it cost too much to keep hidden in the closet" and "it cost too much to wear all the time and ruin"...argh! What to do, what to do?
My first "tank" will be my xmarks tartan...and I'll wear it with pride, but I suspct only on special occasions.

Echoing what Panache said above...there is definately a place in my wardrobe for cheaper kilts.
I have dress pants I wear when called for, and cheap grungy jeans I wear when appropriate. Why should kilts be any different?

Cloves,

Check out this thread:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=22436

It shows the same kilt being worn in different situations. I have worn that same kilt to go volksmarching, to a beer festival, and dressed up to different levels. Now, I wouldn't wear such an expensive kilt if I knew it was going to get dirty, but anything else is okay.

[scoutniagara]

I first wore kilts as a dancer, but they were always handed down from my sister or my cousin. My first personal kilt, was my Burnett's and Struth 13 oz. hunting MacIntosh. Since then, I've ordered and wear five other semi-traditional kilts purchased from kiltmakers who advertise on this site. My next two kilts are going to be my 8 yard PVC Maple Leaf from CCK and another SWK, in black heavyweight wool.

My point: My first kilt purchased by myself, was my Canadian-made hunting MacIntosh from Margaret herself. I knew that to have my choice and to have a custom made kilt was the way I wanted to go. If I could only have one kilt, it would be the best! Now that I have that one, I need other kilts for day wear, that won't set me back another $700 if it should be ruined in daily "muckin' about". As Dirka says, it doesn't do anyone good to have an expensive kilt hanging in your closet, waiting for that special occasion that seldom happens.

If you really want to promote kilt wearing and your local kilt maker, the best way is to wear a kilt so others come to realize that kilts look and feel great and are really comfortable to wear. Those are future customers who will keep our local kiltmakers in business, and around for us when we want to order our next kilt...perhaps an Isle of Skye in PVC from CCK? lol

When ten or more SOKS show up in a pub wearing their kilts, we are all noticed. ...well, all except Grant. ;)

[obuchiteck]

Wow! That really putt things in perspective.

[turpin]

Isn't it great? You ask a simple question and out pours all this combined knowledge, opinion, and experience.

[Joe Gondek]

As a person who has had his own business building custom muzzle loaders
I know just how you feel
you give great insight to those that have never been there

[Don Patrick]

I've always been one to say you normally get what you pay for.

[mdeesnuts]

Kilt == P*nts

Or more precisely said, a kilt is an (better) alternative to p*nts. As much as I may agree with Alan, it makes this no less true. Considering that truth, kilt prices - if you would like kilt usage to become more widespread - should be on par with p*nt prices.

This is most definitely not the (common) case. Had I not found Stillwater there would be a half dozen less kilt wearers in the world today. Those I turned on to kilts may or may not become kilt aficionados, but with $100+ pricing, none would have bought their first kilt.

While some may enjoy the novelty of kilts, or thrive off of the attention they bring, some of us just want more comfortable clothes. Please help us bring the cost down and usage up by encouraging mass market practices.

/no, I don't work for wal-mart
//but wouldn't you love to see a kilt for sale there?

[ardchoille]

Alan H,
Excellent post! I've always known why kilts are expensive but never broke down the price in such detail. I feel that, if anything, kiltmakers charge too little for their artwork.. and it is indeed artwork, not to mention that a kilt will last a lifetime if you care for it. My first kilt (purchased in 2003) looks just as good today as the day it was created, and will likely look this good 10 years from now.

Thanks for posting this

[ardchoille]

Kilt == P*nts

Or more precisely said, a kilt is an (better) alternative to p*nts. As much as I may agree with Alan, it makes this no less true. Considering that truth, kilt prices - if you would like kilt usage to become more widespread - should be on par with p*nt prices.

I must disagree, you get what you pay for. Pants are made on machines.. machines that likely replaced a human or two. I have never found a pair of pants that fit me correctly and likely never will since they aren't custom made. I have never seen a pair of pants that will last 50 years (there are still some kilts around which are much older than that!). Wearing a pair of pants makes me look just like everyone else, there's no "personality" to them. I remember having to buy several pair of pants to go with several differnet "modes" of wear (dress, semi-dress, casual, work, etc).. whereas 1 kilt looks just as good with a coat and tie as it does with a t-shirt and flip flops.

Let's have a look, shall we?

Dress pants (for suit and tie) $50.00 each? And I'll need five?
$250.00

Casual pants (for outings with friends) $20.00 each? And I'll need five?
$100.00

Work pants (for employment) $20.00 each? And I'll need five?
$100.00

Cleaning/maintenance of these garments (on a weekly cycle) ? $$?
How long will they last? Will I have to buy more?
----------------------------------------
So far we have $450.00 for 15 garments for three uses, and I feel these prices are low, since custom made pants will increase the price.

I think that much of the time people don't think about this cost because they buy pants one pair at a time, whereas buying a kilt is an "all at once" price.

1 kilt can be used for all of these uses and an 8 yard, knife-pleated, kilt made from 13 ounce tartan costs about $450.00. And, a kilt will fit me better than any machine-made pants as well as last much longer.

Just my opinion, but there's no comparison.. I'll take a kilt over pants any day

Long live kilts!