Quality or quantity.....?

[Blu (Ontario)]

With brands like Stillwater and Utilikilts you can have the best of both worlds!!!

Gotta disagree.....

I have to admit that, at a unit cost of $12 to $15 before markup, the mass produced kilts are undoubtedly attractive to the bottom line conscious consumer. And they certainly offer the opportunity to fill your wardrobe.... But do they belong to both worlds..... I don't think so.

.

[Riverkilt]

And, I would like to disagree with "outrageous cost" of hand sewns. The quality and value are solidly there.

There is a temptation to sell some of the contemporary kilts I bought when my waist was smaller and use the proceeds to buy more hand sewn kilts.

I can't imagine anyone who enjoys wearing kilts that wouldn't swoon at a 16oz hand sewn kilt in a tartan they like.

Having said that, chances are if you came to my little town you'd find me wearing a USA Kilts casual. Because of weather and dirt. A cooler kilt for the high desert that still conveys the tartan image, and easy care for a sloppy eater living in a dusty part of the world.

If I lived in a city in a cooler part of the world my kilt collection would no doubt contain less contemporary kilts and more hand sewns.

Ron

[davedove]

While I bought several of the less expensive alternatives when I was starting out, now I pretty much only buy the traditionals. I might still get a few of the cheaper ones, but I much prefer the traditionals.

[Alan H]

I don't fit into the poll very well. I buy "cheapies", as in $100 imported kilts and Stillwaters and USA Kilts (Casuals). I haven't yet bought any real "junk".

But I also have two kilts from Scotland which are 5 yarders, polyester/wool blend and built very well by machine. They will last for years, and look great. These are $180 kilts. Is that a cheapie? How about the wool/poly lightweight kilt a six-yarder that I just made myself? I mean, the materials cost me less than $40.

Is a USA Kilt semi-traditional at $220 or so, a "cheapie"?

And finally, I have one wool kilt, a 7 yard heavyweight that's my "Tank". It's custom made.....by ME! So I didn't buy it. There will shortly be an X-Marks wool 6-yard kilt in my closet made by me, and after that a wool box-pleat in the Hall tartan and after that a wool box-pleat in the California tartan. I will make them.

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... and frankly not everyone thinks paying $120 for a UK, or $80 for a Standard SWK = Cheap.....

I agree.... and not everyone has the same circumstances within which to operate and that's why I've not mentioned $ value in the original post.

And while cheap kilts have allowed those on a budget to enjoy the experience, there are also those who would prefer to own 5 or 10 mass produced over two or three custom. And if that adds to their enjoyment of it then hey.... that's great.


Regardless, I think it's interesting to see the various choices displayed in a bar chart, though.

[David White]

Not being a rich man, I've literally saved the change from my pockets to buy two traditional box-pleated kilts.
One from Wanda McSwain and the other from Matt (which should be completed very soon).
I also have the casual Buchanan from Rocky on the way.
I would buy SW if the length were right for me.

Somehow, not having tons of money makes me very deliberate in my purchases, rarely do I make an impulse buy

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... Is a USA Kilt semi-traditional at $220 or so, a "cheapie"?....

No....no.... the comparison is really between between the mass produced kilts and the custom made kilts - regardless of style.

Jeepers Alan... I think I may have gotten myself into trouble with my less than precise language.....

Help!



.

[way2fractious]

I don't fit into the poll very well.

Face it, Alan, you and I are just square pegs in a world of round holes...

I would vote in the poll if the wording included "owned", or "made", or "acquired". (How about "inherited"?) The word "buy" is just too restrictive.

BTW, this weekend the weather changed colder, so I changed from camo casuals to a traditional in Black Stewart made by Chisholm and won on eBay a couple years ago for half the price of a cheapie.

(Maybe the word "found"...?) w2f

[O'Neille]

I love all of my kilts except a few Ebay mistakes that I have discussed before. Every kilt I have gotten from a member or advertiser on the board is well worth my investment and they all get used regularly for their intended purpose. O'Neille

[Bob C]

I have one of each - a $600 custom-tailored wool kilt and an ebay kilt that cost me about $75. Of course my expensive kilt is better, but I'm not sure it's THAT much better.

The price of custom handsewn kilts IS outrageous. Same with a lot of accessories. The market is fueled by snobbery.