Gonna get slammed for this but here goes...

[Arlen]

First, another welcome.

Second, Bradley has it perfect. That thread will explain everything.

[DTrain]

from Mississippi! I don't think I can add anything that hasn't already been said.

[McFarkus]

from Chicago

[Bugbear]

Welcome. From an artist and sculptor's prospective, women are made from flowing curves and men are made from stark plates and lines. In a pleated garment, it takes much more work and fabric to reflect this difference in a man's pleated garmant.
BTW
I don't know anything about wool costs and kilt making, just the art stuff.

[arrogcow]

For the actual time it takes to make a kilt, and the cost of the material, they are actually cheap (now the cost of tartan wool is outrageous). In fact, I am not sure how kiltmakers can actually afford to make them at the usual prices.

Accessories, on the other hand, are priced because they can be. For instance, your flashes, as you point out are $25 for essentially scrap material and 10 min work, but that offsets the low profit margin of making a kilt.

Sporrans too. While I love my nightstalker sporran, it is basically a $5 bum bag with tassels that was priced $25. Why, because we will pay $25 for a sporran (or $125 for a $20 leather purse).

It is what it is. People will always charge what people will pay.

Adam

[Barb T]

For instance, your flashes, as you point out are $25 for essentially scrap material and 10 min work.

Adam

Maybe you can make a decent-looking set of flashes and garters in 10 minutes, but I can't.

Barb

[The Wizard of BC]

I'm going to second Barb's statement that perhaps some people can make what could be called flashes and garters in 10 min. That someone is not me either.

Do a search here for making flashes. There are four or five very good pictorial tutorials on how it's done. Barb has done one, I have, the FHCAG has done one or two. Now try doing the same thing yourself. I bet you can't finish in less than 1 hour. I'm getting pretty good at doing flashes and my average time is 55 to 65 min. for a set.

[ChromeScholar]

No matter what it is (not quite, but you know what I mean), something is worth what someone will pay for it. If something is too expensive, I either do without, or learn to make it myself.

[auld argonian]

I had one of the older ladies at a Hancock Fabrics store giving me the business about the expense of kilts and real tartan material.

"They got you people over a barrel with that tartan stuff...ain't no fabric worth that much money...but you guys are right there ready to pay for it."

The only polite response that I could think of was, "Well, it's really good stuff and I think that it's worth it."

What can one say?

Best

AA

[James MacMillan]

from Sunny Southern California

As to the cost of kilt stuff. In your present job, what do you make for hour? Why shouldn't those making kilts get a comparable wage?

Our good stuff is not mass produced in third world countries. When you see quality work, you gladly shell out the bucks.....at least I do.