Kilt Help Please

[Bugbear]

Welcome.

[Finn]

Welcome from West Virginia!
I heartily recommend USAK!
I advise against Sportkilt based on a personal experience.

[PiobBear]

Welcome from delightful Dunedin! It was bloody hot at the Games this year, wasn't it?

[McClef]

from South Wales UK!

If the label shows the words "authentic" and "designed in Scotland" then it most probably comes from the same source that the notorious Gold Brothers obtain theirs from.

But it's a starter kilt that will hopefully inspire you to more purchases of better quality kilts from more really authentic sources of which there are many, even on the western shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

[Galb]

Welcome from delightful Dunedin! It was bloody hot at the Games this year, wasn't it?

Aye that it was! When I got home my face was blood red. I got quite the lecture from my wife about the importance of sunscreen. I told her that by the next day I wouldn't be burned, and only slightly pink at the most. A little aloe and by the next day my face was just mildly pink. Of course, the fact that I gloated about how I was right and how I wouldn't burn didn't help the situation. ;)

from South Wales UK!

If the label shows the words "authentic" and "designed in Scotland" then it most probably comes from the same source that the notorious Gold Brothers obtain theirs from.

But it's a starter kilt that will hopefully inspire you to more purchases of better quality kilts from more really authentic sources of which there are many, even on the western shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

That it does actually. Someone PMed me with the Gold Brothers info mentioning that the kilt might be from them. To be honest, I have no issues with the kilt. It is comfy, seems to be made well. Like you said, it is a good starter, regardless of where it is fabricated. I like it, and at the time it was available right there on a rack at the games.

I think my next kilt will be the Black Watch tartan from Stillwater. I'll probably go with the Standard simply because of cost reasons. I'm hoping some day I'll get my family tartan (Galbraith), but I'll have to be willing to spend a tad more than I can at the moment. With that, I'll probably hit USAKilts.

Thanks for all the help, and the warm welcomes everyone.

[Galb]

One quick question that no one seemed to touch on...

...It seems there are some negative opinions on the "Gold-Bros" wares. May I ask why? Pardon for such a newbie question.

[Panache]

One quick question that no one seemed to touch on...

...It seems there are some negative opinions on the "Gold-Bros" wares. May I ask why? Pardon for such a newbie question.

Among other things, they sell imported mass manufactured products from the east, yet the product's descriptions seem to indicate they are tradtionally made kilts from Scotland.

Cheers

Jamie

[RobertParker]

Among other things, they sell imported mass manufactured products from the east, yet the product's descriptions seem to indicate they are tradtionally made kilts from Scotland.

Cheers

Jamie

Which essentially means that many consider them to be less-than-totally-honest in their business practices; this is somewhat corroborated by a pending court case accusing them of using a copyrighted (is that what it is for tartans?) tartan without permission.

[Panache]

this is somewhat corroborated by a pending court case accusing them of using a copyrighted (is that what it is for tartans?) tartan without permission.

I'm not sure if Tartans are trademarked or copyrighted? That would be a question for Matt Newsome or cajunscot.

Cheers

Jamie

[Galb]

Among other things, they sell imported mass manufactured products from the east, yet the product's descriptions seem to indicate they are tradtionally made kilts from Scotland.

Cheers

Jamie

Gotcha. On my kilt, the tag on the inside it says "Designed in Scotland", which is true as the tartan was designed there. However, I was sure it was not manufactured there. I guess that simple blurb could mislead people very easily if they didn't pay attention.

Which essentially means that many consider them to be less-than-totally-honest in their business practices; this is somewhat corroborated by a pending court case accusing them of using a copyrighted (is that what it is for tartans?) tartan without permission.

I'm not sure if Tartans are trademarked or copyrighted? That would be a question for Matt Newsome or cajunscot.

Cheers

Jamie

I believe that a tartan would have to be copyrighted as it is a design and can be considered a work of art. Usually, a trademark usually has to do with a logo of some sort which is easily identified.

Most tartans, I would believe, cannot be copyrighted due to their age. International copyrights only last for 75 years after the death of the creator. Most tartans are hundreds of years old. Therefore these would be considered public domain and anyone can produce them or products using them. However, if they used any new tartans that fall under the protection of copyright law, then they have quite a lawsuit on their hands.