Acrylic vs poly-viscose

[James MacMillan]

What the Wizard posted is spot on! I have many of each fabric, and also a few fabrics that he didn't cover. ie cotton and cotton blends, wool blends, polyester blends, rayon blends, and linen.

The fabrics I list above are not readily available from most kilt makers. One must special order or buy the fabric and supply it to your kilt maker. Cotton fabric kilts are readily available in "modern" kilts.

Overall weight and thichness contribute to the swing, regardless of the fabric. Also, some fabrics are just more flexible than others.

But, in regards to you initial question: PV would probably a better choice as a wool alternative, if price does not enter into the question.

[Sir William]

Thanks to all who responded, and especially to the Wizard who went into considerable, and much appreciated, detail.

Lots to think about.

[ChattanCat]

I'd go with 12 oz PV. PV holds a pleat better than acrylic. PV can actually be a knife edge where acrylic tends to round at the corners. Acrylic pills real bad and doesn't take long for the pills to appear and they never seam to lay back down whence the came. The acrylic is much softer than PV, so PV is more like worsted wool.

[ForresterModern]

I have one PV for general "abuse" use---situations where I anticipate the distinct likelihood of soilage or potential damage to the kilt, e.g. after a bike ride when I know I am sweaty/greasy but want to put something on over my shorts to keep me a bit warm and protect my car seats, etc., from smelling like sweat. It is an 8 yarder in what is supposed to be 16oz fabric, but it does not feel as substantial as some of my 13oz wool kilts.

Otherwise I have 13 or 16 oz 8yd tanks or one 16oz 6yd casual. Definitely like the feel and look and fit of the wool kilts far beter than the PV.

I would not buy acrylic because of the fire hazard----just not something I feel a need to take a chance with. I can afford the cost of safety.

:ootd:

[fluter]

I have one PV for general "abuse" use---. It is an 8 yarder in what is supposed to be 16oz fabric, but it does not feel as substantial as some of my 13oz wool kilts.

If the vendor says "16-ounce PV" then it is likely some kind of PV and acetate concoction. They are either misinformed or being economical with the truth. Walk briskly to the nearest exit, and do not judge PV by this fabric.

[O'Callaghan]

Sportkilt are poly/cotton, and I haven't seen them claim to be anything else. Although this hold pleats less well than some fabrics, this is probably the coolest suitable fabric if you have to deal with 90 degrees and 90% humidity in the summer, like we do here. I think the OP may have been across the Potomac in Virginia, so the weather would be the same there. I always hang mine up when it's not being worn, and it's important to do that given the type of fabric. Even then the pleats don't always hang quite right, but it is a thin fabric, intentionally so IMO, as they come from California, not Scotland, so this is to be expected. I would say it is essential to pay the extra for the sewn down pleats, I wouldn't touch one without that feature, as I would never expect the pleats to stay put without it. I have seen pictures of used ones that don't have the optional sewn down pleats, and they don't look too great.

Based on my Stillwater kilt, acrylic does pill badly and doesn't breathe well, as others have said. It is soft and does resemble wool, but is more like a wool sweater than the wool worsted used in posh kilts. I haven't had any problem with the pleats atall. They stay in very well, but of course I always hang it up. It is one of their Thrifty Kilts, and it does have sewn down pleats. I have seen several posts saying those ones don't have that feature, and that may have been true at one time, but not any time recently, as I have had this one for some time. I wore it at the celtic festival the other weekend, and no-one looked askance at my $30 kilt. I was just another guy in a kilt amongst the crowd. OTOH, it was a scorching hot day, and I wished I had been wearing my Sport Kilt, as I would have been cooler.

I have one other kilt, but it was bought in an online sale from a Pakistani kilt maker (Sider International) that usually only sells wholesale, e.g. to pipebands and resellers, so it may be hard to come by one the same. It was advertised as 'acrylic wool', whatever that means. I am tempted to think it is a blend of the two, as the fabric is nothing like the Stillwater acrylic (and those are also Pakistani unless I am mistaken). It is a much tighter weave and only pills a little.

I don't have any made of either poly/viscose or pure wool so far.

[Carolina Kiltman]

While I have only wool kilts, I will probably get a PV in the near future. If I could get my tartan in 100% polyester twill (similar to the genuine Navy twill I would do so. It holds a knife like pleat, washes, resists stains, and can be damned uncomfortable in too hot weather. (Of course, nearly any clothing can be that uncomfortable in too hot weather, but public nudism is frowned upon

I would recommend PV or all polyester for knock-about if you want it to look decent most of the time. My experience with all acrylic is that it a) pills terribly, b) doesn't take abrasion very well, and c) won't hold a crease.

The above is, however, just my opinion based on my own experience, and in no way reflects on those who buy acrylic kilts and like them!

[fluter]

Sportkilt are poly/cotton, and I haven't seen them claim to be anything else.

The Web site recently says poly-viscose, rather than the old term "poly-blend." The last one I have is quite a nice feeling fabric. I suspect that they get them from different suppliers at different times, which may account for the poly-blend terminology.

I have 2 SK's nearly 2 years old, which have been worn quite a lot. The oldest one has pilled very little, and still looks quite good; the second one shows quite a bit of pilling. I wear them both often, thought not often away from my own yard.

I don't have any made of either poly/viscose or pure wool so far.

I highly recommend one of each!

[Colonel MacNeal]

Acrylic doesn't hold its shape well and is prone to sag. It is also more likely to catch on fire, or so I've been told, so I avoid acrylic.

[TheKiltedCoder]

I have a couple of SWK Nightstalker standards, as well as one USAK Semi-Trad. The Nightstalkers are about a year old at this point, and I've already had to take a clothing razor to them once to de-pill them. I agree with the general comment that they cannot be pleated with a knife edge.

At this point, I much prefer the PV USAK, as it is lighter, generally more comfortable, and, in my opinion simply looks better.

Brian