Kilt Collection-Evolution Poll

[Whidbey78]

Started with 2 SWK's, then a Sportkilt(now basically PJ's for watching cartoons in), 2 ebay specials(one of which was an amazing buy, the other was as good as SWK), then one from a seller here. My family got me a USAK semi-trad last year. All were tartans.

Now I'm making a couple of X-kilts that I really need to get back to--one in blue poly-cotton the other in ACU. When those are done I'll probably do a few more in different styles, but no tartans. Maybe more camo. Certainly more solids. I'll probably make at least one with pockets, but may hide them under a pleat...can't decide which way to go.

My wife just ordered a kilt for me for my birthday. She took the measurements, so I know it's not off the rack, but she won't tell me what style or who is making it. (If it's Rocky, please change her order to Warrior tartan unless she ordered Irish National.)

The future is hard to predict. When I go back to active duty in about six weeks I'll have better income, but I may not be able to get tartans I want in PV, and I can't wear all wools so I have to be careful about what I buy. I have my eye on several PV casuals and another semitrad from USAK, and a couple from SHO as well. Freedom Kilts has a few nice options and I like what I see from Neo Kilt too.

I'm basically done with off the rack kilts as the fit of a tailored unit is so much better.

[Monkey@Arms]

I picked the final poll option, but its not an exact fit. I started with a UK, acquired 2 SWKs and a whole bunch more UKs. Obtained a USAK semi-trad for more formal occasions. Finally obtained an 8 yard 16oz wool from Scotland for really special occasions, but its still my UK's that see the most wear and I don't see that changing.

Best regards,

Jake

[Jock Scot]

I have voted----- for the one that fits my situation the closest.

[dfmacliam]

I started with a Sportkilt and then got a couple SWK's, a USAKilts casual, and then UK Survivor. I realized I was not so comfortable with a contemporay kilt, I sold everything but the USAKilts casual, and bought a Freedom Kilt 16oz Leatherneck. I since got a couple more kilts, from Keltoi. I figure I have enough kilts, now I need to get a nice jacket with waistcoat, a goat hair sporran, and some more nice hose..

I thought I was the contemporary type, but found out I was more comfortable wearing my kilts a bit closer to traditional.

[dutchy kilted]

Started with an Amerikilt, then got another one, then a few Utilikilts in vairous models, which I still usually wear. I also wear a black denim kilt I got through another XMTS member for casual use, and finally a tartan casual from Rocky at USAK I keep for more "formal" occassions. I am currently saving for a semi-trad from Rocky for a more formal look, but I still use my UK's more than anything. (I need the pockets.)

[OC Richard]

When I started wearing kilts, 35 years ago, there was no such things as utility kilts or sport kilts or casual kilts or machine-stitched kilts or polyviscose kilts.

A kilt was a kilt: 8 yards of 13oz or 16oz tartan wool.

The range of tartans was far smaller than today's, consisting almost entirely of clan tartans. There were very few district tartans. The explosion in "trade" tartans for the kilt hire industry (Flower of Scotland, Spirit of Scotland, Isle of Skye, etc etc) had yet to occur. There were very few non-Scottish tartans (US state tartans, Cornish tartans, etc etc).

Irish kilts were plain saffron, blue, or green. The range of Irish county tartans hadn't been invented yet.

So the "traditional" kilt as it had been made since the 1890s was all there was, and it's still the only kilt that really interests me.

One thing that I did recently discover: when I began collecting vintage Highland Dress catalogues I did notice that 6-yard kilts were offered in the 1930s as a budget option to the normal 8-yard kilts. So a form of "casual kilt" has been with us for quite some time.

[BLHS209]

I have started with the "traditional" kilt, 8 yards 13/16 oz., in the family "tartan", Shepherd check (see "avatar") Glad I did, but now would like to get another (big surprise) a little lighter in wool weight and may be a tad shorter (1") in length.

[Mael Coluim]

"started out with 1-2 first quality wool tartan kilts and plan to acquire more "

This best describes me, but not exactly. I picked up a Sportkilt in '96 basically to drop my bicycling shorts after club rides. I would air out drinking a brew with my biking buds enjoying all the accompanying freedom.

In 1997, I got my 'first' kilt, a tank in Malcolm tartan. Back then the market was different; internet in its infancy and few contemporary kilt makers.

I picked up some Malcolm tartan and began wearing the Great Kilt.

Got introduced to UKs and AKs in 2005 at Grandfather Mountain Games and began wearing those.

I would discover XMarks at the 2007 Grandfather Mountain Games. Through XMarks, I've added a number of casuals/semitrads/ 5yarders from USAK and B&S, three Box Pleats from Matt.

I want to add another tank, another box pleat and an Alpha Kilt. I will probalbly continue adding casuals and 5 yarders. Yeah, my kilts out number my p*nts and at some point, I'll switch to full time kilt wearing.

[skauwt]

"started out with 1-2 first quality wool tartan kilts and that is all I want/wear"
this`ll do me

[DeWayne Ross]

I started out with a wool quality tartan kilt. I wanted only tartan associated with my family name / Clan. After that I realized that I didn't want to wear that on a casual basis and made an X-kilt for casual wear. I am now interested in quality wool kilts in all the Ross Tartans, and maybe a couple more contempary for more casual wear. They will most likly be X-kilts as well, I like the idea of sewing my own, not too fond of modern contempary store bought ones that I have seen such as the utilikilt. Not knocking them for those that do like them, just personal opinion.