Review of "Braveheart" kilt

[MacSimoin]

Graham,

I'll agree with Hamish...I like the colors but not the sett. Regardless, it's a kilt and that's what matters here: you're kilted.

Not to get off topic, but I'd like to voice my own approval of Matt's practice of not using a third strap on the kilts he makes: For me, they aren't necessary (I'm speaking from personal experience). I own two kilts made by Matt and both of them lack the third strap seen on most traditional tartan kilts. Compared to other kilts I own with a third strap, Matt's kilts fit me better and look just as good (if not better).

[The Celtic Croft]

Graham,

I'm sorry that you are disappointed in the kilt. The root of the problem I think is some simple misunderstandings. The pleats are not individually stitched down because I thought you choose not to pay for that option. You actually paid $250, not $275, because we did not charge for stitching down the pleats.
With any ordinary casual kilt this would not even be a question, but this isn't any ordinary casual kilt. It began life as an unpleated phillabeg, and was never destined to be a "real" casual kilt. In one of our early emails I referred to it as a "short-cut casual kilt", and encouraged you to order the "real" casual kilt for $300 that we would have had tailor-made for you in Scotland.
Most of the phillabegs (and great kilts) we sell are not pleated, because our customers are purchasing them to wear in the traditional fashion, pleating the kilt each time they wear it. We offer a "cheater" option in which we pleat the kilt for the customer, and stitch a hidden waistband on the inside. When the kilt is worn, it is generally impossible to tell that it wasn't hand pleated this-morning. Please take a look at our phillabeg page:
http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/Kilts/phillabegs.html
We don't normally even offer the option of stitching down the pleats (creating the fell), because this would defeat the purpose of simulating a hand pleated kilt. I offered it in your case because I knew you were going for the "real" casual kilt look, but I thought you chose not to take the option.
As to belt loops, a real waistband, lining, 3 sets of wider straps and buckles, etc., these would have all been included in the $300 kilt made in Scotland.
I am not unfamiliar with the construction of a "real" casual kilt, as I have made several of them in the past, but a couple of years ago we made the decision to let our Scottish kilt maker handle all of them for us.
If you think you can make out OK with the return shipping, I'd be happy to make some changes for you free of charge. I'll send you an email.

[Graham]

Graham,

I'll agree with Hamish...I like the colors but not the sett. Regardless, it's a kilt and that's what matters here: you're kilted.

Not to get off topic, but I'd like to voice my own approval of Matt's practice of not using a third strap on the kilts he makes: For me, they aren't necessary (I'm speaking from personal experience). I own two kilts made by Matt and both of them lack the third strap seen on most traditional tartan kilts. Compared to other kilts I own with a third strap, Matt's kilts fit me better and look just as good (if not better).

You and Matt are not alone, St.Kilda Australia, recognised as one the best kiltmakers here also prefer to make kilts with just two straps.
I guess it's preference, I feel better "strapped in" with the extra buckle.

and for the record, Celtic Croft have now agreed to remake the kilt and improve it for a very modest fee.
This is too their credit, when it's returned I'll pst updated photos.

[ccga3359]

Good on you Graham and on Celtic Croft. I do like this tartan and with the changes being made, I think, will only improve it more.

[Robinhood]

I like the Braveheart tartan a lot, but on this kilt
it doesn't work so well. Without a dominant
vertical stripe, pleating it to the sett is almost
like pleating it at random. If it were pleated
to one of the darker stripes, I would be more
fond of it.

With the pleats not sewn to the fell, it balloons
giving it that "skirt" look. Without this stitching,
the third strap would only pull open the last
pleat, so it really shouldn't be there on this
type of kilt. The pleats can be sewn down, and
another strap added to make it look better.

Adding a sporran to the outfit will help a lot.
Even without stitching down the fell, it will
hold the pleats down in this area, and also
complete the appearance in the front, possibly
counteracting the excess length.

(I should note here that I recently make a kilt
for myself that is long, maybe even a little
longer than yours. The extra length was
intended for cold weather coverage, minimizing
the gap between the top of my socks and
the bottom of the kilt. It worked quite well,
and I don't have any cold spots even in temperatures
down into the teens (F). If anyone comments
about the length I tell them they can have cold
knees if they like, but I don't.)

Another way to de-emphasize the ballooning
is to wear a large belt, or a sweater that goes
over the outside of the kilt. This will also
counteract the excess length.

The fabric could be considered as
raw material for a more traditional kilt.
Since it is only stitched at the waistband,
it would be simple to take it apart, and
make it the way you want. This gives you
the opportunity to change the length, and
type of pleating as you desire.

Finally, your attitude is probably just as
important as the kilt itself. If you stand
proud, as though to say "this is a man's
kilt, and I'm more than man enough to
wear it," it will become that, and you will
as well.

[Colin]

Joseph,

Thanks for providing the other side of the story. Too often one side is taken as the only side. It sounds like you guys are providing great customer service in an attempt to make the customer happy. Keep up the great work.

Graham, I hope the kilt returns closer to the vision you had in your mind. I'm sure it will look great in the end.

[Kilted Stuart]

Maybe a lesson learned by the vendor to make sure the customer knows just what there getting for the money there paying.

Hopefully this will all work it's way out.

Kilted Stuart

[ScottInNewHampshire]

Graham - Maybe my standards aren't up to snuff but I like the way it looks. I agree that some rustic accessories will add to the look but the tartan is beautiful. I'm sorry that you aren't thrilled with it. I love my Celtic Croft kilt and found Joseph to be very easy to work with. I hope that you will be able to work together to resolve any lingering concerns.

BTW. I agree with those who have stated how good you look in the garment. While the kilt is a very generous and forgiving article of clothing and looks good on most, YOU wear them very well.

Thanks for the pics.

[Woodsheal]

Obviously it was a misunderstanding between Graham and CC. Their philabegs are meant to recreate early 18th century little kilts, NOT modern tailored kilts. They tack in the pleats at the top and add straps to make them easier to wear, but they are still meant to represent the historic garment.
These early untailored philabegs just lay differently on one's body than modern kilts:


Personally, Graham, I like your new kilt (except for the length!)....

[Kid Cossack]

As I mentioned in regard to the Black Watch ancient philabeg I got from CC, "I really like it for what it is." I knew I was trying something different when I went with a box pleated four yard PV "quasi kilt". I think I actually made a mistake going with the options CC offers. It's not that they're bad---I like the inner buckle a la Matt Newsome . . . but somehow it turns it from a "philabeg" to a "quasi kilt." I think I'd have been better off either with the no-pleating, no-waistband, no-straps pure philly, or going with a version with the pleats sewn down to the fell.

I ended up with something that was, to coin a phrase, neither fish nor fowl nor good red meat. Don't take this as a condemnation of CC, tho! They gave me exactly what I was looking for, exactly what I ordered.

I'd order a kilt from 'em.