What would you like to see in a kilt?

[Cowher]

[Scottish Terrier]

Bill, rather than give away the reason for the cold shower, I should let you think about that one for a while.

[Bill aka Mole]

Bill, rather than give away the reason for the cold shower, I should let you think about that one for a while.

Not to worry; I may be old, but I am slow!

[cruiser348]

I would personally like to see the heavier weight PV come into being. However, I will also say that having that available wouldn't change my desire to own a hand sewn bespoke heavy weight wool kilt either. I simply would like to have the availability of the heavier weight material at a price point where I would be more comfortable wearing it in a more casual setting than what I would with something with the cost and labor involved of the hand sewn tank.
I also would like a kilt with hidden pockets like many of our members, simply because it would be nice at times to have things more readily accessible than what they sometimes are with everything simply dropped into my sporran. Thankfully, this is just a "wish it was in my price range" and not a "wish it existed" scenario so when I find myself in the market for another kilt maybe I can make it happen for myself.

[CMcG]

Have kilts stopped evolving? What features would you like to see in a kilt?

I don't think kilts have stopped evolving. The last 30 years (approximately one generation) have already shown a number of changes in material and design.

At this point though, there are A LOT of features to choose from. Look at the options menus from some of our sponsors. Between Keltoi, Freedom Kilts, and Alt.Kilts, one has most everything I was able to think of from traditional, to contemporary, to modern!

As people have already mentioned, heavier PV would be nice.

Is weaving the only way to create a tartan pattern? Could it conceivably be dyed or printed on to fabric?

I would like to see some form of kilt achieve enough mainstream acceptance that it could produce a different economy of scale. Like if my favourite work wear companies (Dickies and Carhartt) started mass producing a utility kilt. It would the same as their work pants: offered in tough materials, standard sizes, a few colours, and a very affordable price point.

[kc8ufv]

I don't think kilts have stopped evolving. The last 30 years (approximately one generation) have already shown a number of changes in material and design.

At this point though, there are A LOT of features to choose from. Look at the options menus from some of our sponsors. Between Keltoi, Freedom Kilts, and Alt.Kilts, one has most everything I was able to think of from traditional, to contemporary, to modern!

As people have already mentioned, heavier PV would be nice.

Is weaving the only way to create a tartan pattern? Could it conceivably be dyed or printed on to fabric?

I would like to see some form of kilt achieve enough mainstream acceptance that it could produce a different economy of scale. Like if my favourite work wear companies (Dickies and Carhartt) started mass producing a utility kilt. It would the same as their work pants: offered in tough materials, standard sizes, a few colours, and a very affordable price point.

I would think it could be printed. Considering how many flannel shirts I've seen where the plaid pattern on the outside is much much much more vibrant than on the inside, I can think of no other way than it being printed for that to have happened.... From a mass-production perspective, I would think this would make things less expensive....

[RockyR]

I would think it could be printed. Considering how many flannel shirts I've seen where the plaid pattern on the outside is much much much more vibrant than on the inside, I can think of no other way than it being printed for that to have happened.... From a mass-production perspective, I would think this would make things less expensive....

It would make it less expensive, but have you ever seen a kilts made from printed cloth? NOT very nice. I would hesitate to call it a kilt.

[kc8ufv]

It would make it less expensive, but have you ever seen a kilts made from printed cloth? NOT very nice. I would hesitate to call it a kilt.

I never said it would look good, simply possible. I fear seeing anything printed on something looser than T-shirt material or flanel...

(Low) Price
Quality
Service (speed)
Pick any 2.

[CRussell]

I personally think the most important thing that has to happen before kilts take off and really become living, evolving clothing is to remove the overlay of “ethnic costume” and to start seeing kilts as fashion. The best thing that could happen to the kilt, in my opinion, is for the kilt to get to the point that the average English speaker sees it as normal clothing and would wear a kilt with as little thought as a pair of pants. I think a few adjustments, partly in attitude, partly in material, need to occur for that to happen.

The first part of a reality where men wear kilts as part of everyday clothing involves each man having multiple kilts in a variety of colors/patterns and which, for everyday wear, are washable. I don’t own one, but I imagine a kilt made of cotton twill would be very nice. Machine washable, ironable, and as durable as a pair of Dockers. My issue with the current kilt marketplace is that by and large, kilts made from non-tartan material don’t look like kilts. I would like to see more kiltmakers offer kilts made of washable, non-synthetic materials that are constructed identically to traditional kilts.

Secondly, for kilts to mainstream, I think tartans need to become a part of the overall color scheme of an outfit, not either a cultural artifact, or one set of loud, eye-blinding colors out of many.

I will let the kiltmakers and others with more industry experience correct me, but I think a lot of guys are discovering kilts that either don’t have Scottish ancestry, or don’t identify with their Scottish ancestry very strongly. I myself have some Scottish blood (what European-American doesn’t?), but I identify much more strongly with my English ancestry and the culture and heritage it brings. However, I bought a kilt as a splurge and now I’m hooked. I doubt I’m the only man in this boat. Because of this, I think it would only help the kilt industry to get away from the “kilt as ethnic costume” to some degree. For instance, getting away from the idea of “clan tartans” and selling the colors and patterns of the kilt material as a matter of personal taste or current fashion. Also, increasing the variety found in tartans. Most traditional tartans honestly look the same to my eye. Lots of dark greens and blues, or bright reds and greens, or some variation thereon. Personally, I find 90% of the traditional tartans hideous. I would love to see some new ones, especially some simpler ones with fewer colors, using the sorts of colors you could find on modern clothing. Another example is having more kilt accessories that don’t have thistles or other overtly Scottish symbols on them, and doing away with some of the overly historical kilt accessories, like doublets and jabots. I think they look fantastic, don’t get me wrong. I think a Sherrifmuir doublet with castellated diced hose and court shoes looks stunning. However, it also looks like you stepped out of the 1700s, Kate & Leopold-style. Even just taking the epaulettes and strange cuffs and pocket flaps off kilt jackets and making them look like regular suit jackets goes a long way to making the kilt look to my eye more like everyday clothing.

Part of the “tartan as fashion” framework I’d like to see also involves a little more color matching. I know a lot of the guys on this forum believe that anything goes when you wear a kilt. Bright red and green kilt with checkered black and white hose and a blue and yellow tartan shirt or tie to top it off. Anyone who feels that way is certainly entitled to their opinion, and if it makes them happy, then good on them. I’m not trying to judge anyone’s sense of fashion. However, I think something like a nice green and brown checked kilt with a white shirt, lovat green jacket, and plain green tie, would look much less costumey, would be less loud, and would be more likely to be seen in your average joe’s closet.

That is what I would like to see in the kilt market, and wear I would like the kilt to go in the future.

[kc8ufv]

Now look what you've done!! Now you've made printed tartan kilts inevitable.

PS...service is not equivalent to speed.

I didn't mean to imply they are equivalent. I've seen that grouping many times, sometimes with service, others with speed.