Who actually OWNS a Scottish hand-sewn?

**macwilkin** · 3rd September 04, 01:46 PM

[As an aside, I used to work with an older woman who would have called me a "sport", which to her was a fellow who walked around all gussied up yet who had naught but wind in his pocket and empty promises.]

In Arizona that would be a fella who was "all hat, no cattle"!

Quite a few of those "drugstore cowboys" out there now.

Cheers!

T.

**Jimmy Carbomb** · 3rd September 04, 03:13 PM

As far as the Dry Cleaning MY kilt... there's no way in H_LL those people are touching my kilt!!!

I might rely on them for a "spot clean", but there's not way they're touching my "tank"!!!!!

When there's a problem, it gets Woolite in the sink. That way, I monitor the soap, I monitor the amount of liquid that touches the wool, and I monitor the rinse.

When it gets a little "gamey" it can go in the dryer on the low setting with the "home dry-cleaning" stuff. So far it's worked like a charm.

Ironing a "tank"? Let's just pour acid on the thing too. Ironing wool breaks down the natural fibres, and eventually allows it to "crack off". We usually lay-out sweaters to dry... and kilts should do the same. It's easier to dry-press pleats anyway.

DRY CLEANERS ON MY STUFF? I guess I should take my car to WalMart for a new transmission too.

**bikercelt1** · 3rd September 04, 06:15 PM

c'mon Jimmy, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel about dry cleaners and irons!

**Jimmy Carbomb** · 3rd September 04, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by bikercelt1

c'mon Jimmy, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel about dry cleaners and irons!

Some of my best friends are dry-cleaners and irons. They're just misunderstood and under-appreciated. Let's all take a moment to thank the dry cleaners and irons! (Hope that's better)

If it wasn't for those two, the kiltmakers wouldn't have the opportunity to replace all the damaged kilts!

I guess some people forget that wool is essentially hair. That stuff WILL burn! Just ask Richard Pryor.

**Mychael Sporrano** · 4th September 04, 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by Jimmy Carbomb

Incidentally, I've gotten a few PMs and emails complaining about thread breaks and pulls from one kilt company. I know the stuff "breaks-down" with washings and dryings, so keep an eye out for such things before they get out of hand!

I have been giving this some thought and have decided a response is in order. I think that it would be helpful were folks to post such problems directly to this board when it is relevant, giving some FIRST HAND specifics. Afterall, many of us are making decisions based on the testimonial that we read here, so it doesn't help too much if only the positive things get mentioned.

"...thread breaks and pulls from one kilt company," is a rather vague statement. I read that and now realize that this can be a consideration when selecting a manufacturer, but since the info wasn't specific I have no way of discerning which kiltmaker to avoid. Because this is a section dealing with traditional kilts, I assume that we are talking about traditional kilts, but the mention of, "...washings and dryings..." doesn't sound like wool. Now I have to be suspect of ALL kilts! Not being a primary source of this info, I don't consider it the duty of Jimmy C to list the offender, but since the topic was broached I am now naturally curious as to the particulars.

I am not advocating a nasty old all-out accusatory forum, only asking that objectivity come into play when it is relative, the goal being to help us all make informed decisions where purchasing kilts and their accoutrement are concerned. Last month, a well spoken KennyB brought up the mention of his issue with Geoffrey (Tailor) that to my knowledge has yet to be resolved and in which I have taken interest because I am considering a jacket from this source. Where my own dealings are concerned, though I have not listed them in their totality, when the topic came up in the thread dealing with shopping on the Royal Mile, I alluded to some problems I have personally had using Nicolson Highlandwear. I wasn't asked to elaborate, and as I recall I didn't. I do have to admit to not feeling very comfortable knocking someone in a public forum such as this where anyone can basically say anything regardless of how true it may be, but at the same time I feel that there has to be some objectivity in the reporting. Otherwise, I may as well buy everything based on its picture and the claims of its purveyor. After a person has posted for a period of time, it becomes clear how much weight their claims should be given.

Wow... In forums of this nature I am typically such an advocate of keeping things pleasant that I am surprising myself with this post. But, I suppose that "too nice" can also be a problem at times.

Mychael

**Freelander Sporrano** · 4th September 04, 06:32 AM

Mychael, As allways you have some very valid points.I for one am in the process of thinking seriously about kilt No 3. I use the things I read here as a help to form an opinion about the different companies and what they offer. As yet I have experience of One Scottish company. No 2 is on order from Canada.

When my plans crossed over from thinking to doing I wrote some PM's to those here on the forum that have such a kilt, or from their postings earlier have had some experience of a company I'm interested in doing Buisness with.

I think a form of Public humiliation of the different companies would soon be detrimental to the forum. It is best left to PM's. I'm no kilt maker so am not qualifyed to make such critisiums of these peoples craft.

Having said that I have a first hand knoledge of how the one kilt I have at present is holding up.However I'd like to buy more kilts and feel a little apprehensive of buying from a vendor over the internet without prior knowelege of them as a company.So yes I try to gain as much as possible from what is on the forum publically and I Pm if not

Make of this what you will....

All the best....David

**Mychael Sporrano** · 4th September 04, 07:25 AM

Thanks for your thoughts, David. [Wallace and Gromett rule!]

I realize that most of us who frequent this board are not kilt makers, but as consumers we ARE qualified to say what we do and do not like about a particular kilt. For instance, while mentioning that the service was prompt and that one loves the pockets or the fabric, etc., one would be easily within his rights to also mention that the buckles weren't well secured, or that the pleats were not straight if either were so. This isn't a case where "if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it" is applicable. I have read only good things about Bear, and I based a decision to purchase a pair of Bear kilts on these comments. I didn't feel that I had to start emailing around asking for folks to confirm positive remarks they made earlier or try to tease negatives from them.

I heartliy agree that personal messenger is a good way of getting more comprehensive knowledge, and I do use it for exactly this purpose on occasion. But, to reiterate, I don't want to read a person's comments or review on something and then have to send them a private correspondence in order to find out if there are any negatives they were not comfortable mentioning. I might ask them to elaborate on something that they mentioned, or I might bring up a point that was not covered, but I don't want to have to play dentist trying to get to any unsavory particulars.

Mychael

**Freelander Sporrano** · 4th September 04, 08:01 AM

Mychael.
I feel we have the same view point We've just got there by different routes. What I should have said was I use PM's to get the person to elaborate on something they have said, and that I feel I'd like some background on without involving everyone.

Wallace and Grommit do rule. Thats for sure

All the best ...David

**beverlonian** · 4th September 04, 10:45 AM

I've held back from critising any kilt suppliers since I'm very wary of the legal position. Could they sue for defamation even if the critisism is perfectly true, since this is a public board? Perhaps we have someone with a legal background on the board who could advise? Whilst we also have a certain anonymity, I'm also unsure if we could be identified. Personally I would love to know the down-side as well as the upside.

**bear** · 4th September 04, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by beverlonian

I've held back from critising any kilt suppliers since I'm very wary of the legal position. Could they sue for defamation even if the critisism is perfectly true, since this is a public board? Perhaps we have someone with a legal background on the board who could advise? Whilst we also have a certain anonymity, I'm also unsure if we could be identified. Personally I would love to know the down-side as well as the upside.

I don't think any kiltmaker is going to sue anyone. Not only would it look bad and hurt orders, it would be tossed out of court.
Criticise away! I'll get you started. It takes too long to get a Bear Kilt! What is that bastard doing? Watching Oprah all day?