PV material and Perma Pleating

billmcc · 23rd June 05, 01:26 AM

Hi All,

I live in Florida and want a tartan kilt that is lighter and cooler than a wool kilt. Is PV lighter and cooler than wool?

Also, what exactly is Perma Pleating?

**KMacT** · 23rd June 05, 04:06 AM

PV will be lighter than wool if the PV in question is a lighter fabric that the wool. It's a simple matter of weight. A 13 oz PV will be heavier than an 11 oz wool.

As for whether one is cooler than the other, all other things being equal I would expect that a wool, which is a natural fabric and breaths very well, would be cooler than a synthetic like PV.

Kevin

**macwilkin** · 23rd June 05, 06:36 AM

As for whether one is cooler than the other, all other things being equal I would expect that a wool, which is a natural fabric and breaths very well, would be cooler than a synthetic like PV.

Well said, Kevin. wool, in my experience, does "breathe" more than synthetics do. I find that when I have worn my wool kilt in the summer with a synthetic polo shirt, my top half is always hotter than the bottom! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

**Dreadbelly** · 23rd June 05, 06:53 AM

Actually, let me in on this. I did a lot of looking in to this very subject.

PV has a better evaporation rate than wool does. So when you are hot and sweaty, the increased evaporation rate should (At least in theory) keep you cooler than wool.

I dunno about the rest of you, but my kilt gets wet down there. And when I sweat, it soaks, and feels noticeably cooler as the breeze blows up in there.

I will tell you what doesn't work in the heat, and that is arcrylic... I can't wear my 13oz Stillwater Heavy.

I am even more curious about hemp kilts... Hemp has an incredible evaporation rate... And from what I read, very breatheable. I would love to test drive one in this unbearable smothering heat.

**macwilkin** · 23rd June 05, 07:05 AM

Actually, let me in on this. I did a lot of looking in to this very subject.

PV has a better evaporation rate than wool does. So when you are hot and sweaty, the increased evaporation rate should (At least in theory) keep you cooler than wool.

KW, I'd be curious to see your source(s) on this statement. Where did you come across this information? I'd love to read them.

I've worn wool in the summertime for 15 years now in various forms of historical reenacting, as well as my kilt. It is been my observation that all of the tourists watching us in their synthetic tank-tops, shorts, etc. who thought we were all crazy and viewed themselves as "cooler" were actually sweating more & far more uncomfortable than we were.

The problem: AC. We have become so used to air-conditioning that we can't stand the heat anymore. My Dad remembers summer in Arizona without AC, folks today couldn't take that.

My money is on wool, linen or cotton -- natural fibers -- over man-made stuff any day.

T.

**Dreadbelly** · 23rd June 05, 07:12 AM

I found some info on the net when I was researching my little "health problem."

PV resists fungal infections better, has a higher evaporation rate, etc. It's because of the teflon coating on the fabric. Moisture doesn't seep in, it stays on the surface and evaporates away quickly. It dries quickly because of this feature.

In general though you are correct. Natural fibres are better.

Hemp is looking to be the best by far. At least from what I can understand of the high tech mumbo jumbo.

**Kilts_Knave** · 23rd June 05, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

tourists ... in their synthetic tank-tops, shorts, etc. ... viewed themselves as "cooler"

We get a lot of tourists down here and the problem seems to be acclimation. I have lived in South Florida for going on 5 years. I remember first driving into Florida in December around Tampa and I couldn't believe the heat! Now, because I am used to the heat, I can wear a quarter sleeve baseball shirt in dark colors, a belt, socks, shoes and long pants to work everyday without breaking a sweat in 90 degree weather and close to 100% humidity. If I am outside for over half-an-hour or I stand out in the sun, of course I will get a little foissht. We have AC inside, but it doesn't effect me once I get outside. (I'm not sure how does AC play in all this?) If tourists dressed like me they would get heatstroke! Just my 2 cents...

**RockyR** · 23rd June 05, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by KMacT

PV will be lighter than wool if the PV in question is a lighter fabric that the wool. It's a simple matter of weight. A 13 oz PV will be heavier than an 11 oz wool.

Correct... it's like the trick question... which is heavier, a ton of lead or a ton of feathers... they're both a ton.

PV is an 11 oz fabric while most wool kilts are made from a minimum of 13 oz wool.

Originally Posted by KMacT

As for whether one is cooler than the other, all other things being equal I would expect that a wool, which is a natural fabric and breaths very well, would be cooler than a synthetic like PV.

Kevin

Actually, we've found that to be untrue. PV breathes EXTREMELY well. It's not the polyesther you know from "Saturday Night Fever". It's woven with Viscose (to my understanding it's a tree fiber) and is very breathable. I wear SEVERAL different kilts in several materials and weights. I have a few PV Semi Traditionals, 2 13 oz wool kilts, 3 16 oz wool kilts and USED to have an 11 oz kilt. I've worked many outdoor festivals in the hot sun in late summer and found that I am overheating in my wool kilts. My PV is the perfect weight and fabric type for those festivals... it pulls the sweat away from my skin and evaporates (the sweat... not the kilt).

All business aside... if I were to PERSONALLY buy a kilt for ease of care to wear in a hot climate, PV is the way to go. That's why we USE it for the lower end kilts in our business (keep in mind we DO sell WOOL kilts in our Premier model)... Cotton Poly is generally made too light (6 to 8 oz) for a "real" kilt and Acrylic or straight Poly material is too hot and difficult to iron.

I'd be happy to answer any more questions on PV material if anyone has any.

**RockyR** · 23rd June 05, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by billmcc

Hi All,

I live in Florida and want a tartan kilt that is lighter and cooler than a wool kilt. Is PV lighter and cooler than wool?

Also, what exactly is Perma Pleating?

I answered the first question in my post above.

Perma Pleating is where we sew the very edge of each pleat down from the top of the kilt to the bottom. It's just our name for it. Doing this keeps a crisp pleat edge even after washing.It assures that you'll have to iron less often and when you do, you won't need to roll the tartan between your fingers to line it up to iron it straight... just lay the kilt flat and line 'em up and hit it with a warm steam iron for 2 minutes and you're good as new!

Ask any customer with a USA Casual kilt... they'll let you know how easy it is.

**Magnus Sporrano** · 24th June 05, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by RockyR

Ask any customer with a USA Casual kilt... they'll let you know how easy it is.

I machine wash mine in cold water, hang it dry overnight. Usually no ironing is needed but sometimes if a few pleats are out of line from the position they were dried in, I'll do a quick ironing on it (and I mean quick... nothing laborious about it). During the cooler months when I'm not sweating in my kilt I'll wear it a few times between washings and might take an iron to it quickly to get the pleats back in line (driving a car in a kilt seems to be the worst thing for the pleats).