An army of reader/writers

[morrison]

Does anyone know what the top fashion rags are and what demographics their aim is? Also, What would be an effective letter writing campaign for Kilt wear awareness?

[Kilted KT]

I think this has been talked about at one time or another. As far as fashion is concerned...I think the biggest demographic is teenagers.

as for a letter writing campaign for kilts, I think that would only lead to the clothing market being flooded with cheap knock-off kilts from overseas...forcing true kilt makers out of business as the kilt becomes just another great piece of history that has been relegated to the shelves at walmart. the grass-roots method, as we have here, is best, as only those who really care about the kilt are going to wear it often.

[Rex_Tremende]

...as for a letter writing campaign for kilts, I think that would only lead to the clothing market being flooded with cheap knock-off kilts from overseas...forcing true kilt makers out of business as the kilt becomes just another great piece of history that has been relegated to the shelves at walmart. the grass-roots method, as we have here, is best, as only those who really care about the kilt are going to wear it often.

I don't know about that. It entirely depends on the magazine, and the target audience. If you think that teenagers are the only demographic, you are not running in the right circles (he said, with a sniff).

Consider who would be willing to pay for these items:

The FAKE crocodile bag is $495; the wallets are $225 and $245. The presumably real* crocodile belt and shoes are $695 together, and the leather belt at the bottom is $600.

The tweed boots here are $450...

...but they are delicious and I have to say I'm tempted.

But WAIT!!!

Here's what you can get from Dolce & Gabbana for a mere $150:

Folks, if you think men will shell out the bucks for this stuff - and they will with the proper incentive - then they'll happily spend $600-$1200 on a hand-made, made-to-order, quality kilt provided they know they've got something that sets them apart from the rest.

That doesn't seem such a big stretch to me.

Regards,
Rex.

*The leather is branded as "Truex," which means it's probably not true. I just haven't been able to find out what, exactly, "Truex Crocodile" is.

[Kilted KT]

hmm..good point. I hadn't taken that demographic into account.

[morrison]

An effective campaign would also have the added benefit of the think tank that fueled it. Cheap stuff would have no chance against the veracity of higher quality whether domestic or foreign. The demographic is a "$" of whatever age!

[Jerry]

I'd like to see more people in kilts, but consider, most premium kilt makers are small businesses. If there were to be a huge increase in demand, they probably would not be able to keep up with the demand and maintain high quality. The jonesing period might well go from months to years. It has happened in at least one case already.

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... I think that would only lead to the clothing market being flooded with cheap knock-off kilts from overseas...forcing true kilt makers out of business...

In terms of modern variants, there might be some short term competition. But there will always be a demand for traditional clan kilts. I can't imagine mass production even attempting to push into that market.

Kilts as mainstream fashion is a very long way off. And a few letters isn't going to shift the direction of mens fashion anytime soon... unless you managed to get Bjo Trimble onside. If you managed to get 100,000 letters or even signitures together, perhaps somebody might take notice.

I have serious doubts that kilts will ever make the store shelves of
wal*Mart. And it wouldn't particularly bother me one way or the other. The couple of thousand followers of Xmarks represent a niche market at best.


.

[morrison]

... the top fashion rags... ...demographics their aim is?... an effective letter [to the Ed,] writing campaign for Kilt wear awareness?
My intention here is not toward raising the production and sales of kilts. It's about raising the awareness levels of the everyday observer to a standard closer to knowledgeable and further from ignorance about the comfort, practicality, freedom, wearabilty, functionality et c. of the kilt.
I don't want to see an "Off the rack," availabilty of kilts, in stores.
As a matter of fact I own "Off the rack," kilts, UK's and SWK's. An excellent start to a growing wardrode of progressively better clothing.
We XMTS writers are more savvy in the kilts genre than those anywhere else in the world.
What I would see is a magazine that I pick off a store shelf treating the kilt with heightened intelligence and respect for the kilt manufacturing industry, and a keener eye for the everyday kilt wearing person.