Bespoke kilts from Asia

[Brewboy]

A couple of years ago I went to Hong Kong, and decided to have a suit made while I was there. I shopped around, and found a quality tailor at the right price. I should say, I love the suit, and it is still my favorite out of all the ones I have (I'm an attorney so I have about 10). One of the services offered was to bring in a garment and have them copy it for you out of material they had, or that you could order. They also keep your measurements for future orders.

My question is, has anyone done this with a kilt and an Asian tailor? I realize it would not be to the quality of those who dedicate their trade to kilt making, but considering the price of the suits ($300 got me a custom suit, shirt, and tie), it seems like something to consider...if you're going to be in the orient anytime soon.

[Bugbear]

Only if the person making the kilt has read, memorized, and follows word for word Barbara Tewksbury's "The Art of Kiltmaking"
http://www.celticdragonpress.com/

On second thought, we have Wally and Barb right here, so probably not.

[emolas]

Unless they had made a kilt before, I wouldn't trust them to make it properly.

I'm not knocking their sewing skills; I had a hand-made silk suit made for me when I was in Okinawa and it was a work of art but a kilt is another animal entirely. Besides, the money spent would likely be comparable to what you would spend getting it done by a "real" kiltmaker.

[Arizona Scot]

Yes I would tend to agree, I would be leery of having a kilt made by someone who hasn't done one before. Especially when we have so many talented kilt makers right here.

[Roan Carter]

That is an awesome deal. It reminds me of the movie Seven Years in Tibet.

I would be careful, though. There is potential for win and fail here.

[mcvarmit]

Mr. Brewboy,
first, let me welcome you to Xmarks. i'm amazed now one has said call Rocky. kilt makers seem to be everywhere. hell i've got some kilts that were made in Pakistan, as do most Xmarkers. and thats a far cry from Scotland. some folks believe that unless it was a 8 yd. hand sewn kilt direct from scotland, it just ain't a real kilt. i'm having a kilt made by alexis malcolm down yonder in chad country (florida). but if i were headed for hong kong, i'd take a kilt with me and say, make me a kilt. they are fine tailors.

semper fi

slick

[Brewboy]

In truth, it seems to me that the first, and most difficult, hurdle to overcome would be being an accomplished tailor. The second would be how to make a proper kilt (not that this is a small hurdle, but I think it would be a more surmountable one if you already knew how to sew box pleats down from making dresses).

If I was a DIYer, I could learn everything about making a kilt, but the fact is most anything I made would look like someone vomited tartan onto me. I'm just not handy with a needle and thread. However, a skilled tailor could learn to make a new style of garment (at least more easily than I could learn to make anything).

I think you're right about the cost, though. For a tank you would have to either provide your own cloth, or have the tailor buy special for you. It might not be a bad idea for a pinstripe kilt suit or a PC, though.

It could be a win or fail, but I would only attempt it with a tailor who has proven to be good.

[McFarkus]

Brewboy, from Rogers Park on the Northside of Chicago. I would suggest contacting Barb Tewksbury, Kathy Lare or Matt Newsome all of them expert kiltmakers whom you can contact through XMarks.