Buying at Highland Games

[iKiltIt]

Wondering if it is cheaper or more expensive to buy from the vendors at the highland Games when it comes to kilts? I want to have my kilt before the games here in Atlanta in October, but I'm nit sure I can have one made by then. I am pretty set n USA Kilts for purchasing mine unless I can get one at the games that would be comparable in quality and price. Any thoughts?

Also, Im wondering if other things like Sporrans, Kilt pins, etc would be compatible in price at the games as online. I want to support the vendors here, but also want to support the vendors that come to the games, too. If nothing else, I could get some accessories at the games if buying the kilt itself there wouldn't be prudent.

[Richrail]

USA kilts are very fast I'd wager they could have one to you before October.

[ratspike]

The kilts I've seen for sale at the games here have been cheap imports from Pakistan, priced in the $70-$100 range. Acrylic or lightweight wool fabric, with sewing that varied from mediocre to awful. I'd never buy one at what I expect is typical games/faire/festival vendor markup. These kilts also can't even remotely compare to what USA Kilts makes, not in quality of materials and construction, and certainly not when it comes to their experience and customer service. I bet if you placed an order now you'd have it by October.

[ShaunMaxwell]

I'd also wager that the quality of the product you get from USA Kilts will FAR EXCEED the tat that's likely to be available at your local games (at least that's the case at the games I've attended).

I'm sure there are vendors at some events that sell decent merchandise, but much of what I've seen at various games isn't anything I'd spend my money on.

Caveat emptor!

Cheers,

SM

[GrainReaper]

Rocky offers a rush order option you might want to opt for should you go with USA kilts, give them a call and they can walk you through the measuring process to be sure you do things right, then you can meet me in your new kilt in October in Atlanta!

[ctbuchanan]

There are a couple of things at play here. You could buy a kilt from a vendor but I'm not sure what you would get. But I do know that in the northeast USA there a several really good kilt makers who set up a some of the festivals (some are members here). So you could make a contact with a good kilt maker and develop some trust with them after speaking to them a bit. Also many of the kilt makers to encourage sales will offer a 'games special' discount. As for the pins, sporrans etc., sadly I generally avoid the vendors as they need to overprice to recover the cost of the space. This is sad I know, but there a plenty of attendees who will buy, as a regular kilt wearer I need to husband my funds a bit more.

Aye,
CTBuchanan

[iKiltIt]

Well there ya go! You guys have cemented my thoughts on USA Kilts. I kind of figured that buying from the games would be like buying from a RenFest. Not good products for a ton of money. Looks like I'll be ordering from USA Kilts soon. Hopefully I'll have it for the games but if not I'll wear trousers.

[Wareyin]

Last year was my first Highland Games, so I don't have a lot of experience. I can tell you that there were a few artisans selling fancy pins and belts for extremely high prices. I think The Scottish Tartans Museum had some very nice sporrans, in the $400 range. Other than that, most of what I found was basically the same offerings for the same price you find a lot of kilt stuff online.

I did buy my low weight wool kilt there, for roughly what the USA Casual kilt sells for. I got more pleats, which I like, as I think 5 yards of material for a 40" waist won't have but a few pleats in the back. Mostly the shops had Sportkilts and modern utility kilts, with a few shops offering 13oz wool kilts.

[OC Richard]

My first reaction to the OP is that you can't buy a kilt at an event, because kilts entail getting measured and having the kilt made to your specifications.

Then I realized that I'm probably in the minority on these boards as only owning kilts, as opposed to what I call "prefix kilts" (casual-kilts, sport-kilts, utility-kilts, tactical-kilts, etc etc etc).

When I started kiltwearing, and until fairly recently (as it seems from my perspective of 40 years wearing kilts) that's what you did: you ordered a kilt, got measured, and waited.

Yes I second (third?) the Rocky recommendation. A friend recently got married. Several months prior he approached me and said "you know about kilts. I want to get married in kilts. Where do I start?"

I recommended Rocky, and Rocky took care of all his needs (except for the elaborate velvet doublet which he made himself).

About "Games prices" if I see something I want or need at a Games I buy it. Yes I could scour the internet and get it a few dollars cheaper, perhaps. But vendors are an important aspect of Games, in my opinion.

BTW I avoid Pakistani tat. Some of it is obviously shoddy, some does a pretty good job at masking its origin. Buyer beware! I much prefer buying and wearing things made in Scotland in the traditional way. Kilts are an exception; I want genuine British-made cloth but we have many excellent kiltmakers here in North America who do as good a job as the Scottish kiltmakers, it seems to me.

[iKiltIt]

Then I realized that I'm probably in the minority on these boards as only owning kilts, as opposed to what I call "prefix kilts" (casual-kilts, sport-kilts, utility-kilts, tactical-kilts, etc etc etc).

Even when I get mine from USA Kilts, my first one will be a casual kilt from them. I don't want, nor can I afford, to spend 500-1000.00 on a Wool Kilt for my first one. I CAN afford it but don't think it would be practical at the moment. I just cant justify the expense...YET. I know me, and I know that when I do something like this, I want the best that I can get and will GET that in due time. To get all kilted out in the best kilt and accessories and dress for black tie/white tie events will need to be something special, like my daughters wedding that will be coming much sooner than I care to think about. But, I WILL get the dress kilt kit. Just not for my very first one.