Not real kilts?

[Graham]

One of my mates here has ordered his first kilt. He decided to order from an Australian kiltmaker, even tho' I gave him details from both Bear and Cheapkilts sites.
Fair enough I guess.
He will be paying about $550Aus for his kilt and I'm sure it will be worth it, he said that his supplier says that anything less than an 8 yard kilt is a ladies pleated skirt, and a kilt that is not hand sewn he considers likewise.

I disagree with this view and appreciate Bear and Cheapkilts (and others) for offering alternatives.

Even if I had the money for a full worsted wool kilt, it would be so precious to me (and costly) that I would only wear it for special occasions.
That's not what I want out of a kilt, I want a kilt that I can feel free to wear hiking, working, sitting on the ground and mucking around in.

[Blu (Ontario)]

It sounds to me like the Aussie kiltmaker was throwing out a bit of mis-information with the sole purpose of clinching a sale. We've been around that question enough years now to know better but to a neophyte, that sort of comment might hit a nerve. It worked by the sound of it.

[Canuck]

Maybe after he has the traditional and finds out how wonderful they are he will go for a second and purchase a Bear kilt.

[Blu (Ontario)]

Maybe after he has the traditional and finds out how wonderful they are he will go for a second and purchase a Bear kilt.

Interesting....at some point, it seems, many of us... perhaps most...realize that one kilt is just not enough.

[bubba]

I know I'm going to want more than one kilt. After all, you don't wear jeans on formal occasions. Different types for different occasions. To me it's a kilt if it's designed and made for a man, it's a skirt if it's made for women. I'm new to it all but even I know this.
Mike

[Dakotan]

I know what you mean, Blu. It's now 5 Kilts later for me.

So, "anything less than an 8 yard kilt is a ladies pleated skirt", eh?

Yeah... and anything that isn't a Bentley isn't a luxury automobile.

This is strictly my own opinion Graham, but it sounds like your friend is buying a kilt that's most likely going to be "kept in the garage" and rarely if ever "driven".... if you take my meaning.

[Chris@southerncelt.com]

I'm sure I don't really have to add my 2 cents, but I suppose I will anyway. As some of you know, I have world class kiltmaker training. I have no problem with machine stitching a kilt if it takes away from labor cost. Besides, the fabrics I machine aren't exactly pure wool (When working with pure wool I always hand stitch). The problem with kilts is that they are so freakin' expensive, and if people like Bear and myself can provide a lower cost means of putting kilts on backsides, then this hoity-toity kiltmaker should be thankful. I like to think we're doing our part to promote the popularity of the garment.

[Graham]

Dokatan and Chris, you know I agree with you both.

However i will encourage my friend to wear the kilt often.
He already wants a second kilt but cannot afford it, I'll show him how he can afford it.

[Macwizzard]

I see the word "Real" in this case a translation for the word "Traditional." To me, A traditional kilt, which some other people do consider the only kilt, is made from 8-9 yards of worsted wool tartan, hand sown in Scotland. To me, that's the full deal-as kiltish as it comes. However, I do consider the Bear Kilts, the Utilikilts, and the Amerikilts(and the like) to be kilts as well. However, I don't see them as Traditional, or even by some stretch of language,"Real" kilts. They are casual modern garments, and designed for men, and with the pleats and the classic structure, I see them as kilts.

But, what do I know. I own one kilt (I have a Mountain Hardwear Mountain Kilt-but the structure of that one is questionable-no pleats)-and it's a Traditional one(still waiting for some money to come about to buy a casual one or two), but, personally, to justify to myself(and to convince my skeptic and conservative family) that the kilt could be worn in modern day America, I had to get one of those first. Foolish, yes. Shallow, yes. But, I'm on my way to being a full time kiltie.

So, what I'm really trying to say is that our modern kilts may not be pure traditional, but in essense, not being Scottish hand-sewn garments made from 8-9 yards of worsed woll doesn't make them not kilts. So, I say go for the less expensive alternatives if you want. In the end, a kilt is a kilt.

--Macwizzard

[Chris@southerncelt.com]

Ok Mac, My question is... Why does it have to be hand sewn in Scotland? There are people, namely myself, who have the same tailoring training. Just because I don't live in Scotland, this makes me not a "real" kiltmaker? All a matter of location?