Experience With Specific Manufacturer

[JBfromTN]

According to my clan's website I can order our muted/hunting tartan through a gentleman named Ralph Nielson. The price is very inexpensive, almost uncomfortably inexpensive; $69 for a gent's kilt (up to 46" waist). Right off the bat I'm a little skeptical just because of the price. It's not wool; it's an 8 yd kilt made from some sort of acrylic material. Has anyone ever ordered anything from Mr. Nielson or Clansman Knitwear (which I believe he is associated with)? As always, thanks for any info provided.

[Woot22]

I have never heard of the company, but I do live by the old saying, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Unless you have 70 bucks burning a hole in your pocket I would save the money. That's my two cents anyway.

[artificer]

According to my clan's website I can order our muted/hunting tartan through a gentleman named Ralph Nielson. The price is very inexpensive, almost uncomfortably inexpensive; $69 for a gent's kilt (up to 46" waist). Right off the bat I'm a little skeptical just because of the price. It's not wool; it's an 8 yd kilt made from some sort of acrylic material. Has anyone ever ordered anything from Mr. Nielson or Clansman Knitwear (which I believe he is associated with)? As always, thanks for any info provided.

I have no personal experience with the man or his company, a quick search yields the following links for your review.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...nsman+knitwear

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...deliver-53663/

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...threads-45076/

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...knitwear-8034/

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...nitwear-43581/

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...nitwear-40866/

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...nitwear-21273/

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ey-back-58120/

YMMV

[McMurdo]

I've never dealt with him or Clansman Knitwear, primarily because of the horror stories I've read here and elsewhere. If I were you I'd search Clansman Knitwear on this site and let your Clan society know what you find. There are several excellent kilt makers out there that could make your kilt for you I'm sure but if it were me I'd back away from Clansman Knitwear.

Edit
I see Artificer has done one better and got links for you. Happy reading.

[JBfromTN]

Holy COW! I'm glad I asked about this guy. I may have never gotten my kilt if I had ordered through him. I plan on letting my clan commissioner know what I've found out. Thanks for all the info and speedy responses.

[gpmeakin]

I bought a kilt from Ralph. Sent him a check before seeing all the posts on this forum about him. Our clan association had a similar deal with him.
Sent the check in January with the understanding that the MacLachlan Hunting tartan would be made after the MacLachlan Modern that most of the orders were for.
I checked back a few times. Got timely responses from Ralph. They started weaving the tartan in February and I had my kilt the 2nd week in March.
It is a 13 oz acrylic kilt. It doesn't even compare to my "real" kilt.
I use it for hiking and that's all.
Alleged bad business practices aside...I imagine there are better quality economy kilts out there.
I would not recommend buying one of these.

[Tobus]

This is why I love this forum. A simple question with simple answers just saved a fellow member months of aggravation and final disappointment. Wish I had done that before my bad experience with Clansman Knitwear.