kilt makers....not tartans

[cloves]

is it just me or what....

Over the last few months, I've gone from desiring certain tartans, to instead desiring kilts made by specific kilt makers.

What I mean is.....in my future I need a Tewksbury, a Newsome, ....*the list goes on*

I used to be about the tartan....now much more about the artist.

[auld argonian]

No, it's not just you. It does get that way...these folks are artists and one does get a craving for a kilt from a specific maker. I think that we see their work here on the forum and get so blown away by it that we do start to think in those terms. I could do a list of kilts that, finances permitting, I'd order in a New York minute from a list of about a half a dozen of our kiltmaking participants. I don't think of it as a "hey, kids, collect them all!" sort of thing but more of an appreciation of their dedication to kilt-dom.

Best

AA

[ardchoille]

is it just me or what....

Over the last few months, I've gone from desiring certain tartans, to instead desiring kilts made by specific kilt makers.

What I mean is.....in my future I need a Tewksbury, a Newsome, ....*the list goes on*

I used to be about the tartan....now much more about the artist.

This only follows, doesn't it? I mean, I've seen some badly made kilts, so it's about the quality of the finished product. I too am beginning to think in this way.

[Colin]

Eventually quality wins out over quanity. It's great to try and amass as many kilts in as many tartans as you can in the beginning, but eventually as you learn more about kilts, their construction, what to look for, etc. You start to look at the kiltmakers and their products for the right fit rather than the quick fix.

I think many of us started out that way, and over the past 3-4 years of this forum the older members (and some of the newer ones) and not as keen about kilt sin general as we were in the introduction stage. We are very well informed now and we know what we like and what we want in a kilt. Many of us have tried all ends of the kilt spectrum, and know what we want next. If we want to go for the tailored, reputable, hand made product we trun our interests to the kiltmakers and make the tartan or colour secondary.

It's the same with any product. At 16 we want a car to get us around, at 18 we want something to show off with, and by 30 we want something that will last a few years, with as little servicing as possible, which is well made. Of course by 50 I am going to want something completely different...

[Panache]

cloves,

It doesn't seem strange at all. We here at XMTS have a very real and detailed appreciation of what goes into making a quality kilt. Many talk about tartan patterns and quality of materials but we know that it is the kilt maker that makes all the difference. Put it another way.

Which you prefer?

A kilt made from the best quality 16 oz. strome weight wool from your favorite mill in your favorite tartan, but made by a very poor kilt maker?*

Or

A kilt made out of material from a fabric store's bargin bin, but made by Matt Newsome, Barb T. , Steve Ashton, or Rocky?

I bet that everyone who is a regular reader of XMTS would choose the second option without much thought at all.

Cheers

Jamie


* And NO you can't choose this one and have it remade by someone else!!!

[Arlen]

I completely agree.
I now have a kilt wishlist on my PC of what kilts I want and who I want to make them.
When you see some of the beautiful kilts on here, you just get a hankering for quality.

[Alan H]

I completely and totally understand and it's only my outrageously *cheap* nature and my drive to Make It Myself that I haven't spent a mint with Barb, Steve, and Matt.

[Livingston]

cloves,

It doesn't seem strange at all. We here at XMTS have a very real and detailed appreciation of what goes into making a quality kilt. Many talk about tartan patterns and quality of materials but we know that it is the kilt maker that makes all the difference. Put it another way.

Which you prefer?

A kilt made from the best quality 16 oz. strome weight wool from your favorite mill in your favorite tartan, but made by a very poor kilt maker?*

Or

A kilt made out of material from a fabric store's bargin bin, but made by Matt Newsome, Barb T. , Steve Ashton, or Rocky?

I bet that everyone who is a regular reader of XMTS would choose the second option without much thought at all.

Cheers

Jamie


* And NO you can't choose this one and have it remade by someone else!!!

My choice is: A kilt made from the best quality 16 oz. strome weight wool from your favorite mill in your favorite tartan made by Matt Newsome, Barb T. , Steve Ashton, or Rocky



Of course, a semi Traditional would also be on that list.

[Canuck]

cloves,



A kilt made out of material from a fabric store's bargin bin, but made by Matt Newsome, Barb T. , Steve Ashton, or Rocky?

I bet that everyone who is a regular reader of XMTS would choose the second option without much thought at all.

Cheers

Jamie


[/I]

With all due respect I may not be speaking for my fellow kiltmakers but we probably would reject the "bargin bin cloth unless it was of good quality (or it was pink).....but I truly understand where you are coming from and going with this and besides I'm one post away from 1000

[McClef]

With all due respect I may not be speaking for my fellow kiltmakers but we probably would reject the "bargin bin cloth unless it was of good quality (or it was pink).....

Oh Panache has already placed an order has he?