Late 1940s kilt question.

[Curtis Bias]

I found a military kilt made in the 1940s for sale. My question is related to the thread used in a kilt of this vintage. Doesn't the cotton thread in these degrade over time? I want to be cautious about buying a kilt this old because I wouldn't want it to fall apart when I wear it. Perhaps I should just buy a new one instead. What do you all say?

[Steve Ashton]

Is the kilt actually sewn with Cotton? Different makers may have used different threads at different times. If the kilt was made in the UK anytime during the war and up to 5-6 years after the war, due to rationing and post war shortages the kilt would be sewn with anything that was available. Cotton thread was rare in some places, and expensive in others.
I had one older gentleman relate to me his post war experiences in the garment industry. He said that some sewing was done with silk thread because, while expensive, silk was available while Cotton could not be found at any price.
Another older kiltmaker told me that they used the warp yarns from the center strip to sew the Fell and linen from a saddle shop to sew the interfacing.

[Curtis Bias]

Late 1940s. I can get the same tartan if I pick up a newer (1980-90s) Royal Regiment of Scotland surplus kilt. There is something appealing about buying a kilt made so close to the WWII era. What is nicer is that the original wearer of the kilt has almost exactly my measurements. His bum was about 3 cm larger than mine.

[OC Richard]

I found a military kilt made in the 1940s for sale. My question is related to the thread used in a kilt of this vintage. Doesn't the cotton thread in these degrade over time? I want to be cautious about buying a kilt this old because I wouldn't want it to fall apart when I wear it.

That's an interesting question. I've seen and handled dozens, maybe hundreds, of vintage military kilts, and owned and worn a few (back when I was much thinner!) and I don't think I've ever seen one falling apart as you describe.

Ditto Victorian and WWI tunics and other sewn things, I can't remember seeing them fall apart either.

[WillowEstate]

Curtis,
my heirloom kilt, MacKenzie Seaforth, dates back to WWII and doesn't have a loose thread anywhere and the pleats as as sharp as the day they were made. I did have to replace the fabric tapes that hold the buckles and I had the aprons reduced when I lost 4 inches on my waist but that didn't affect the pleats. These kilts were made to last.