Velcro added to Scottish made kilts..

**sirdaniel1975** · 11th May 08, 08:36 AM

OK folks, it's taken me a real long time to bring up this little tale which happens to be true.

Last August I visited a Scottish store (which will remain unnamed) to advertise my Scottish Club I was starting at the time. I was wearing my Matt Newsome made Gunn Box Pleat (I friggin' love that kilt). The owner of the store was not there, the assistant was. She (the assistant) who makes kilted skirts and highlander shirts for the store quickly noticed my box pleated kilt. She became very inquisitive because they had had several calls for them and had to tell customers, we don't offer box pleats. She asked questions like (which I had appropriate answers for), how come one strap on the right hip, how come no fringe,? My kilt is a strome 16oz weight, and she thought it had a hem on it because the material was so thick, so she physically inspected the selvedge and proved herself wrong. She stated they never sell 16oz kilts because they are to hot. It became clear to me that her kilt knowledge was based on what they sell. .... then the strangest observation I've ever had.

Your kilt doesn't have any velcro, but needs it! I then began to defend Matt's work. Now to be fare, she was talking about that spot just above the right leather strap. I had had a bit of a car ride to get to the store and that part of the kilt was bent out a little due to the car ride.

She proceeded to say they add velcro to all their kilts they sell so that doesn't happen. Just if you all are interested, I'm pretty sure they sell kilts from Locharron Mills. If it's not Locharron, the maker uses that mill, and the kilt maker is based in Scotland. They did have several kilts on racks from orders that had gone bad, and I recall seeing a Locharron logo tag.

So basically, when the kilt that a customer has ordered arrives at this Scottish store, this lady gets out her sewing machine and adds velcro to it before mailing it to the customer. It very quickly dawned on me that the Scottish kilt maker might not, and probably doesn't know that their American dealer adds velcro to their kilts.

The reason why I say this, is because I'm pretty sure the average Kilt maker wouldn't want a retailer adding something to their product that could bring the quality of the product down a couple of notches. If my memory serves me well, there has been a similar thread on this topic a while back and I think Matt chimed in with his position on the topic, and he said pretty much what I thought he would have said.

Honestly,

Daniel Scott Williamson

**McMurdo** · 11th May 08, 09:08 AM

I really am not sure what to say about that, none of my kilts have velcro.
I guess I should remedy that situation as soon as possible

Another example of a little bit of knowledge being a dangerous thing.

**JerseyLawyer** · 11th May 08, 09:43 AM

Velcro? That seems completely unnecessary.

**Tattoo Bradley** · 11th May 08, 09:48 AM

Wow oh wow. When she showed lack of knowledge for the 16 oz. weight, that would have been the end of my taking her seriously.

**Ryan Ross** · 11th May 08, 09:58 AM

Sheesh... I'd be pretty unhappy if someone took a sewing machine to one of my kilts, much less installing velcro! That's just not cool.

Unfortunately, this story is all too easy to believe.

**auld argonian** · 11th May 08, 10:03 AM

Let's try to take this at face value and assume that these folks honestly think that they're making a needed improvement on a product and not trying to intentionally deface a work of art. You know...for some folks it's just a way of making a living and not a lifestyle...to you it's an adorable puppy that'll be your friend for life, to the pet store guy it's livestock. The velcro thing may seem like a desecration to you but I'm sure that these folks think that it's a good idea and that they're doing something to make their customers more satisfied.

Best

AA

**ChattanCat** · 11th May 08, 10:04 AM

Yup, DON"T MESS WITH MY KILTS!

**McMurdo** · 11th May 08, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

Let's try to take this at face value and assume that these folks honestly think that they're making a needed improvement on a product and not trying to intentionally deface a work of art. You know...for some folks it's just a way of making a living and not a lifestyle...to you it's an adorable puppy that'll be your friend for life, to the pet store guy it's livestock. The velcro thing may seem like a desecration to you but I'm sure that these folks think that it's a good idea and that they're doing something to make their customers more satisfied.

Best

AA

The problem with this way of thinking as I see it, is that these same people should know a thing or two about kilts and thier construction, therefore the "kiltmaker" at the shop should know that velcro is not needed, and is in fact an unwelcome addition on an eight yard handsewn kilt from Scotland.

As with all purchases caveat emptor.

**sirdaniel1975** · 11th May 08, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

The problem with this way of thinking as I see it, is that these same people should know a thing or two about kilts and thier construction, therefore the "kiltmaker" at the shop should know that velcro is not needed, and is in fact an unwelcome addition on an eight yard handsewn kilt from Scotland.

As with all purchases caveat emptor.

My point exactly!

**JerseyLawyer** · 11th May 08, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

The problem with this way of thinking as I see it, is that these same people should know a thing or two about kilts and thier construction, therefore the "kiltmaker" at the shop should know that velcro is not needed, and is in fact an unwelcome addition on an eight yard handsewn kilt from Scotland.

As with all purchases caveat emptor.

Amen! People who aren't as knowledgeable as some of us are going depend on these people's advice.