I was just considering this last night and checked my join date - I was wearing my own-sewn kilts 20 years ago.
I thought back to the kilts I made in the early years, the ones which got remade to be reverse kingussie style. I used any suitably weighty fabric back then.
Over time I had to give up on one as the pattern was printed on and it was not aligned with the grain. One got ripped, one damaged when painting.
Of the remaining kilts, none of the man made fabrics have lasted, I think they were probably all gone some considerable time ago. The cotton ones are still in fairly good condition apart from the colour - all have faded. One has been turned inside out and resewn.
The straps which are real leather, not coated cloth or suede/split skin have also stood the test of time. I sew them on by hand and remove them for washing along with the buckles and rings.
The ones which have lasted are all woollen, though there might be an additional factor in that they have needed to be protected from being eaten which could have affected their preservation to some extent.
These days I have the luxury of being able to afford all wool fabrics, even to the extent of named tartans in specific colourways, and I expect that they'll see me out, bar accidents.
Anne the Pleater
I presume to dictate to no man what he shall eat or drink or wherewithal he shall be clothed."
-- The Hon. Stuart Ruaidri Erskine, The Kilt & How to Wear It, 1901.
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