You are proud Jamie,

Have a different experience than you about "pretend kilts" ruining the market...at least on our side of the pond. My kiltmaker, Kathy Lare, is swamped when she sets up shop at Highland Games.

I started out with "pretend kilts" but now own two hand sewn traditional kilts, including a 16 oz strome and have a third hand sewn kilt on the way.

Kathy was trained in Scotland, you can check her credentials on her website www.kathyskilts.com

You are right, the hand sewn traditional kilts are top of the line and worth every cent. Even better when they're in my family tartans and I have documentation of where generations of ancestors lived in Scotland.

Yet, there is no way that I would own those kilts today had I not first seen a Utilikilt at a Ren Faire. Been going to Highland Games for years. NEVER had the hankering to own a kilt. The Utilikilt made sense to me and of course once I wore one I was hooked, addicted, sold on kilts.

I would offer that the "pretend kilts" are actually bringing increased business to traditional kiltmakers. And, for me, reading posts on this board from men ordering traditionals confirms that we seem to move from "pretend kilts" to hand sewn traditionals.

And, I also believe I've seen a number of men who started with the hand sewn traditional kilts buy themselves some "pretend kilts" for knocking around in.

The point is, I see it as ALL good. "Pretend kilts" help the traditional kilt market, "pretend kilts" offer traditional kilt owners a chance to remain kilted in situations that might soil or ruin a hand sewn traditional kilt.

We are "us."

Ron