First kilt fabric choices?

[cortezcapt]

Well I'm gonna do it, buy my first kilt. But what fabric to get? Obviously wool is the traditional choice but a bit pricey for something I'm not sure how often I'll wear, I'd like to think I'm going to wear it more often. I'd like something nice enough to wear to semi formal events and if it could pass for formal events even better, but also something I could wear to festivals, around town of even work. I live in Florida so the thought of wearing wool (even kilt) any time of year makes me break out in a sweat and feel swampy.

The other most common fabric I've seen is acrylic which I did order a cheap acrylic kilt off Amazon (don't kill me please) to try. I didn't care for it not sure if it was just because it was a cheapo from Amazon or if all acrylic is like that, just didn't feel like it hang right and the fit was off. Maybe a made to size from a actual kilt shop might be better?

Then I saw a polyviscose option at Atlanta Kilts, they make it sound like a better option than acrylic and at a better price point than traditional wool. Does anyone have any experience with polyviscose kilts? Also any experience with Atlanta Kilts?
Thanks in advance.

[CBH]

Sorry, but I don't have any direct experience with real PV or Atlanta kilts.

I have Pakistani kilts made from whatever they use. I've heard real PV is better/different than acrylic. But Atlanta says theirs is acrylic. This is the first place I've seen acrylic in a weight claiming to be 16 oz though. That would seem far heavier than anything I've experience. Not sure how it would work either. Even if its as thick as 16 oz wool, its a far lighter material. So is it supposed to be thick enough to actually weigh that much ?

Perusing their web site, I could not tell what was different about their tartan hybrid kilt. Its even the same price as traditional. And you could get pockets on the "traditional". Plus, the 1st picture of it shows a kilt that's WAY too long.

Have you thought about denim, or canvas-like material used more for utility kilts ? One of my pakistani kilts is denim, and its my go-to anytime I'm working in it - yard work or cooking. Its perfect for that - just get dirty, machine wash it, and its ready for next time (except for the ironing

Its not as heavy as my wool kilts, and doesn't need expensive dry cleaning. I just wouldn't put a nice, expensive kilt through that kind of duty anyway.

[Father Bill]

To be honest, I'd stick with wool. Perhaps something less than 16 oz and perhaps less than a "9 yard" I think long term, you'd be better off.

[Janner52]

If you are intending to wear your intended kilt in a formal or other smart scenario I would suggest a 13oz wool may be suitable for the Florida climate.
Wool kilts tend to last years and keep their shape well.

[Steve Ashton]

Perhaps the best alternative to wool is true P/V. Now, to get things straight, there are a lot of kilts out there sold as P/V that are not actually a blend of Polyester and Viscose (Rayon in N. America)
To my knowledge there is only one mill weaving true P/V and that is Marton Mills in Otley, England. The fabric they sell is a blend of 60% Polyester and 40% Rayon. If a kilt maker is advertising that their product is made from P/V ask which mill wove the fabric. If they do not say Marton Mills, pass them by.

There are very few makers using Marton Mills P/V. USA Kilts is perhaps the best known and most respected. I would give their Casual model, their Semi-Trad model, their 5 yard model, or their Box Pleated model a good look.

The highlights of what to look for when choosing a kilt that can be worn for dressy occasions are -
The Tartan pattern is aligned perfectly everywhere. This includes not only in the back where the pleats are sewn but at the upper band in the front.
This is unprofessional.


The pleats should hang vertically in the back. The kilt should not look like an "A" line skirt.
This looks bad.


The Tartan pattern in the Pleats should be consistent and even all the way down the pleat. You should not see the Tartan pattern wavy, crooked, or closer to one edge as you look down the pleat.
Avoid this.


The pleats should hang in the back without any waves, or wrinkles. From just a few feet away it should not look like there are any pleats at all.
Run Away, Run Away!


If there are loops on the back of the kilt, they are not belt loops. They are to hold the sporran strap, not hold the kilt up.
Only if you do not care that your kilt will be distorted out of shape very quickly.


Remember that a kilt is not worn like a pair of trousers. The top of the kilt is worn high. And the bottom should show some knee.
If you wear a vest there should be no shirt showing.


More than any other thing that tells a good kilt from a kilt that is not so good is -
If you grab the buckles in the back and pull, you should not see any stretching, which puts stress on the pleat stitching. The stitching will fail.



This is due to the internal construction. The liner inside the kilt is not to keep the kilt clean. If that were true the liner would be removable and washable. The liner is there only to hide the internal strengthening elements built inside.
If you can lift the liner and see nothing underneath, the kilt will fall apart after just a few wearings.


While it is true that nothing looks, hangs, or swishes, like a full Hand-stitched wool kilt made by a custom kiltmaker, it is how the kilt is made, far more than the fabric it is made from, that makes the difference in the lok, and your enjoyment of, your kilt. Here is an example of a 16oz wool kilt flanked by two true P/V kilts.



Oh -- and an edit on fabric weights.
When a seller says an 8 yard kilt, they are talking about the length of the fabric not the width.
Fabric is sold by the length also, but the width is different.
Fabric is sold by the yard at 60 inches in width. This means that one fabric yard is 36 inches X 60 inches.
An 8 yard kilt 24 inches long uses only 40% of 8 fabric yards.

An 8 yard kilt of 16oz fabric will weigh around 50-52 ounces. Or about 3.25 pounds.
True Marton Mills P/V fabric weighs just under 12oz per fabric yard. This means that an 8 yard P/V kilt should weigh about 25.5 oz or between 1.6 and 1.75 pounds.
Most of the Acrylic kilts I have run across weigh about 4-5 oz per fabric yard. So an Acrylic kilt will come in at about 3/4 of a pound.

A good question to ask a kilt seller, is how much does their 8 yard kilt weigh.

[Father Bill]

To be honest, I'd stick with wool. Perhaps something less than 16 oz and perhaps less than a "9 yard" I think long term, you'd be better off.

[PiperPadre]

Cry once.

Get the best quality wool kilt you can afford and that you'll love for your whole life instead of incrementally upgrading.

[jhockin]

Regarding your concern about a wool kilt, in the usually hot & humid climate: I would suggest that you consider a 4 yard box pleated kilt ( and I think 16 oz. Wool fabric wouldn’t be too warm, and would hang and “ swish” better).

[geomick]

I have one of the USA Kilts Semi-Trad PV kilts (one of the few good options to get the Murphy/Tara Tartan). It will be getting worn this weekend for Milwaukee Irish Fest. I recommend them.

(and I do have wool kilts, but it is nice having a washable, stain resistant kilt for festivals)

[OC Richard]

...one mill weaving true P/V and that is Marton Mills...

If a kilt maker is advertising that their product is made from P/V ask which mill wove the fabric. If they do not say Marton Mills, pass them by.

Steve is bang on, this is the crux of the matter.

AFAIK Marton Mills is the only acceptable alternative to the traditional wool.

Personally, all my kilts are traditional wool kilting cloth.

I always go for 16 ounce because it looks better, feels better, holds pleats better, everything.

I have one 13 ounce kilt (which I had to order due to the pipe band I was playing in at the time).

After wearing 16 ounce kilts repeatedly over months, when I put on that 13 ounce kilt it feels insubstantial and flimsy.

That's just the feeling! It looks perfectly fine, in truth. But I'd never go with anything lighter than that.

(My 13 ounce kilt.)