Question about the Utilikilts company

[User]

Im not a customer either but have multiple choices when ordering utility kilts keeps the prices down. Because they are so cheap i wear them everyday for work. I do general construction.

I don't think Lamborghini does anything to keep the prices of Kia down, because their markets are too distinct despite both selling cars.

In my opinion, Utilikilts is the highest end mass-manufactured made-in-usa utility kilt company (even if it's true that their quality has slipped), and USA Kilts is the highest end mass-manufactured made-in-usa kilt company.

Utilikilts' cheapest kilt is $220, and USA Kilts' cheapest kilt is $84 in a discontinued tartan or $130 in a stocked tartan. For the price of one Utilikilt, you can buy both a stocked tartan kilt and a discontinued tartan kilt from USA Kilts and have enough left over for two slices of pizza and an ice cream at Costco.

Utilikilts' most expensive kilt (excluding leather) is $450. USA Kilts' 5-yard wool kilt is $430. Even if Utilikilts goes under, I don't think it will affect the prices of utility kilts from other companies.

[NHhighlander]

... but have multiple choices when ordering utility kilts keeps the prices down. Because they are so cheap i wear them everyday for work. I do general construction.

Well, methinks that you have hit the nail in the head straight and true regarding a lot of what really is going on in real life when it comes to Scots (or people generally) wearing kilts, and whether kilts are a costume. Daily or reasonably regular wear by others besides real fans boils down to whether your standard average working bloke can afford to... If my pain point for work clothes costs several hundred dollars per each, and can only be dry cleaned, that's not going to happen. As a farmer, I don't get dressed in the morning with ratty stained clothes as a point of pride (well, OK let's admit it, there might be a little bit of that...), but because that's part of the give-and-take with the life activities that I enjoy, full-contact interacting with Creation. Some of my berries have rather nasty thorns, but are oh so delicious. My working kilt/s better take the stains and the scars like a man, just that much more comfortable than jeans.

REALLY looking forward to it, might just jump the gun a get myself some.

@User, and then there's UTkilts, $63 and up for plain (not tartan). I'll go check out USA kilts.

edited to add: USA kilts apparently does only tartan (not really what I want for work), plain canvas is instead quite available at UTkilts. However, if my plans of world domination through weaving my own tartan were to fail (I'd say I have about 30% chances of success at this moment, 87.5% if we count that I am very stubborn and can't give up), USA kilts might be a good fall-back for getting properly dressed for travel to a clan meet, their choices regarding tartans are amazing.

[Kilted contractor]

Well, methinks that you have hit the nail in the head straight and true regarding a lot of what really is going on in real life when it comes to Scots (or people generally) wearing kilts, and whether kilts are a costume. Daily or reasonably regular wear by others besides real fans boils down to whether your standard average working bloke can afford to... If my pain point for work clothes costs several hundred dollars per each, and can only be dry cleaned, that's not going to happen. As a farmer, I don't get dressed in the morning with ratty stained clothes as a point of pride (well, OK let's admit it, there might be a little bit of that...), but because that's part of the give-and-take with the life activities that I enjoy, full-contact interacting with Creation. Some of my berries have rather nasty thorns, but are oh so delicious. My working kilt/s better take the stains and the scars like a man, just that much more comfortable than jeans.

REALLY looking forward to it, might just jump the gun a get myself some.

@User, and then there's UTkilts, $63 and up for plain (not tartan). I'll go check out USA kilts.

edited to add: USA kilts apparently does only tartan (not really what I want for work), plain canvas is instead quite available at UTkilts. However, if my plans of world domination through weaving my own tartan were to fail (I'd say I have about 30% chances of success at this moment, 87.5% if we count that I am very stubborn and can't give up), USA kilts might be a good fall-back for getting properly dressed for travel to a clan meet, their choices regarding tartans are amazing.

I do buy my work kilts through utkilts. I picked most of mine up before the price increase. Was paying a bout$65 plus shipping. . Since mine need washing quite a bit. The p.v. and cotton mixed ones work great since i can throw them in the washer and then hang dry them. Got about 20 kilts so i can rotate them as needed.

[Kilted contractor]

I don't think Lamborghini does anything to keep the prices of Kia down, because their markets are too distinct despite both selling cars.

In my opinion, Utilikilts is the highest end mass-manufactured made-in-usa utility kilt company (even if it's true that their quality has slipped), and USA Kilts is the highest end mass-manufactured made-in-usa kilt company.

Utilikilts' cheapest kilt is $220, and USA Kilts' cheapest kilt is $84 in a discontinued tartan or $130 in a stocked tartan. For the price of one Utilikilt, you can buy both a stocked tartan kilt and a discontinued tartan kilt from USA Kilts and have enough left over for two slices of pizza and an ice cream at Costco.

Utilikilts' most expensive kilt (excluding leather) is $450. USA Kilts' 5-yard wool kilt is $430. Even if Utilikilts goes under, I don't think it will affect the prices of utility kilts from other companies.

Oh wow i hadn't even checked their prices. I'll stick with the ones i buy now.

[CBH]

I own many utility kilts, and many traditional tartan kilts - one of which is from USA Kilts.

USAKilts does not make utility kilts. First, they only have tartan patterns, and they are made in the traditional fashion.

The biggest difference between traditional and utility kilts is the ratio of pleats to apron. Traditional kilts are about 2/3 apron, and only 1/3 pleats. Utility kilts are the opposite.

That's why utility kilts are comfortable and practical.

My theory is that traditional kilts are ultra-formal wear, so people don't expect them to be comfy or worn more than a few times in a lifetime.

Kilts seem like a super simple garment - a rectangle cloth with closures. But in practice, there are an infinite number of things that vary.

But the important thing - ratio of pleats to apron, seems to be the one constant. And it is by far the most important design feature of any kilt.

Utilikilts say they make their garments in the USA. I don't think anyone selling kilts for under $100 makes that claim.

[Pleater]

I make kilts out of many different fabrics - our house will never blow away - so I have everything from named tartans in wool to two tablecloths repurposed.

It is actually more difficult to make a kilt out of plain fabric than patterned and I would usually only work a black one in the height of summer in natural light and measure very carefully too. It is so easy to go off line when the threads are not clearly visible.

I make a range of traditional garments. 'Pleater' came originally from English smocks, aka shepherd smocks which have numerous tiny folds to control the fullness, so they are a more serious undertaking than a kilt. Whilst both might seem simple both are all the better for subtle shaping and careful measurement to get a good fit and have the garment hanging straight on the body without any twisting or straining, which also adds to the longevity of the garment as well as its apearance.

I used to sell in a small way to the US. I can't do that now as the post office can't cope with the tariffs. I know several other small firms which have done the same

Even if the fabric for kilts is made in the US there might be problems with supplies of incidental requirements.
I have been buying from China for some time as the prices are so very low and there is just so much of everything. Before Temu I was moving buckles and straps from kilt to kilt and considering cannibalising bags and boots for hardwear.

Anne the Pleater

[CBH]

I found this particularly humorous on the Utilikilt web site:

https://utilikilts.com/product-categ...ies/underwear/

[OC Richard]

It is actually more difficult to make a kilt out of plain fabric than patterned and I would usually only work a black one in the height of summer in natural light and measure very carefully too. It is so easy to go off line when the threads are not clearly visible.

When I took a kiltmaking class years ago from Elsie Stuehmeyer she went on a bit of a rant about the unfortunate (but happily short-lived) popularity of a certain black-on-black tartan.

She said it was impossible to do the pleats indoors; she had to take it outside in full sun to be able to perceive the difference in the threads.

I just looked it up: the tartan uses all the same colour threads, but the threads are twisted in opposite directions so when the cloth catches the light just so you can make out a tartan pattern.

[OC Richard]

I will say about Utilikilts is that as far as I know they invented the "utility kilt" genre, made clear from the get-go that Utilikilts were a new sort of garment, a new Fashion Culture, and not an imitation of traditional kilts nor a part of Highland Dress.

The owner turned down repeated requests to make tartan Utilikilts, sticking to his mission.

Here on the USA West Coast (where Utilikilts were born) they had an immediate and massive impact.

They went from not existing to outnumbering traditional kilts at our local Highland Games in a matter of two or three years.

Ironically they became very popular with the people operating the Clan Tents at the Games, the very people who one would expect to be sporting their Clan tartans.

Utilikilts obviously met a need, a previously unknown need. (For one thing they were only around $100.)

I worked at Disneyland where I saw tens of thousands of The General Public every day and seeing people in Utilikilts became common. These people were generally from the Pacific Northwest where Utilkilts are from.

Then the cheap imitations inevitably appeared. You could spot them down the street; they didn't look right, didn't fit right, and generally were made of thin flimsy stuff.

I've never owned or worn a Utilikilt myself but I appreciate the creativity and clarity of mission behind them, and it will be sad if the cheap imitators drive the original creator out of business.