Real kilt v cheap kilts - Edinburgh retailers

[Jock Scot]

I see that the Edinburgh real kilt retailers in the Royal Mile are complaining about the number of retail outlets in Edinburgh selling kilts for £20.

I personally believe that there is a place for cheap kilts and the increase in the number of people now kilted is certainly due to the emergence of this market. Many of my friends now wear the kilt at Burns Night, national football matches and other informal events. Previously they would not have bought a kilt at the very expensive prices charged.

I have to say as the owner of 3 fairly expensive kilts that the cheap versions in no way can replace the better produced and made in Scotland real kilts.
The cheap kilts have their place but not in any formal or sartorial dress sense

Quite right Jimmy. The trouble is that many people, mainly through ignorance and lack of cash, expect to do everything with their £20 kilt and as you so rightly point out, they sadly fall short when any sort of formality is required.

[MartinGrenoble]

Are you implying, Jock, that anyone who cannot afford several £100 for once-a-year clothing should not be allowed to attend any formal event?
I thought the modern world was all about equality and inclusiveness (in theory, at least).

Martin

[Jock Scot]

Are you implying, Jock, that anyone who cannot afford several £100 for once-a-year clothing should not be allowed to attend any formal event?
I thought the modern world was all about equality and inclusiveness (in theory, at least).

Martin

Oh come on Martin, that is not what I am saying and you know it.

To be clear though, a £20 kilt will not fit the bill PROPERLY at a formal event. It will stand out like a sore thumb. However, far be it for me to deter anyone from going to any event dressed in whatever they wish. But-----------.

[Chas]

I think context also matters. If one is going to a formal event where other kilties will be present then the quality or lack of it will show. On the other hand, if you are the only kiltie there, there is nothing else to judge you against and the overall look will be more important.

Regards

Chas

[jilly]

My dad, the massive kilted-man in our family, was saying recently he had heard that they were going to try and stop the "fake" kilt shops from trading in Edinburgh. How you define fake I don't know. He would love this site if he knew how to work a computer :s
Anyway yeah he said they were trying to put some law or something in so you needed to be selling the real deal. No idea where he heard it from though...

[Chas]

My dad, the massive kilted-man in our family, was saying recently he had heard that they were going to try and stop the "fake" kilt shops from trading in Edinburgh. How you define fake I don't know. He would love this site if he knew how to work a computer :s
Anyway yeah he said they were trying to put some law or something in so you needed to be selling the real deal. No idea where he heard it from though...

My understanding is that the Scottish Parliament investigated this very subject, but got bogged down within minutes as they could not find a definition of 'a kilt' that would satisfy most Scots.

If the definition were to be what we call 'a tank', then many military kilts would fall outside. So would any lighter weight kilts. And so would any that were not knife pleated. I am sure Lady Chrystel, Mat Newsome and Steve Ashton would have feelings on the matter, to mention but three.

The truth is that today it is illegal to discriminate against one type of shop in one city, but allow the same type to flourish in another. Scotland needs the tourist money that these type of shops generate. The tourists have to stay somewhere, they have to eat somewhere and they have to visit places because they are tourists. Part of that tourist experience is the 'Tartan Tat' shops - they expect them. And if they can't find them in Edinburgh, they will go to somewhere else in Scotland where they can be found.

A man will buy a £20.00 kilt on a whim, but not one for £300+ - that takes dedication.

Regards

Chas

[weeknee]

I hesitate to even ask and stir the pot......but what is the difference between a "cheap" kilt and a "real" kilt??

[Jimmy]

I think context also matters. If one is going to a formal event where other kilties will be present then the quality or lack of it will show. On the other hand, if you are the only kiltie there, there is nothing else to judge you against and the overall look will be more important.

Regards

Chas

Fair point but even so, the overall look of a well made kilt is far more impressive than the overall look of a cheap one.

[Jock Scot]

Fair point but even so, the overall look of a well made kilt is far more impressive than the overall look of a cheap one.

Yet again we agree!

[Jimmy]

Quite right Jimmy. The trouble is that many people, mainly through ignorance and lack of cash, expect to do everything with their £20 kilt and as you so rightly point out, they sadly fall short when any sort of formality is required.

I agree, there is no formality in cheap kilts.
Last Friday night I wore a cheap kilt in the pub watching the Lithuania v Scotland match and tomorrow night for the Lichtenstein game will be the same. No way would I wear a dress item worth several hundred pounds in a pub or at a football match but the cheap kilts give you the option to do so