What should we have to accept when buying a custom made kilt?

[Cowher]

I have to object to the notion that if a cheaper kilt is purchased poor workmanship is acceptable. Workmanship should be fantastic no matter if a kilt is $50 or $5,000. The cost only should effect the cloth quality the cloth meterial ie wool vs. PV and the amount used. If you cannot produce a quality made kilt at a low price than don't make kilts for that price!! I think it's outrageous that some think this kilt is acceptable at any price!

I used to sell advertising for a magazine. I had many clients run the same ad in highend quality magazines as well as cheap newsletters and flyers. Both were effective. Why? It was because the ad designed was thoughtful, well designed and attractive. The cost between the many lines of advertising change drastically but the quality of the ad remained high and were effective.

A kilt should be made with thought, it should be well made/designed and attractive. Regardless of the fabric or like in my illustration the paper it is printed on.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I have to object to the notion that if a cheaper kilt is purchased poor workmanship is acceptable. Workmanship should be fantastic no matter if a kilt is $50 or $5,000. The cost only should effect the cloth quality the cloth meterial ie wool vs. PV and the amount used. If you cannot produce a quality made kilt at a low price than don't make kilts for that price!! I think it's outrageous that some think this kilt is acceptable at any price!

I used to sell advertising for a magazine. I had many clients run the same ad in highend quality magazines as well as cheap newsletters and flyers. Both were effective. Why? It was because the ad designed was thoughtful, well designed and attractive. The cost between the many lines of advertising change drastically but the quality of the ad remained high and were effective.

A kilt should be made with thought, it should be well made/designed and attractive. Regardless of the fabric or like in my illustration the paper it is printed on.

I'll agree with that up to a point. The cost of the kilt not only reflects the cost & quality of the material, but it also represents the labor hours involved in making the garment. In a traditional hand sewn kilt, an individual has spent perhaps 20 hours involved in the garment's construction.

You just are not going to get that same quality of construction in a $50 kilt. Especially when you do the math to figure that the $50 kilt probably cost the seller $25 to buy, leaving $25 to cover the cost of materials, labor, plus profit for the manufacturer. It's all about making the kilt as quickly and inexpensively as possible.

With that in mind, I think it is unreasonable to expect the same quality of construction in a $50 and $500 kilt.

[RockyR]

I'll agree with that up to a point. The cost of the kilt not only reflects the cost & quality of the material, but it also represents the labor hours involved in making the garment. In a traditional hand sewn kilt, an individual has spent perhaps 20 hours involved in the garment's construction.

You just are not going to get that same quality of construction in a $50 kilt. Especially when you do the math to figure that the $50 kilt probably cost the seller $25 to buy, leaving $25 to cover the cost of materials, labor, plus profit for the manufacturer. It's all about making the kilt as quickly and inexpensively as possible.

With that in mind, I think it is unreasonable to expect the same quality of construction in a $50 and $500 kilt.

Matt beat me to it. I agree 100%.

For an 8 yard wool kilt... if the material is roughly $200 to $225 or so, then the balance of the price is the labor (and rent / electric / advertising / health insurance / etc). That would make a hand sewn kilt from certain 'high end' makers roughly $500 labor (if it was a $700 kilt). Would you expect the same quality from someone giving less than $100 labor (and heat / electric / rent / etc)? Either high end kilt firms are excessively overcharging or they put more labor / knowledge / care into a kilt. Forgetting about rent / etc., if you pay kiltmakers at both firms $20 / hour, that gives the first firm 5 hours to make the kilt and the higher end firm 25 hours to make a kilt.

I would echo Matt's comments. There's no reason to put out a poorly made kilt, but as a consumer, you shouldn't expect the same thing from a $300 kilt that you should from a $700 kilt.

Would you expect a Farrari and a VW Jetta to handle the same on the racetrack?

[artificer]

Would you expect a Farrari and a VW Jetta to handle the same on the racetrack?

Yes! I would expect both of them would be stuck in the service bays and the Honda to be alone out on the track

[Cowher]

I'll agree with that up to a point. The cost of the kilt not only reflects the cost & quality of the material, but it also represents the labor hours involved in making the garment. In a traditional hand sewn kilt, an individual has spent perhaps 20 hours involved in the garment's construction.

You just are not going to get that same quality of construction in a $50 kilt. Especially when you do the math to figure that the $50 kilt probably cost the seller $25 to buy, leaving $25 to cover the cost of materials, labor, plus profit for the manufacturer. It's all about making the kilt as quickly and inexpensively as possible.

With that in mind, I think it is unreasonable to expect the same quality of construction in a $50 and $500 kilt.

True. Your not going to get a hand sewn kilt from let's say sportkilt. But it should not look like the kilt pictured. The pleats should line up and the kilt should adhere to the basic concept of what a tartan kilt should look like. Using the car illustration. You can't expect a VW to perform like a super car but it should be a car not a pogo stick.

[RockyR]

True. Your not going to get a hand sewn kilt from let's say sportkilt. But it should not look like the kilt pictured. The pleats should line up and the kilt should adhere to the basic concept of what a tartan kilt should look like. Using the car illustration. You can't expect a VW to perform like a super car but it should be a car not a pogo stick.

Agreed... and the kilt provided looks like a kilt. It may not have the attention to detail of a more expensive kilt, but moderatley priced cars don't have heated steering wheels, wipers on the headlights and run flat tires. I'm not defending spotty workmansship by saying it's acceptable, but I'm trying to set realistic customer expectations.

As Riverkilt is very fond of saying (paraphrasing here)

Of Quality, Price and Speed, you can have 2.

[GG]

True. Your not going to get a hand sewn kilt from let's say sportkilt. But it should not look like the kilt pictured. The pleats should line up and the kilt should adhere to the basic concept of what a tartan kilt should look like. Using the car illustration. You can't expect a VW to perform like a super car but it should be a car not a pogo stick.

Exactly my point - even if you are underestimating Volkwagen: They are better built and with greater precision than many more expensive cars.

[Leonard (MacGregor)Tinker]

I purchased my first kilt several months ago from Scotweb. It is very well made, of 16 ounce wool from Lochcarron in the modern MacGregor tartan. My daughter in law measured me as per Scotwebb's instructions and the kilt came about 2" too large. When I spoke with them by telephone I was told they don't do alterations and I should take it to a local tailor for alterations. That struck me as unacceptable for a made to measure kilt (or any made to measure garment for that matter). To be sure, the tailor here in Des Moines only charged me $45 to alter it and it now fits fine. Nevertheless it left a bad taste. I would have thought with a made to measure kilt (what Scotwebb calls bespoke) they would have altered it as necessary. I do understand there is some controversy about the meanings of the terms "off the rack", "made to measure" and "bespoke". Even when Scotweb calls my kilt bespoke I would have thought made to made to measure might have been more accurate. I should add I am very happy with the kilt as altered and that the $45 was a small percentage of the clan crest Prince Charlie package.

Regards,

Leonard (MacGregor) Tinker

[RockyR]

I purchased my first kilt several months ago from Scotweb. It is very well made, of 16 ounce wool from Lochcarron in the modern MacGregor tartan. My daughter in law measured me as per Scotwebb's instructions and the kilt came about 2" too large. When I spoke with them by telephone I was told they don't do alterations and I should take it to a local tailor for alterations. That struck me as unacceptable for a made to measure kilt (or any made to measure garment for that matter. To be sure, the tailor here in Des Moines only charged me $45 to alter it and it now fits fine. Nevertheless it left a bad taste. I would have thought with a made to measure kilt (what Scotwebb calls bespoke) they would have altered it as necessary. I do understand there is some controversy about the meanings of the terms "off the rack", "made to measure" and "bespoke". Even when Scotweb calls my kilt bespoke I would have thought made to made to measure might have been more accurate. I should add I am very happy with the kilt as altered and that the $45 was a small percentage of the clan crest Prince Charlie package.

Regards,

Leonard (MacGregor) Tinker

There's a difference between Scotweb and tartanweb... 2 completely different companies.

Scotweb is a highland wear retailer. Tartanweb makes their own kilts. Scotweb is not the company being discussed on this thread.