Not the nicest thing in the world to say

[mbhandy]

she replies I have lost most of my sight and my hands won't hold a pin as well as they used to.
Just venting much better now.

I believe she might have been venting also because of her inabilities and might be a bit Jealous.

MrBill

[Blu (Ontario)]

... The women asks me "do you make kilts here?" I said yes she turns and says "no you don't you make crap

Wow... she set you up and let you have it with both barrels!

... I'm scottish I was a kilt maker when I was younger...she told me flat out that I was a disgrace to kiltmaking and a disgrace to all things scottish...

So those credentials give her the authority to cast aspersions on you personally? I imagine you appreciated her passionate but rather misguided candor.

... At this point I'm on fire... She really got on my nerves...

Oh, I guesss not!

... she would pick up one of my kilts and pointed out all their flaws.

Did she have any idea what she was talking about? Sounds to me like she has a touch of Yosemite Sam complex.

So What was her point in all this?... did she expect you to crumble under her critisism and close up shop?

You just never know where some people are coming from these days!


blu

[Kilted Stuart]

I think you handeled this well. I don't think some people can handle the fact that some people can't always afford a hand sewn wool kilt. I think she would see a flaw in anything less. She would probably see a flaw in any kilt from any kiltmaker other than her own weather it's better or not. She probably can't emagine there's a market out there for PV or Poly- wool or machine sewn wool. Could you see her if she saw someone in a camo kilt.

She's just old school and cannot adjust to the times. If there wasn't a market there would not be kiltmakers out there selling there unique spin on the traditional kilt.
It's not a bash on the traditions and history, it's a continuation and representation of history's past and an update to the present.

For some it's one way and one way only. That's fine but let the rest of us have our fun too.

Kilted Stuart

[motorman4life]

I don't know what it is with old Scottish ladies. :confused:

Last summer, I was in New Orleans and I had an awesome time on Bourbon Street with a buddy that swore if we ever came back, he was going to wear a kilt. I was wearing a UK and got tons of great feedback, nice comments and thumbs up.

The ONLY bad encounter I had was with a Scottish lady (and I use the term lady loosely here) that went out of her way to come up to me and insult my UK in a heavy brogue that bordered on sounding fake. Apparently there was some big family/clan reunion going on in town at the time and I ran into several people wearing tartan items, a few kilts and a bunch of guys in jeans or shorts wearing some very nice Balmoral and Glengarry caps. Anyhow, this lady was in the company of two young men in their 20’s and she began by questioning my heritage, she then claimed I had no RIGHT to wear a kilt, then flatly stated my gray UK mocker was not a kilt. I was pretty shocked, as this had never happened to me before (or since).

My initial response to her was to ask her why the fine Scottish lads in her company were NOT wearing kilts, since is was apparently their "rightful" heritage and they were there celebrating their family. She had no response to that. So… that was when she started in about how the UK was not a “proper” kilt. My next reply was that I was a member of the Clan MacDonald, but moreover, I was an American and as such, I am free to wear whatever I pleased and I really didn't need to clear it with her. To that she started in about how I should be ashamed of myself and no Scot would dare wear a kilt that was not tartan. I told her I was sorry she felt that way; if it wasn't a kilt, then what was she upset about anyhow? Before she could respond, I just walked away. She was babbling about tartans or some nonsense and within about 20 feet and 30 seconds, I had two really hot chicks asking me if they could do a kilt check, so I pretty much forgot about it until you mentioned your bad encounter.

I don't know if she was into her cups, just felt really self-righteous about the issue or maybe a bit of both. I usually try to make every encounter a positive one, no matter how it starts out, but I must admit, I didn’t really try on this one. Her aggressive demeanor and statements made it clear she was making rhetorical statements and I was not going to make any headway. I let her say her piece, I said my piece and I walked away.

[michael steinrok]

I'm not Hindu, but I still think there's this thing called karma....

Your right Alan. That woman has to be herself for the rest of her life. Also think of the poor slob what married her. She's a bloody kilt nazi!

[Pour1Malt]

sadly- there arr some Scots runnin roond like MacH and MotorM ran intae...

they do thot tae people in Scotland tae....

ai had one insult me (after ai went tae the loo... he insulted me tae my wife!)

the same way...

... sad when people would rather see their culture die oot -rather than let others celebrate it wi them....

ai dinnae understan' it .....

[NewKilt]

You did a great job at handling this situation. This ederly woman may have some anger and frustration bottled up inside her since she can no longer work as a kiltmaker. Seeing your kilts may have caused her to vent her anger. I wouldn't be surprised if she actually thought your kilts were quite nice (although she would never say so).

Darrell

[MacHummel]

Thank you all
For the kind replies I hold no malice to this women and she probably would have a wealth of knowledge to share I understand that some people hold the idea of a kilt very dear that was the main reason I didn't rip into her.
i have cooled of now and hope I can run into her so we can further chat I think Newkilt and a few other are right she probably in frustrated with her situation and need to get it out. It's easter you know what that means get your kilt on day Oh wait thats everyday
Happy Easter All

[Blu (Ontario)]

... I can run into her so we can further chat...

Let's get her out to the next pub crawl... or how about a whiskey tasting at her house!

.

[flairball]

This type of elitist attitude doesn't serve anyone well. The kilts made from less that traditional material serve a purpose in the world. If I hadn't found a kilt priced less that the cost of a traditional, I wouldn't have one. $400-$500 is too much of an investment in something I wasn't sure about. Now that I've learned, and experienced a bit of life in a kilt, I know I will save up for a traditional kilt or two. Though my kilt may be made of acrylic, the local Scottish shop lady ought to appreciate the money I've spent in her establishment on hose (x3), flashes, and a kilt pin.

For those who think a kilt is a traditional Scottish garment, and must only be wool tartan; think again. Though the kilt originated in Scotland, this forum is proof that the kilt in now recognized as an international garment, and as such is changing to suit the tastes of individuals. If there are Scotts who find this offensive then they better start a campaign to get more of their own kind back in kilts.