PV versus Wool

[RockyR]

DISCLAIMER: I am obviously biased as I own a company that sells both PV and wool kilts, so please take that into consideration while reading my response below:

Owning both, here's my take... much like Steve Ashton's, I agree that wool is by far the superior fabric to make a kilt from. I own and wear dozens of wool kilts and wear them most often.

That being said, if you're on a budget, PV is the best (in my mind the ONLY) alternative to wool. I have several PV kilts and wear them relatively often as well... they've been washed dozens of times and still look fine.

The pros of PV:
it's machine washable
it's coated with Teflon (the PV the WE get is)
it's much more affordable than wool.
*IMHO: it is much nicer than any other fabric in the low end pricepoint tartan fabrics

The Cons of PV:
It's only an 11 - 12 oz fabric (PV from MM is between 11 and 12 oz... although a few higher priced wool kilts are made in 11 oz material, a VAST majority are made in 13 or 16 oz wool)
Limited tartan selection
it's not wool... wool is the nicest fabric for a kit for those with the money

Bottom line: The decision is yours. Some people will ONLY buy a wool kilt, no matter what the cost. Others can not afford wool and will only buy PV. Some people are alergic to wool and like PV. We've had customers that have gotten married in a Semi Trad PV kilt. We've had people who won't wear a kilt (even to the pub) unless it's an 8 yard wool kilt.

Is wool worth the price on YOUR budget or will you be happy with a PV kilt? That's the question you have to ask and only you can answer. On XMARKS, you'll find people who come down on both sides of that fence.

We (USA Kilts) did a special run of the Army tartan in PV (1 time run only) and have about 30 meters left. We (and ANY reputable kiltmaker) can also get it in 13 oz wool.

Good luck with your decision!

[beloitpiper]

Where did you get the PV kilt from though? Ionly ask, as a few companies have been said to seel kilt sin PV, but I only know of 3 that sell the Marton Mills PV right now. That's USA Kilts, Canadian Casual Kilts, and Tartanweb (and Bear, but he's not taking orders right now).

Frugal Corner. Or is this acrylic? Maybe that's why I have such a low opinion on PV....

[RockyR]

Frugal Corner. Or is this acrylic? Maybe that's why I have such a low opinion on PV....

Frugal Corner does NOT use PV (at least the high quality PV that we and Canadian casual kilts use). The kilts are made in Pakistan from Pakistani materials like Acrylic and "wool blends" (not a put down on Pakistan, just stating facts)... just like Stillwater Kilts. Our kilts are made in the US of UK materials (PV from MM).

PLEASE do not just PV based on a Frugal Corner kilt. If you'd like a swatch of PV, send me a SASE and I'll send you one so that you can tell the difference. Include a note of what tartan you'd like to see from our website.

[James MacMillan]

Rocky and Steve have said it all and said it pretty well.

I have both Synthetic and Wool. I say synthetic, because I am not sure that all my man-made fabric kilts are PV. I also have wool/cotton blend, cotton/rayon blends, cotton canvas, and pure cotton.

Some of the Man made fabrics are so close to wool, that even side by side, without a label, it’s hard to tell apart.

There are also good wools and not-so-good wools. I have one old kilt 20 – 30 years that is still in fantastic shape and will probably outlast me. I also have one wool kilt of similar age or maybe older, that I just don’t wear but about once a year, because it is scratchy and I don’t like the way it hangs.

Man made fabrics are far more cost effective and should be included in every man’s collection. You don’t want to do yard work, or change the oil in a wool tank. But I have no problem doing the same thing in a kilt that I only paid $30 for. I’ve gotten a few of these $30 kilts filthy and a quick wash, and they look and wear as good as new.

If you are only going to own one kilt, and can afford the price – go for wool. If you are going to fill your closet, try everything!

All fabrics have their uses.

[CelticRanger66]

Hey I have both a PV from Rocky



Which as you can see does very well formal and I also wear around as a casual.

And I have a wool one made by BarbT.



Which can't be beat !
My suggestion is to go for whatever you can afford at the present but most definitely if you are thinking PV go with USAK !!!

[Jennifer D]

James,

$30 kilts? Please tell me where you got them. I'll have my man full-time kilted before the new year at that price!

I can't remember where I ordered his kilt (the info is at home and I'm at work) but I don't think it was any of the places listed above (I found XMarks later that night). It's possible that it's not PV but I do remember that it was Teflon coated. Here's my ignorance showing: what other fabric would it have been?

[Bugbear]

I don't mean to speak for James, but Stillwater Kilts has achrylic kilts in that price range. Hope that helps.

James,

$30 kilts? Please tell me where you got them. I'll have my man full-time kilted before the new year at that price!

I can't remember where I ordered his kilt (the info is at home and I'm at work) but I don't think it was any of the places listed above (I found XMarks later that night). It's possible that it's not PV but I do remember that it was Teflon coated. Here's my ignorance showing: what other fabric would it have been?

[James MacMillan]

James,

$30 kilts? Please tell me where you got them. I'll have my man full-time kilted before the new year at that price!

I can't remember where I ordered his kilt (the info is at home and I'm at work) but I don't think it was any of the places listed above (I found XMarks later that night). It's possible that it's not PV but I do remember that it was Teflon coated. Here's my ignorance showing: what other fabric would it have been?

Click here!

I wouldn't wear it to the opera, but for a hot afternoon in the yard, or to run to the store, fine!

[RockyR]

...Here's my ignorance showing: what other fabric would it have been?

Poly Cotton
Cotton Twill
Cotton Duck (solids)
Acrylic
"pricepoint" Wool (not necessarily high quality wool)
wool blends
Calico cotton prints
cotton flannel
Terry cloth (yes... just like a bathrobe)
etc...

"kilts" have been made from LOTS f diferent fabrics. If it's "plaid", it's ben done.

Keep in mind one little saying I like to use:

No matter how good of a kiltmaker you have, when you start with poor quality material you end up with a poor quality kilt.

[Jennifer D]

Poly Cotton
Terry cloth (yes... just like a bathrobe)

I love the mental image of a terry cloth kilt. What great fun when getting out of the shower!