Thoughts on Kilts After the Games

[SteveB]

In the line of self colour kilts, there are many on the market. Union Kilts, Amerikilts, Utilikilts, and SWK. Thank you for this thread. I will be observant as I am attending the New Hampshire Games. I would like to see how people dress. It will be only on one day for me due to work schedule, but it will also be my first visit to Highland Games event. I plan on attending in a neat tartan kilt with accessories. Not sure how formal I will dress though.

[MrLion]

At the Portland Highland Games this past weekend, easily HALF of the non-band attendees in kilts were wearing Utilikilts (mostly) or other solid color contemporary styles.
Very casual attire, lots of kilts with sandals or barefoot.
Was a good opportunity for my brother and me to start wearing the kilt outside,
where nobody looked twice. Will have to branch out now to other non celtic events at the park, etc.
Good observations Ron. Thanks.

[Ayin McFye]

Great post, and great observations Ron. I noticed a huge lack of vendors at the Prescott games this year as well. They only had the one kilt vendor, Celtic Craft I believe, and they carried both Tanks, and the infamous "Designed in Scotland" kilts.

I agree with what Birddog said, most people who visit these events aren't looking for a nice kilt that'll cost them more than 300-400 dollars. They want something they can fit in with. It's a real shame though, that they truly believe that are getting a real Scottish kilt.

I own a Gold Bros kilt, and it's ok. I bought it before I knew all the drama, but I would probably still buy again today. Luckily I didn't buy straight from them, so I do feel a little better about it. I had purchased it through a 2nd hand vendor of their product (MacKinnon Kilts I believe).

Anyways, great insight and observations. If I heard correctly (rumor) most of the kilt vendors abandoned Flagstaff Games due to some drama a few years ago. It's a shame, but that's the business world.

[Galician]

I have been to a couple of large Games. The last was in Bethlehem, PA, where I can attest to the popularity of Rocky's products! It seemed that about half the guys I saw there were wearing USAK products.

I was surprised that neither UK nor Kathy Lare returned to your Games. Since you deal with Kathy, have you ever asked her about that? Has she enough work now without the hassle of going to Games?

Another factor for now (hopefully) is certainly the economy. Vendors must have to look long and hard on their return from long trips.

[Riverkilt]

Did ask Kathy about not returning to Flagstaff. Of course she is a full time kiltmaker so has to leave some time to sew kilts. With so many games all vendors must pick and choose. Sadly, in Kathy's case, she felt she was treated with great disrespect by the folks organizing the games. Not just her, but most vendors. Its been three or four years though. Tough enough to travel that distance from Albuquerque with a full tent of goods, set up, break down, without at least being treated with respect. I remember well the year after that sad situation, there seemed nary a vendor. Each year since there seem to be more. But never a tent set up like Kathy's with a full time kiltmaker, stacks of swatch books, and - most importantly - a chance to be properly measured by the person sewing up your kilt.

I remember too how busy she was that year. A constant stream of people picking their tartan and being measured up.

As for UK, I'm not sure. They were attending so many games back then. I'd guess they'd judge which ones they wanted to attend by how successful they were in sales in previous years and whether they could get any volunteers in the area to man the booths and sell Utilikilts in exchange for credits toward their own UKs. Back then they'd ship in a bunch of kilts and that was pretty much what they tried to sell. Probably took orders too.

I miss UK because it was a chance to eyeball and put hands on their products. Maybe not the best for them, but that's why I never bought a UK in corduroy or nylon. Fine if you like them. I didn't. If I hadn't been able to see them at the games I might have bought at least one of each to find out I didn't much like them.

And, as pointed out, with gas today that's gotta be a big decision making factor for vendors of things Scottish when it comes to deciding whether to work a games. And for sure, work it is.

Ron

[FreeDon!]

Interesting observations. I'll be heading to a local Celtic fest in a week and will be curious to see how that compares, in terms of kilt sellers and wearers.

I don't have any problem with the cheap acrylic kilts, though (take this with a grain of salt - I only own Utilikilts so far). There's no way that I could afford a nice hand-sown tank, and I'm sure this is true for many others. Therefore, I think the cheaper kilts serve a purpose - people can actually wear the kilt on a daily basis (if they want to), as they are as cheap as pants. Seems like a good thing to me.

Regarding solid color kilts - I had a comment the other day from a passerby. As I was getting into my car, he said "A khaki kilt! Man, that is bada$$". He had never seen a non-tartan kilt, and was very impressed. We had a nice discussion about contemporary kilts and such, and he left with the goal of buying a Utilikilt (or similar). I think it's not a surprise that more are wearing solid color contemporary kilts - their "casualness" easily can replace shorts, jeans, or cargo pants etc.

Don

[KiltedSkeleton]

It's not just about price either. Ease of mainteneance comes in to play also. Contemporaries are wash and wear with little to no ironing. Where a tank or traditional requires more care.

[macwilkin]

It's not just about price either. Ease of mainteneance comes in to play also. Contemporaries are wash and wear with little to no ironing. Where a tank or traditional requires more care.

A well-made traditional kilt actually requires very little pressing. Traditionals are quite sturdy; remember that the Highland regiments of the British Army wore them on campaign as well as on the parade-ground.

T.

[davedove]

I agree with what Birddog said, most people who visit these events aren't looking for a nice kilt that'll cost them more than 300-400 dollars. They want something they can fit in with. It's a real shame though, that they truly believe that are getting a real Scottish kilt.

Other than the cost, I think there is the "impulse buying" factor as well. Even if one were interested in the full traditional kilt, what are the odds that a vendor would have one on had to sell to any particular customer? The customer would have to shell out the money, then be told he would have to wait several weeks for the cloth to be woven and the kilt made.

I think for the most part the acrylic kilts are made in standard sizes, so the vendors can have several of each size on hand. That way the customer can pay his money (less than the traditional) and walk away with a kilt that he could put on immediately.

[Panache]

Ron,

You raise a lot of interesting points here.

Are traditional kilt makers losing business to mass produced kilts?

Do people understand the differences between a real handsewn traditional kilt and a mass produced one?

Are more people buying (and wearing) kilts because there are affordable options?

Are people that buy a mass produced traditional looking kilt or a modern/contemporary kilt likely to get a "tank" later on?

I know I wanted a kilt in college and the one fellow but when I talked to the one fellow I knew who had one and wore the price of his traditional kilt, belt, and sporran was at least a thousand dollars.

A thousand dollars for a kilt, belt, flashes, sporran, and hose for an ensemble that I may or may not have looked ridiculous in.

I passed on the idea.

Later through another friend I was introduced to Utilikilt and a Mocker seemed a good way to see if a kilt was for me.

I liked it and then tried a traditional styled one through the Celtic Croft. I liked the look but wasn't sold on the model (it was their economy). I then gave Jerry at Stillwater a try and got hooked (Standard and a heavyweight).

Then came some handsewn kilts but also a few more mass produced ones.

I think there is a place for both.

We here at XMTS are probably among the most informed kilt buyers and wearers. We what know what we are buying, we know where one can cut corners and where one can't.

As with anything else, people should do a little research before taking the plunge and whipping out the credit card to make sure they are really getting what they want.

Cheers

Jamie