Madonna

[Miah]

This is way off the topic of Mage now but,..... I have to say that much like wool ( I know a bit about it I wore it for over 6 years in the Military) has many diffrent weights and I have recently seen that so does Poly/V so while a 10oz wool kilt i would imagine would hang oddly and be light and flimsy there are some heafty poly/v fabrics out there that i am sure hang great and look amazing. I am sutre that there will always be die hard wool only types. (hell I am that way about some things) But I know that Americans and even it seems Canadians will take an Item and add there style and flare into it. and if that means making it out of more affordable material then so be it. Garments are much like music, they can be made up of diffrent things and presented diffrently but if they both do there jobs right i can't see a huge problem with it.

[Graham]

Canuck I guess I owe you an apology for bringing up USAK here in your forum, the reasons were obvious and I thank you for your understanding spirit.

[Alaskan]

Alaskan,
Kiltbear said, "poor crappy poly/viscose kilts," to describe some kilts he saw in a concert crowd. That's more than, "a little more forward," than saying poly/viscose looks bad. That's a blanket statement about all poly/viscose kilts.

What is wrong with that?

I know the way he said it may have been abbrasive, but there is nothing wrong with him having that opinion.

Why is it OK for us to criticize the people who only wear their kilts for formal occasions, but we can't express a distaste for poly/viscose?

He doesn't like poly/viscose, and there is nothing wrong with that. Why should he have to worry about the feelings of kiltmakers who make kilts from poly/viscose?

I may be wrong, but I thought that part of the reason a lot of us are here is so that we could discuss pros and cons of different kilts, so that we can make a better decision about which kilt to buy. If we can't say something like "I think wool looks better than poly/viscose." because we don't want to offend the kiltmakers who make kilts from poly/viscose, then all we will ever say is "All of my kilts are fantastic." and that won't help anyone make a better informed decision.

If Kiltbear had said the same thing in the bearkilts thread... then I would think that he was being rude. All he was saying was, in essence, "My Rkilt was the best kilt at the concert." and there is nothing wrong with that.

[bear]

Repeat:
I'm not going to argue this any further. My opinion on this is clear and you can't let go of anything, so we could argue forever and it is Robert's RKilt forum we're usurping. Even though he told me to, "Go for it," I still don't like doing it here. It's not fair to Robert.

[Canuck]

Canuck I guess I owe you an apology for bringing up USAK here in your forum, the reasons were obvious and I thank you for your understanding spirit.

Graham, I have no problem with this... A dialouge is happenning...granted it may not be to everyones taste... a question was brought up and answers and comments were given. We go off on tangents much like any conversation... It has the potential to circle back, or it may just freeze.
Cheers
Robert

[Canuck]

Repeat:
I'm not going to argue this any further. My opinion on this is clear and you can't let go of anything, so we could argue forever and it is Robert's RKilt forum we're usurping. Even though he told me to, "Go for it," I still don't like doing it here. It's not fair to Robert.

It's OK Bear... wether it happens here or in another forum...ideas, convictions, knowledge (the emphasis on the later) should be expressed.. Everyday is a learning experience.
I thank Hank for dedicating a space for discussion of “R”Kilts but most importantly facilitating a place where we can hang a hat, smooth down the pleats and have a place to hang out.
Have a great day ya all as I’m off to flog more kilts!
Cheers
Robert

[Mychael Sporrano]

One can never be sure how a topic will wend from one thing to another!

I wish that I could weigh in here with a first-hand opinion on this wool vs. poly/vis issue, but that will have to wait until next month when I should finally get my hands (and eyes) on a pair of kilts that I have on order from Bear. Expect me to be rather chatty about this topic at that time, albeit in another forum! [I do need to check out RKilts, however.]

Based on what I have read, my expectations mirror what Blu wrote in his post:

Absolutely they [wool] are a superior garment. BUT...at 4 to 5 times the price, they damn well better be. My p.v. kilt does a fine job for what I paid for it. I'd much rather wear it in risky conditions than an expensive wool one.

Aside from military weight wool, I cannot imagine anything hanging better, nor showing more exquisite movement than heavy weight wool. That said, I find 13 oz. wool quite acceptable. While 13 oz. cotton hangs well enough, there is certainly no comparison between it and wool (does anyone claim that there is?), but yet it fills its niche here in the casual kilt department and can even look quite dressy when properly pressed and paired with the appropriate shirt and accessories.

While being the ultimate in terms of looks, a wool kilt of decent weight has some qualities that are not always such a boon, price and high-maintenance being two that immediately spring to mind.

I am expecting the 12-13 oz. poly/vis from which my Bear kilts will be fashioned to be much better than the same weight cotton in terms of movement and drape. I am not expecting a fabric with the same properties as wool. Were it a perfect wool substitute, that would be great. It is purportedly not, but when weather conditions are marginal or BBQ is involved, I would much rather not chance wearing a kilt for which I paid close to $600.

What I am saying is that, being the ultimate in terms of looks, wool has undoubtedly earned its place. But, when other things are taken into consideration, cotton and poly/vis also have their applications. I have purposefully left off mentioning leather here. Presently owning a three piece black leather suit, including a simply amazing trench coat I fell in love with and purchased 18 years ago before I met my wife, I absolutely adore the look and smell of leather. But where fashioning kilts out of it is concerned, I cannot quite reconcile myself to that... yet...


Where offering opinions are concerned, diversity is cool. But, let's try to keep the tone civil amongst ourselves. I really don't wish to belong to a milque toast forum where everyone agrees on everything and those with opposing ideas are summarily ignored or given the boot; all the same, a nice tone can work wonders when one wants to be regarded instead of dismissed out of hand. That should apply to all aboard, makers and wearers alike.

Mychael

[Kiltbear]

Tolerance is a wonderful thing aint it?
Hee hee hee.
Now shall I go over to a PV kiltmaker forum and express an opinion?
(Looks for hard hat,body armour and Uzi)
As for me being aggressive.....I'm a pussy cat.
I reckon too many of you have had a sense of humour bypass operation.
Anyone spoken to their wife yet?
Were her fingers crossed?

Still say they're crap tho

(Ducks)

[highlandtide]

see my comments in off topic.

[Graham]

Mychael, no one will ever accuse you of short or shallow posts. I am fast learning that what you have to say is worth listening to, and you do it with grace and gentlemanliness.

I'm sure that if our friend Kiltbear were exposed to the quality of the poly/vis kilts made by some of the kiltmakers here, he may even change his mind.

To compare with R-Kilts leather kilt is difficult, they are two different garments, but there is no doubt that the leather or imit. leather exudes the look of real quality that is hard to resist.

I could even see myself in one of those Robert, well if Hamish can wear leather - so can I

A while back I attended a celtic event where the only other guy there in a 'kilt' wore a cheap and nasty ladies pleated skirt he bought for $10.

At first I entertained critical thoughts, but after speaking with him and finding that he couldn't afford even a cheap casual, I was left thinking that it was good to see another guy out of trousers at least.

So whether "crappy" PV or R Kilts leather....it's great to be kilted!