Note: This is not my kilt.

I had a chance to get up close and personal with what I reckon was meant to impress me. A local clothing shop that also deals in very expensive kilts got one in for a customer and before the customer came to pick it up, I was able to get a look at it.

I was NOT impressed. The pleats, all crooked. Some pleats didn't look to sharp or crisp either. There were some lose threads that needed to be snipped. One of the straps were sewn slightly crooked. The manager of the store flashed me a salesman's grin and said "Just look at the quality!" It was a 20oz wool in the Stuart tartan. Came with a chintzy looking badger head sporran, along with a belt and a sporran strap. The kilt was bad enough but seeing some poor dead animal killed for no good reason was also upsetting.

Several of the casual kilt makers here that also make some very sharp and dressy kilts looked a heck of a lot better. Most notably, Bear Kilts and USAK. I have only seen pictures, however, I was not moved by the idea of spending 800 bucks on a "hand sewn traditional."

While I am not sure if this is the right forum section to post, I do have a question. Have some of the well known casual / traditional kilt makers that we all know and love online spoiling us with total perfection? I have only seen pictures of some of the wares offered, but, I had to restrain my self from going "BLECH!" right there in the store.

I know there are better handsewn, but, really, it seems to me that most of the casual kilt makers around here already make kilts fit for a king.