J Higgins Value Poly Kilts

**d_lairson** · 13th December 18, 09:23 PM

Does anyone have any opinions on the j Higgins poly value kilt? My wife, who is also in my band as a tenor drummer needs a new kilt. She has been wearing one of my sportkilts. Considering there is an over 1ft height difference between us, lets just say its good the band wears vests (it reminds me of the photo of the other ranks photos from the black watch, kilt top at chest level...)

The problem is that she cannot wear wool. Breaks out in a big rash where ever the wool touches her skin.

Her family, being nice, gave her a $200 gift certificate to J Higgins to buy a new kilt. On the website they only advertise "value kilts" in the poly range. Does anyone have any experience with these value kilts? She would only wear it 6-8 times a year during band performances so it does not have to be a work horse, it just has to look decent.

**kiltedcontractor** · 14th December 18, 03:39 AM

I'm not familiar with J. Higgins but would recommend you look as USA kilts. If you add a little to the $200 you could get a semi-traditional. For around $100 you could get a casual style. They hold up well and are easy to wash .

Sorry, I just realized the $200 was for j. Higgins...never mind.

**tpa** · 14th December 18, 04:00 AM

J Higgins website does say the material is imported from the UK, so is most likely Marton Mills PV, although you could check with them. If it is, it is a great material for casual or even formal kilts. I gather that Steve's hire kilts are made from it and I have a couple of 5 yd casual kilts which wear well and maintain their pleats through daily use. I can't speak for John Higgins workmanship, past reviews are not brilliant (Xmarks 2008) but recent reviews on Facebook seem a lot more positive.

**bdkilted** · 14th December 18, 02:56 PM

I haven't bought a poly from them, but the wool kilt i bought and the kilted skirt for my wife are still going stong 20 years later.

**Guthrumironhead** · 14th December 18, 07:55 PM

I don’t know about the Higgins value kilts but I have three Higgins 8 yarders in 16 oz wool. All three are excellent.

**Benning Boy** · 15th December 18, 08:19 PM

Higgins is OK to deal with. They make good quality stuff. I've been to their sales office and seen some work first hand. It's good quality and the prices are very competive. I suggested to Higgins he become an Xmarks advertiser. He seemed to have some sort of issue with that. He also seemed unfamiliar with alternatives to anything other that a standard knife pleated kilt buckled on the usual way. Reversing the under apron buckle and strap seemed a totally foreign idea to him. I wouldn't even think of asking for a higgins box pleate. When i was last there they were working over Naval Academy pipe band kilts. Why did he get the job, and others didn't?

**cessna152towser** · 16th December 18, 03:13 PM

I have no experience of Higgins but I could recommend the USA Kilts semi-trad. I've had one for a good few years and got a lot of wear from it.

**denmcdough** · 19th December 18, 06:54 PM

I purchased one of the poly, casual kilts, Navy Stewart, several years back, and ended up selling it, either, here or on Ebay. I was not impressed with the workmanship and fit, as compared to USA Kilts. Hopefully, Higgins has up their game.

**WalesLax** · 20th December 18, 11:41 AM

J. Higgins made the Kilts for my first band, Coty of Chicago Pipes & Drums, and they are fantastic, however we have wool Kilts. I know this isn’t a one for one comparison, but hopefully it is a useful data point. I don’t have any experience with their PV range but hope to see feedback from someone who has.

Rob