Kilt Merchants

Very nice. I really like the kilt pins.

I know Kathy, and she is a very nice person. Many of my customers have gotten kilts from her, and I often send customers to her! I reccomend her.

Ballydun

Robert,

There are two Tartans listed with the Scottish Tartans Authority for persons of Italian/Scottish descent.

The first is named simply "Italian". It is STA no. 5285. This Tartan is copyrighted and available only through the designer. I can provide contact information if you would like.

The other is named "Italian National Tartan" and is the one I believe you are referring to. This is STA no.6315 and can be woven by any mill.
However, this will be a custom order and will be rather expensive. In the range of $65.00usd to $90.00usd per yard and will normally be woven single width. This means your 8 yards needed to a kilt will cost you between $520.00usd and $720.00usd.

You will then have to find a kiltmaker to make your kilt. Most kiltmakers in N. America charge apporox. $250.00 to $300.00 for their labor.
This brings the total cost of your kilt to approx. $770.00usd to $1020.00usd.

I will second Kathy Lare as a good choice.
And then there is Barb Tewksbury, author of "The Art of Kiltmaking" who produces true works of art. I own a Tewksbury and Barb is a personal friend. She is perhaps the premier N. American kiltmaker.

If there is any other information you need please feel free to contact me.

I've seen photos of Barb's kilt and they are unbelievable. Does she have a website where you can order or just the book.
And that sounds like the right price for the Italian National offered by Clansman italia before they disappeared. I believe the price was $630 for a 13 oz. before they disappeared. No extra charge for labor so I hope they show up again. I do have other tartan options but that was my favorite.

The new customer made commercials are up on Utilikilts website. The winning entry gives one way to respond to "nice skirt"

And remember the posting we had about what may happen when wearing a kilt while riding a motorcycle?
Yes its in there.
Good funny stuff!

For my money nothing beats the "Pride of Scotland" kilt which you can get for under $70.00 from http://www.kiltmart.com/zencart/ They have other great items as well so check them out!

As long as everyone understands that the two companies mentioned above sell a garment designed for a particular purpose.

Steven V. of the Utilikilt Company does not claim, in fact he denies it strongly, that his product has any celtic, scottish, or any other ancestry. The Utilikilt is designed for a young, rebellious minded market that is as well founded in the Seattle Grunge movement as it's designer. According to Steven the only reason the company has kilt in it's name is to try for broader acceptance. He prefers the term MUG for Male Unbifurcated Garment.

The garments sold by the Kiltmart are made in Pakistan from an acrylic fabric. Depending on which of the 5 brothers company wove the fabric it may feel like anything from a very light weight Cotton to feeling more like polar fleece. Many of the Tartans are not actual tartans following the registered Sett but are only copied from photographs.
The buckles and straps on these garments are of a very poor quality and have sharp edges.
The Pleats are fairly random in both pattern and width, and instead of hanging straight and true, hang in large ripples similar to a stage curtian.

Now, it may seem that I am knocking these products. Believe me I'm not. Both are perfect for what they are designed and sold for. As long as the customer is informed and aware of what they are buying. Neither product is a custom made Traditional Kilt. They are not designed to be, nor can they pass for one. They are, resectivly, an alternative garment and a knockabout mow the yard garment.

If you are looking for something totally different and on the wild and rebelious side then a Utilikilt is perfect for you.
If you want something to lounge around the pool in or to use one time as a halloween costume then the Kiltmart garment is an ideal choice.

HERE is an article on the Utilikilt from The Scotsman from June of '06.

You'll probably have to register but it is free so no big deal. Many of us here are haggis hunters already.

FYi Many can not afford the true Scottish made kilt, even Braveheart would ahve been naked at the modern kilt prices. Kiltmart kilts are well made and I have worn mine at Scottish festivals throughout the states and gotten compliments on them (yes I have more than one) I wear the Pride of Scotland Tartan and it is a registered tartan faithful to the specs. I am sorry if the inclusion of them offended you more than the manufacturer of the Saffron (Hare Krishna anyone?) kilt.

Oh, I'm not offended by any means. I own a Utilikilt. I have had many UK's and Kiltmarts in my shop for altertations. Also Stillwaters, Frugal Corners, Sportkilts, USA Kilts, Neokilts, R-Kilts and full Traditionals. Heck, I don't make Traditionals either. I just want kilt buyers to be informed about what they are buying.
It is so suprising the number of people who purchase a kilt based on price alone thinking they are getting a "Real Scottish Kilt" only to discover that they have something that has no Scottish connection at all.

This kilt world is small. I know almost all the kilt makers out there and have met many of them face to face. I count many of them among my friends. We all make a slightly different product and there is room for each.

But would I advise someone who comes into my shop wanting a Kilt to wear to his formal wedding wearing a Prince Charlie Jacket to buy a Kiltmart kilt? No. Nor would I suggest to someone that he would look good dressing his Utilikilt up with a sporran and Grouse Claw Kilt Pin. Not because I have anything against those products but because that is not what they were designed for nor sold to be.

An informed buyer will utimatly be a happier buyer. The customer who comes into my shop expecting my Freedom Kilts to be a full Traditional Kilt will find himself being directed to Barb Tewksbury, Kathy Lare or to one of the large makers such as Burnett's & Struth and steered away from what I sell because that is not what I make.

They are also told that the majority of the cost of a Tank (That's a full, 8 yard, hand-sewn Traditional Kilt) is in the fabric and not in the makers labor cost. On average the kilt maker charges approx. $250.00 for their labor. The rest of the cost is in the fabric. Most of which cost in the neighborhood of $60.00 to $100.00 per yard. It is not uncommon for the fabric to cost twice or three times the cost of the actual labor.

But Oh do you get what you pay for! A custom made kilt is head and shoulders above anything bought off the rack. The feel, the comfort, the swish, are unbelievable until you have worn one.

Here are my rankings and pairings of a customers' desires to the proper kilt.

For a custom made Traditional Style Wool Kilt;
Barb Tewksbury. Hands down.

For a custom made Casual Style Kilt in P/V;
No contest - Rocky and Kelly at USA Kilts.

For a custom made Contemporary Style Kilt;
OK I'm biased but, Freedom Kilts
followed closely by Robert Pell at R-Kilts.

For an off the rack knock-about Acrylic Kilt to go to the pub in:
Jerry at Stillwater. His customer service is supurb.

For an off the rack MUG when you want to do carpentry or attend Burning Man;
buy from one of the retailers selling a Utilikilt.

Point made but on my income (being disabled I have to watch my pennies) I have not found one of those that is priced at less than 2 months of my check, so if I were to wear a real kilt I would have to park my van on the side of the road, and eat nothing for 2 months, hardly an attractive option for me! But if you can afford the best I say wear the best. As for marriage my prospects are not great there I am 51 years old and not wealthy, nor am I particularly good looking. So my kilt is for everyday wear and for the times I speak in schools on Scottish Heritage, or attend Scottish Festivals where I run the Clan Cathcart Tent!

Druid of Ark-I don't know if this is any help-maybe it will, maybe it won't. I'm also on an extremly tight buget and if and when I can get some spare change out of my expense making family I may order my Cornish hunting tartan from here http://www.greatscotshop.com/
They do have a layaway plan (thank God) which I believes runs about $60.00 a month. However I do not know what kind of quality the kilts they have to offer is like. The images on the site are all Loccarron images and I think they order through them. Wizard of BC-any help on this company? And thanks for all the info. Love to start making them myself but no time at the present.
And after seeing pics of a Barb Tewksbury kilt all of have to say is unbelievable. I will probably order my 8 yd from her. Any website or email address to get a hold of her for prices, etcs or does she just have the book.
As for Utilitikilts I like the front look but I have never been really happy with the pleating. Which is probably why I have held off ordering form them. I'm more of a traditional kilt person than any of the new modern ones. don't think you will ever see me in a guilty kilt. Wee bit too small amount of coverage on one of their models. However, I absolutely love the Utilikilt commercials and the atitiude in them!

Guys, I'm not one to argue that a good kilt is an expensive investment.

But the nickname "Tank" is appropriate for a hand-sewn Traditional Kilt. Thay will literally last forever. It is not uncommon to be able to hand them down to the next generation. Try that with a pair of pants.

I have no personal knowledge of The Great Scot Shop other than they are resellers of other peoples stuff. Not uncommon or wrong. However you can usually cut out the middle man and go direct to the same place these shops get their stuff and save quite a few dollars. You can contact the US outlet of Lochcarron in Kearsage NH or in Canada at Burnetts & Struth in Ontario.
And almost any reputable kiltmaker will allow you to make installment payments while your order works it's way up the ladder and your kilt is started.

About Barb Tewksbury; I own a Tewksbury and it is the most wonderful thing I have ever laid eyes on or worn. She is also a dear personal friend. You can contact her through Celtic Dragon Press where her book is sold or find her on X Marks the Scot forum.

Barb, along with matt Newsome, curator of the Scottish Tartans Museum, and almost all the other kiltmakers don't make a ton of money at their chosen craft. Both Barb and Matt have alternate careers 'cause charging what they do is a sure way to starve to death.

What I'm saying guys is I was not knocking less expensive kilts. There is a need for a knockabout kilt. (I never wear a Wool kilt to the pub where a beer may be spilled on it.) There is certianly a market for MUGS like Utilikilts. (I'm just not ready to wear mine anymore. I'm tired of being asked if I'm gay when I wear it because that is the market Steven V. targeted to sell his product to.) I just want people to be informed so they are not dissapointed with their purchase.

Information is good but it seemed that you were looking down your nose on those that are not as financially gifted as you. If I misread you then I am going to be the first to apologize. After all the reason the Celtic people are in the shape we are today is that we were historically so busy fighting eachother that the British had no trouble subduing us!

Druid, Believe me when I say I never stick my nose in the air over someone wearing the kilt.

It's just that I have seen the world flooded with cheap Pakistani kilts in the last two years and it sickens me. The Notorious Gold Brothers have totally ruined the Royal Mile with their Tartan Tat.

In fact I have three Frugal Corner and two Stillwaters in my shop right now. OK, the guy knew what he was buying and for what he wants to do in the kilts they will be fine but he brought them in to me to have be completly re-set the pleats. They vary from 5/8" wide to over 1" wide. The Acrylic fabric is so light that even in a light breeze they fly everywhere. They also wrinkle just by looking at them.

Of the five kilts not one is the proper Sett of the Tartan. I can compare them to an actual Tartan and they are not even close.

I appoligize if I upset anyone. It's just that kilts are my business and they are also my life. My passion for a quality kilt that the owner will be proud to wear sometimes takes over.