I thought I post a space where we can discuss kilts, were you got yours, how was the fit, price, quality, etc.
Unfortunately I have to start off the topic on a bad note. DO NOT buy from Clansman Knitwear unless the merchandise is right in front of you and you can see the quality. I put a $100 deposit on a kilt I've been wanting to get now for five years. luckily the maker of the tartan, who told me that no order had even been placed for my kilt, has no connection with Clansman. He hadn't had an order from him in over two years. I did this last August at Irishfest in Milwaukee. Nice guy, very accommodating. Come Nov I sent an email asking how the order was coming along. He sends one back saying it will be done in 2-3 weeks. Come Feb I email again. no answer, I call and get a machine. Into March and there has been no response. I checked the forum over at www.kiltmen.com and it turns out this company loves to make promises and not follow through. Filed a complaint with the BBB in San Fran. They have 96 complaints listed and more coming in. They have changed their web name to scottishclansman.com but the site is still the same.
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Unavoidably Detained by the World
"Irishness is not primary a question of birth or blood or language; it is the condition on being involved in the Irish situation, and usually of being mauled by it."-Conor Cruise O'Brien
If anybody has done any business with Great Scot Shop let me know how it went. I may be ordering form them and I've seen no complaints so far. Otherwise I'll just have to save for my Italian tartan or order another tartan from the nearest store.
I have several kilts; my last two from Stillwater Kilts. For the money, they can't be beat, and both times shipping took about two days. I like the way they fit, too; up under your rib cage like a military kilt, not down on your hips like blue jeans or something. The acrylic fabric holds it's pleats very well, too; better than one of my wool ones.
I have used Tartan web (www.tartanweb.com) They work fairly well and are responsive. I have had problems with them but they were able to fix them to my satisfaction. I keep using them.
DO NOT buy from Clansman Knitwear unless the merchandise is right in front of you and you can see the quality. I put a $100 deposit on a kilt I've been wanting to get now for five years. luckily the maker of the tartan, who told me that no order had even been placed for my kilt, has no connection with Clansman.
My husband ordered his rig for our wedding from Clansman. The kilt actually came within a month, and was very nice and a great price for Bruce tartan. We're happy with that. The other stuff in the package (hose, sporran, flashers, etc) took so long to get to us that he complained to VISA about getting money back. The rest of the package showed up two days before our wedding. We placed the order in April or May and got married at the end of September.
The story we got was that the temp worker quit without telling anyone while everyone else was out at festivals for the summer. While the owner seems like a nice guy when you get him on the phone, they don't really seem to have a clue how to run a good mail order business. Sad, really, because it's hard to find affordable clan tartan kilts.
I will put in a good plug for the lady who made my wedding dress, Very Merry Seamstress (www.verymerryseamstress.com). Great selection and affordable prices (and no extra charge for plus sizes). She does male and female clothing, and while I didn't get any tartan clothes from her she will make them... but the fabric doesn't come cheap.
they made mine and when the tartan didnt look as it appeared on the screen (it was way to bright) they made me a new one in "brown watch" and got it to me with in a week because i had a show coming up the coming weekend... very good people to work with ... i would suggest a swatch in hand if you arent sure of which tartan you want.... because the computer will change the color .... hey i am a dane and they dont make a kringle tartan.... *L* and they have them in every price range. plus lots of other cool accesories.....
I stop by the X mark the Scot forums once in a while. Not to bad Usually I head over ot the braveheart forum. tht's were I foundout about clansman and its troubles. The bank did manage to get my deposit back so I'm hoping to order something next month.
I get my kilts from CrazyCelt Kilts. He makes a very nice four yard box-pelted kilt with hidden side pockets and two patch ones on the back. All for a very reasonable price too! the newest one is a brown cordron one. his email address is [email protected] or here at celtic radio too!
OH BOY talk about blowing your own horn or should I say pipes.
Utilikilts closed it Utilikilt ad contest on Nov 1st. It will announce the winners on dec. 1st. If you want to see some really original kilt commercials check out the 42 entries when they put them up on the site.
On a sad note the Italian National tartan I have been trying for 6 years to save up for seems to have disappeared off the net. Hopefully it will come back. There are other sites that offer it but most were through the original dealer whose website is now just a HTTP 403
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
I have two traditional kilts. My dress kilt came from Scotland. The other was ordered through Kathy Lare in Albuquerque, NM whom I met through the Flagstaff, AZ games. She is a member of The Keith Kiltmakers Guild, which is now the Traditional Kiltmaker's Guild, of Scotland. She did an excellent job on the kilt and also on a jacket I ordered from her. Excellent service and delivery was always quicker than estimated. Each kilt was in the neighborhood of $450-$500.