Handmade vs. Machine-Made Kilts: Difference and Better One?

Traditionally, kilts were made by skilled artisans, but in the modern era, machines have taken over much of that role. However, it doesn’t mean that only machines make kilts today but the tradition of hand-making kilts passes down through generations. Therefore, people with a deep love for their culture still prioritize hand-made kilts. Machine-made kilts, on the other hand, are also popular worldwide. Both of these variants have many differences. Handmade vs. machine-made kilts is our subjective discussion today to educate people who do not know about their differences.
Table of Contents
ToggleHandmade Kilt Traits

Let us start our discussion with the features of handmade kilts. Humans make such kilts offering unique properties that often result in convenience. Below are some of its traits:
Durability is the Key
If we revisit the past for a while, we see Highlanders looking for durable and warm attire to battle freezing weather. They found tartan kilts to be perfect for them. They used to make kilts with their hands then. The output of this example narrates the durability of handmade kilts, thanks to human forces applied in the past. This legacy continues today in handmade kilts.
Can be Customized
Handmade kilts are customizable. Every kilt is made by a single individual who can make amendments as he wants or as the wearer asks. If making men’s kilts, makers can lengthen or shorten the size of attachments like pockets, loops sizes, etc. Whole women’s kilts are small in size by default but handmade kilts can be made a bit longer as per requirement.
Artisan Aesthetics
Kilts produced by hand showcase craftsmanship handed down through the centuries. Above all, they embody the ideas of the maker. Carefully made pleats, stitches, and patterns frequently transform the kilt into a wearable work of art. Opposing machine-made variants, these kilts exhibit a unique charm and sense of cultural pride.
Invisible Stitching
Hand-sewn kilts usually have stitchings that are invisible. However, the sewing lines on a machine-made kilt are visible. Handmade kilts employ a unique, stronger thread. The kilt maker ties the thread each time a pleat is initiated to guarantee that no part is left unstitched. Moreover, extra stitching keeps the pleats from dropping.
Cost Are Higher
A merger of durability, customization, human ideas, and excellent stitching can be a little costly. However, the investment a person makes is not against these properties only. The higher prices are also the output of labor costs and most importantly the time consumed to make a kilt. Machines have the ability to make a bulk quantity at the same time while a single individual is not capable of doing so.
Machine-made Kilts

Let us talk about machine-made kilts now, where everything passes through automation, these kilts also have their very traits making them unique, versatile, and approachable. Similarly, they are not pricey compared to the kilts made by hand.
Free Availability
The first thing that makes them notable nationwide is their free availability. Machines make the kilts in larger quantities. Furthermore, their fast production process makes them available to several stores and every individual can buy without waiting.
Cost-effective Comparatively
Because they rely on modern sewing machines, machine-made kilts are often more affordable than hand-sewn ones due to their faster manufacturing and lower price point. Kiltmaker salaries and other manufacturing costs are reduced since machine-made kilts need less labor time.
Uniform Stitching

The regular and even application of threads, particularly while fixing the pleats, is uniform stitching in machine-made kilts. These stitches usually have the same size, spacing, and tightness, offering the kilts a tidy and organized appearance. Although the pleats of machine-sewn kilts frequently have visible stitch lines, the consistency of these lines is a quality of machine-made construction.
Limited Customization
The customization probability is significantly lower in machine-made kilts unlike those made by hand. Personalization is possible but not only in the single kilt. However, the entire stock will owe the same change because machines cannot make a single kilt individually. That’s why kilts prepared in the industry have the same visuals with low customization chances. Though they are durable enough like human-made, customization limitation is a negative point.
Which Kilts Among them are Better!
It’s time to offer a conclusion about which one among them is better. The choice and priority can vary, so an individual personally can decide which variant he should go with. If he is culture-conscious and wants durability with desired customization, hand-made kilts are the better choice. For a person who wants an affordable kilt with free availability, and if the customization does not matter, machine-made kilts would be a suitable choice.
Buy A Customized Kilt at TUK Store
The differences between handmade vs. machine-made kilts are clear to you now. If you are looking for some hand-made customized kilts, consider exploring an exceptional collection at The Utility Kilt store for excellent products including different kilts and their attachments.