Comparing Hoe and Strathmore MacKay Ancient Tartan

[braidybunch]

This is my first time buying a kilt and I am getting a mini kilt as a gift for my daughter who is graduating from high school. She is ever so picky! I have found several pictures of people in MacKay Ancient kilt from HOE but none from Strathmore (they call theirs MacKay Old Colours) They seem very similiar but she wants whichever one is less bright or in other words more muted. We don't have time to get a swatch so I'm hoping someone here might have a picture of the Strathmore, or any advice really. As a side note-she has eczema but we have been told very soft wool should not bother her...is one mills tartan softer than others? Thanks!

[mookien]

Are you planning to get the same weight cloth, whichever weaver you choose?

As far as I can tell, in the MacKay Ancient those weavers only have the medium weight cloth in common. Unless you choose a custom weave from HoE, Strathmore weaves only the light or medium weight, and HoE weaves only heavy or medium weight.

Another option is to commission Dalgliesh (via Scotweb) to do a custom weave and choose the colors (within a predefined range) to be as muted as your daughter likes.

Good luck in your choice, and congratulations to your daughter.

[ASinclair]

Hello, braidybunch!

If you have not done so already, you may want to introduce yourself in the Newbie forum.

I very much like Strathmore's Old Colours. My Ancient Hunting Sinclair kilt is made from their 13oz Sinclair Green (Old Colours) tartan. Unfortunately, they don't have Sinclair (red) in 13oz Old Colours. The closest to their Old Colours, I think, is House of Edgar's Ancient. They have Sinclair Ancient in 13oz, and we used a meter of it to make our parade banner. Comparing the two, I think the colors are equally muted and, although I've worn one and only handled the other, they have a similar feel to me. I plan to get the tartan for my Ancient Sinclair kilt from HOE. You can order directly from Strathmore; for HOE, order through Scotweb (you get a 10% Rabble discount). Both worked fine for me. So, I think your daughter would be pleased with either one.

[creagdhubh]

Welcome aboard, mate!

[braidybunch]

I am planning on 13 oz. I waited too long to use scotweb. I didn't realize how long it takes to get a kilt! So, I'm going with USAkilts and I guess I will just have to make a choice. I'm sure either one will be awesome. Thank you!

[mookien]

Good choice. If anybody can make it in time, it is Rocky and USA Kilts. Hope we get to see pic or three.