The Title of "Master Kiltmaker"

[Riverkilt]

I notice that sometimes when we're talking about kiltmakers on this board we use the term Master Kiltmaker as a compliment - sometimes even when talking about kiltmakers who have only recently taken up the craft.

I'm wondering if Master Kilt Maker is actually an earned title or designation. If it is, perhaps we should apply it properly to those who have earned it. But its a confusing thing to track down. May just be a compliment or advertising hype.

There's a guy in London whose website is called the Master Kiltmaker www.masterkiltmaker.com and he claims there are only 26 people so designated. He also claims the title is bestowed by the Scottish Tartans Authority - which seems a bit unusual to me....? And he's "earned" the title after only 8 years in the craft. He seems to use The Master Kiltmaker as his name, rather than his title, throughout his website and in his PR work. One spot says his true name is Thomas, can't find a last name.

STA does mention Master Kiltmakers in thier FAQ section, " Kilt making is a very specialist task: you need about 24 feet (7.3metres) of material and years of training before you can consider yourself a really competent kiltmaker. Master kiltmakers have been at it for donkey's years!" But, I cannot find a description of what a Master Kiltmaker is on the STA Website. Since "kiltmaker" is not capitalized, maybe they don't mean a title, just a term to describe very experienced kiltmakers.

Kathy Lare, who would be a master kiltmaker in my estimation, doesn't claim that title, but says Robert McBain, who ran the Keith Kilt School and trained her was a Master Kiltmaker.

Her website says she has 15 years experience in Kiltmaking and I know that as a full time kiltmaker she's hand sewn well over 1,000 kilts. Then her website says, "She has become the first American to attend the school and the first fully certified kiltmaker in North America attaining the Scottish Qualifications Authority Award in Traditional handcraft and Kilt Making Skills. Returning to Scotland in May of 1999 she studied the unique crafting of the military box pleated kilt of the Scottish regiments and achieved an award in Traditional Handcraft Kilt Manufacturing. This professional development award paves the way towards becoming a Master Kiltmaker, which was almost a dying breed now in Scotland."

So she's still working towards the title "Master Kiltmaker" but she doesn't mention who so designates that award/title and what the requirements are to earn the title.

If Kathy's not a Master Kiltmaker yet, after all her schooling and years of kiltmaking, I can't imagine what one has to do to earn that title/designation.

But there's a LOT of wisdom on this board. Maybe someone can solve the mystery. Maybe we could even get a list of kiltmaker's who've earned the designation Master Kiltmaker from whatever body bestows the title.

Ron

Mods - I didn't put this in the kiltmaking section since its not about making kilts, its about earning a title. But if you need to move it go ahead.

[Bugbear]

Interesting question, Ron. I've read some old, old threads that hinted at some of the best kilt makers from Scotland knowing and using techniques only known to them. What these secrets are, I wouldn't know.

[Spartan]

Ron, I've wondered the same thing reading some posts, and having read Kathy's statement on her work towards Master Kiltmaker. My Kathy Lare kilt has two unassuming labels in it: one STA authenticating the tartan, and the other "Handcrafted by a member of The Traditional Kiltmakers' Guild." Mine is number 1150.

[Riverkilt]

I'm guessing the techniques Master Kiltmakers use are the old traditional ones. I know I've heard/read some distain for "tailored" kilts from kiltmakers trained in the old traditional ways.

I'd have no clue. Visions of a traditional kiltmaker and a tailored kiltmaker comparing techniques.

But I'm near certain that someone who earned the designation of Master Kiltmaker would earn it by demonstrating knowledge of the old ways of kiltmaking.

Ron

[JolyStNicholas]

Being the age I am and having delt with a lot of vendors who like to use that
title "Master" I found that the number of years and experience a person has on one job, regardless what it is usually, determines when they can call themselves Masters. Some never consider the quality of workmenship they put out, they just assumn that sence they have been at something for X number of years it makes them a Master at it.

I am a retired S/S welder with 45 years experience and I don't ever remember once refering to my self as a "Master". I was Very Good at what I did, don't get me wrong, but I know a lot of others that were "Better".

To me anyone who can make a Kilt of extreem excellant quality should be called a "Master", but that is only my opinion, with that said I will put my soap box away.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

If kilt makers had a professional guild (as do tailors) then that guild would be qualified to examine the work of a kilt maker and determine whether or not they were entitled to be considered as "masters of their craft".

Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the case.

So it looks to me as if anyone with a sewing machine and eight yards of cloth can set themselves up as a "Master Kilt Maker". It is for exactly this reason that "word of mouth" advertising is so important when buying a traditional Highland kilt-- a list of satisfied customers is the only guarantee you have that a kilt maker is up to snuff.

[pdcorlis]

You know Ron - XMarks may come as close as any body able to identify "Master Kiltmakers." I'm not proposing anything earth shattering here but the collective wisdom of the rabble can really help separate the wheat from the chaff.

Yet another reason to hang around this place.

[slohairt]

There is no such official title as "Master Kilt Maker", nor is such a title bestowed by the STA!

There is a Traditional Kiltmakers Guild which is comprised of graduates from the Keith Kilt School and other kilt makers who have submitted work for approval. The only distinctions made are 'members' and 'associate members'. Unfortunately, the guild's website (and the school's) is no longer active.

I would say "The Master Kilt Maker" is pulling our collective leg!

You're right, Greg, £699 ($1244.00 CAD) is rather high for the 'luxury super-fine' kilt! Especially when the loops are done on the bias, and there doesn't seem to much of a rise to the kilt.

[beloitpiper]

I checked out that website. Wow, he has high prices. Also, a few things put up red flags.

We use metres, not yards of tartan. This means your kilt will have a decent amount of pure wool to give a nice ‘swish’!

This seems pretty pointless to me, as it's all a length of tartan, whether you're measuring it in yards or meters. Also, their "Superfine Luxury Kilts" has 10 meters in it...that's almost 11 yards of tartan. Don't you think that's a bit excessive for a kilt? Granted, it doesn't say what weight the wools it, but even in a Wisconsin winter I'm not sure I'd want to wear that thing.

Notice the photos too. I hope their "master kiltmaker" didn't take these photos, because somebody needs to teach these models how to wear a kilt!

[Ayin McFye]

A couple of things struck me as weird on this site.

The counter that tells how many people have visited his site is down at the bottom, and is currently at 4973. That doesn't seem very high to me for someone that is a "Master"

He has the word the underlined, when saying "the Master Kilt Maker" which in my opinion is pretty cocky.

He also doesn't state what tartans he has available or what mill he uses. An experienced kilt buyer would want to know these things prior to ordering a kilt.

I'm not saying this guy makes bad kilts or anything like that. But this website definitely throws up some red flags for me.