What Price Glory: Where Do They Get Their Tartan From?

[Woodsheal]

Alex,
Check out these fabrics:

http://kiltstore.net/tartan/Black-Wa...=Black%20Watch

The "batli" mill's version is the cheapest, and looks to have a more muted "period" shade on my my monitor. You get a discount as an X-Marks member, too!

[ccga3359]

Frasier & Kirkbright remnants.

[Alexander Good]

Mr. MacD,

Thanks for the link. I'll check 'em out.

Chris C.,

Nope, acryllic is verboten. It must be 100% wool, and
it must be at least 18 ounces or more in weight. We use
it for 18th century reenacting purposes, so it must be
authentic, or reasonably so. We do a redcoated Highland
unit from Skye, the 76th Foot. Sometimes we wear kilts
or plaids, other times we wear campaigne trousers. Anyway,
I have an 1819 pattern I'd like to have followed, which is
pretty close to modern Black Watch, but there are differences.
Also, the shades are different. Period green was more like an
olive, and the enlisted mens blue was more purplish, reflecting
the cheaper dyes. I have a sample piece of fabric which I can
send for the shades, though the pattern might be problematic.

Thanks much!

Alex

[ardchoille]

I believe his kilts are made in Pakistan as is much of his reproductions. What Price Glory well worth the perusing.

Pakistan? I'll remember not to buy from them. I'd rather give my business to a real kilt maker rather than a sweat shop. Thanks for the heads up

[ccga3359]

Pakistan? I'll remember not to buy from them. I'd rather give my business to a real kilt maker rather than a sweat shop. Thanks for the heads up

I don't know about you but I push my kilt makers very hard. Just ask Steve, Pete & Robert. If there is not their blood, sweat and tears on my kilt I'm not happy.

[Alexander Good]

Brian,

Thanks for the link, but still too expensive, and the shades/weight's
not correct. So that means to get what I want, I need to pony up
a kidney, rob a bank, or win the lottery so that I can afford to order
yardage from Bonnie Old Scotland. Option B is find someone
in Pakistan that's reputable, such as the people Jerry at WPG uses,
and then tweak colours and pattern to get what I need. As much as
I hate ordering tartan from anywhere but Scotland, the fact that I
need lots and lots of it makes it unreasonable to get it from there.
Each person in my reenacting unit needs at least a 3.5 yard doublewidth
great kilt, a 3.5 yard singlewidth philabeg, and possibly a like amount for
tartan trousers/trews. The last time I ordered tartan from Scotland, in 2003,
tartan was still more or less affordable. Thanks to the exchange rate, that's no
longer an option for this group of middle class schmo's. So, it's off to more
affordable climes to get what I need.

Anyway, if anyone knows Jerry's source, please pass it on. Many thanks
for all who have answered, one way or the other.

Thanks much!

Alex

[MacWage]

First, "Well, Hello, There!" -Obi-Wan Kenobi
Welcome to X Marks the Scot!

Second, my favorite fabric store is 96 District Storehouse, which is based in Abbeville, SC (near me). It is a reenactment supplies store and mostly carries fabrics.
As one of their MAIN periods is American Revolution (the owner prefers French-Indian War, but little reenactments in THAT period), they usually stock a heavier weight (probably 16-18 oz) saxony Black Watch wool. It is usually $12-15/yard, though the actual price may vary somewhat depending upon the cost form their supplier(s). I used that stuff for my first self-made kilt. It is intended for reenacting AWI Highlander soldiers.
The owners, Denis and Peggy Earp are often at reenactments, so her mother runs the shop while that are away. They also don't update their site, so it is ALWAYS best to call (or go in person, if close enough).
http://www.96districtstorehouse.com/
96 District Storehouse
111 Trinity St.
Abbeville, SC 29620
864-366-9600
sales@96districtstorehouse.com

[Alexander Good]

Thanks MacWage,

I'm pretty sure we looked into those guys and nixed 'em from
the list, though to be honest, I can't remember why. It might've
been that their tartan was too light at the time we contacted them.
I'll have to give them a holler again. Still, I suspect they won't be able
to hook me up with, at the very least, period colours, let alone in a
period pattern. But hope springs eternal, so it doesn't hurt to ask.

Given the rave reviews I've read about WPG's kilts in the archived
threads though, it sounds like that's the best way to go all-round for
heavy weight tartan. My experience with Indian and Pakistani vendors
has been that, if you give them exacting specifications, and samples of
what you want, they'll usually come through for you. It's when you're
vague that bad things start to happen.

Thanks again,

Alex

[MacWage]

What do you mean by "period colors?" I've heard that term used by several people in VASTLY different ways.

[James MacMillan]

It's must be like:

"I want these colors - period!"