Kilt Straps

[ASinclair]

Why not buy them from the same place that the kiltmakers buy them? Highland Xpress

http://www.highlandxpress.com/patterns.html

That's where I bought the straps for my kilt that my wife made for me. It's also where I bought my Scottish Country Dance gillies. Beth is great to work with.

[ratspike]

If you want inexpensive and acceptable quality, any of the premade kilt straps and buckles are fine. I used Highland Xpress and Henderson's before I started working with leather and they're okay. Not awesome, but completely adequate. The buckles are unimpressive but again, adequate. Considering the price these are probably unfair criticisms.

R Kilts will set you up with *very* nice straps. Alternately, any capable leather leatherworker can do the same and give you choices other than 4oz chrome tanned leather.

[Benning Boy]

I'd avoid L&M like the plague. When I wanted to order kilt straps for Kilt Kamp 2014, I first went to Highland X Press, but they were closed for vacation or something, so I tried L&M. The price of the straps was higher than Highland X Press, and on top of that, they wanted to charge me $80 to mail them. I've received large boxed orders from other vendors in Canada, and probably never paid more than $25 in shipping costs. L&M is charging rip-off prices to mail things that can be packed in a small padded envelope. In the end I contacted Highland X Press when they were back in action, and received good quality straps at a reasonable price, and for just a few dollars in mailing costs, and they arrived in two days. To top it off, I've been told by an authoritative source L&M get their straps though Highland X Press to start with, they're selling the identical product. I'll never, ever, for any reason do business with L&M again. And see my money go to them indirectly with only great reluctance.

As for buckles, buckles here are nicer than the ones that come with the Highland X Press straps.

http://www.buckleguy.com/center-bar-buckles/

I've seen Plaid Preacher's straps from Rkilts, and they are very nice.

[Canuck]

I can make you a number of sets no problem. Yes I use heavier leather but they can be pre-punched for sewing. As for the ladies kilt if you wish the straps to be made narrower I can do that.
As for the ladies apron closure, if it's a long cocktail kilt I would tend to go for a female closure, if it's to the knee I would go with the male closure.
Cheers
Robert
I can be contacted via sales@rkilts.com

[Mudge]

I purchased them from Matt Newsome when he worked at the Scottish Tartan Museum (http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/). They were nice quality and price.

[Barb T]

I agree with Steve - I buy from Highland Xpress. I think the quality of the buckles is really good, and they come in brass and silver. Straps are available in black in a variety of widths and in brown in wide.

I've never had any issues with quality. I made my band kilt years ago, and I wear it for parades, performances, or competitions once or twice a week from May through September, and I've never had to replace a single strap or buckle.

[Mike_Oettle]

Hi, Mary, and welcome to X Marks from the bottom end of Africa.
How about putting up an introductory post on our Kilt Board Newbie forum?
Regards,
Mike