Maple Leaf Tartan Kilt Help!

[imrichmond]

I believe the shop in Halifax that people are referring to is The Plaid Place, at 1903 Barrington St. It's in the same complex as the Delta Barrington Hotel, in the shopping concourse on the lower level. I recall that it was rather pricey, no doubt because of the high cost of its location.

[Pit Rat]

I do know of the Plaid Place. I'm renting a Nova Scotia tartan from their for my summer wedding.
I hadn't thought of asking them to make one. I believe I asked them for a Nova Scotia tartan one many years ago and it was an outrageous price.

I have looked into MacIsaac's. They quoted me $795. plus S&H, plus applicable taxes. And I have a semi-small budget.
The USA Kilts price of $319 was more my range.

I shall continue my research and look hard at the photos presented to me.
Cheers gents!

[Pit Rat]

Yes. I see the picture of you huddled over your work!
The reds and oranges are quiet nice.
The thumbnail on the Freedom site looks very green (and almost blue) in a tighter pattern, much like cessna152towser's.

The one pictures in the Kilt Kamp thread and Macman & cessna152towser's are both from Freedom? They are very different.
Which can I expect if I order one from them?

[The Wizard of BC]

The Kilt Kamp photo and the two Freedom Kilts with Macman and Cessna152towser are all Lochcarron Strome. They are identical except for perhaps dye lots.

The image on my website may or may not reflect the true colors but I can't know because I can't see your screen.

We also will have Maple Leaf in P/V in just a few more weeks. The fabric is scheduled to be on the looms this week or next. The colors in P/V will be very close to the Lochcarron colors.

It is sort of strange, I was speaking with one of the co-designers of the Maple Leaf Tartan and he was telling me that the colors used today for the Tartan are not the original colors he envisioned when he first designed it.
According to him the green was lighter and brighter. To reflect the colors of Maple Trees in the summer.
Then the three stripes should be Yellow, Orange and Brown to reflect the changes of the leaves in the fall.

It seems that these colors were changed at some point. Probably due to a weaver running out of the original colors and substituting today's colors. Today the Green is very dark. And the three stripes are different shades of brown. With the designers permission I tried to find a weaver who had yarns in the original colors but it would have required a special dye lot.

[ThistleDown]

Two takes on the same tartan in different lighting, woven by the (now gone) F&K in Vancouver. I was assured by the ML designer that this was colour-correct. The kilt was made by Barb T.

[ThistleDown]

Steve, can you do a cut and paste to show a comparison? Lochcarron, F&K, MM, etc. This is a superb tartan; it would be of great benefit to everyone to be able to compare without weaver-bias I have some bits of F&K if you need them to scan.

Rex.ThistleDown

[The Wizard of BC]

Can you mail them to me Rex?

Marton Mills does not normally do Maple Leaf. Mine in P/V is a special order. But I will do scans when the fabric arrives.

Oh and Pit Rat, there is no orange in Maple Leaf. What you are seeing is tan.

[ThistleDown]

No, no orange in Maple Leaf. It may be a month or six weeks, Steve, before I can find it in the warehouse and sent it. Okay? I'll send them as soon as....

[Dixiecat]

I do know of the Plaid Place. I'm renting a Nova Scotia tartan from their for my summer wedding.
I hadn't thought of asking them to make one. I believe I asked them for a Nova Scotia tartan one many years ago and it was an outrageous price.

I have looked into MacIsaac's. They quoted me $795. plus S&H, plus applicable taxes. And I have a semi-small budget.
The USA Kilts price of $319 was more my range.

I shall continue my research and look hard at the photos presented to me.
Cheers gents!

IMHO, I'd try to use a kiltmaker in Canada. After all, it is the official tartan of Canada. Kinda defeats the purpose if you spend money outside of Canada in order to wear the kilt.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Burnetts and Struth. They have quality casual kilts and are located in Barrie. There's also The Gaelic College. They provide kiltmaking services.
I'd also recommend a chat with Sandra at Heart of the Highlands. While H of the H is a highland dance supplier, Sandra has many contacts and I've known her to outfit weddings with both used and custom-made. She can get the cloth and put you in contact with a kiltmaker.

The Plaid Place is a great source, but I know that they have their kilts made in Scotland which is another reason why they're a bit pricey.

You've got the benefit of living in the Maritimes, the highest concentration of Scottish descendants in Canada. Three provinces to explore for kilts! So, try the classified, go to the highland games and hit up the vendors and check out online sellers. Be patient, you'll find what you need.

I've sent you a PM with info regarding a ML kilt for sale privately.

[The Wizard of BC]

Rex, It may be that long till the new run of Maple Leaf gets here so no problem.

I currently have about five kilts worth of Maple Leaf in 13 and 16oz from Lochcarron and HOE so we will have plenty to post a comparison.