this is a very tough issue.

with the advent of the internet and "electronic commerce", the smaller shop owners can turn to the internet to expand their market, moving beyond their geographic limitations and sell to the world. One of the best kilted examples would be ( pick between USAK, AW, SWK, UK....etc...). While they have a small shop to serve their local clients, they have created a sizeable business based on internet sales.

to think of the internet as a killer of the small shops is a misconception. While they may have a bit more overhead than a purely internet shop, were they to expand to the internet to sell to the world, the possibility to compete with these web-only vendors is increased.

Keep in mind that most of the current scottish kiltmakers on the web either have a shop in scotland, or draws it's resources from shops there. I seriously doubt that the web vendors from scotland were able to train master kilt-makers in the past few short years. Regardless of where you get your kilt, wear it proudly.

Should you buy it from the kilt-maker up the road, or around the globe, I raise my pint to you who dare to keep the once outlawed traditions of the Scots alive and well!