Kiltmakers in Edinburgh, questions . . .

[McClef]

Trefor,
I am afraid I did not express myself at all well here! What I intended to convey was that the only accessories I saw were of the highest quality - in other words: no cheap rubbish was being sold at The Celtic Craft Centre! There was, I think, a kilt-wearing mannequin on or near the stairs but I do not recall seeing anything much more of yer actual kilts on view there. However, you have visited more recently than I, and so it is my turn, Trefor, to defer to your experience there.

It could be the layout of the shop Hamish as the accessories are what you see when you first enter and you have to go through an archway into the back room where all the kilts are. It's also where they keep their books of swatches. It's a more olde worlde type of shop and easy to miss in the first place as they only have a street sign on the High St when they are open.

I have to confess that I am truly shocked by this report of your experiences at Geoffrey (Tailor) and TFCK, and I intend to print your words and show them to Howie Nicholsby when I meet with him in London on Saturday. Might I ask, Trefor, did this occur on your recent visit to Edinburgh, or was it a while back? Whilst I do know some of the sales staff personally, I do not know them all and nor do they all know me but whenever I have called in at the High Street shop, I have never had to wait for assistance - unless they have all been busy. Let us see what Howie has to say to all of this.

If they had been busy it would have been understandable. As I said the same thing happened in October last year and the second occasion was Monday 19th February. On neither occasion was Howie present. I have no wish to make trouble but can only speak as I found and it has happened twice. Is it purely my experience or might others have found the same? Andrew wasn't impressed either. You might not know all the staff personally Hamish but being the legend you are I am darned sure they know what you look like and that you know Howie. If I had been approached and asked if I required assistance I would have mentioned your recommendation of their establishment!

But it can't make good commercial sense to lose a potential sale by not asking a simple question and giving a friendly greeting. I would hope they didn't make assumptions that I couldn't need anything more as I was dressed in my 8 yard Cornish National and wearing a Lovatt Green jacket and a Balmoral. But every other shop we went in, quality or otherwise, brought a greeting and an offer of assistance. I shall of course visit again and see what happens on a third occasion.

My "wedding kilt" in Weathered Lochaber was made by the folks at the Celtic Craft Centre.



There are several things I really like about their work...

1) They guarantee no "pleat kicking" on their kilts. The first pleat to the left of the apron is tailored to avoid that.

2) They only put two straps (one left, one right) on their regular kilts. I prefer this to the more common three-strap kilts.

3) They offer a lifetime fit guarantee on their work - you pay for shipping, they fix the kilt to fit you again. This is nice, since I've lost nine inches on my waistline, and the kilt is currently with them getting "fixed." I should have it back in a month or so.

I can't recommend them enough.

Well as to 2) they stated at time of ordering that I had the option of two or three straps and even if I wanted belt loops or not and I opted for my preference of three with the loops and all at no extra charge.

Yes I forget to mention what you cover at 3) Caradoc. I haven't heard such a guarantee mentioned in any other establishment!