If it's cheap and nasty it's not a kilt!

[Phil]

This is another take on the recent BBC coverage, this time in "The Scotsman"
with some interesting comments - some not unlike those expressed here -
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/late...645.jp#3267601

And just when you thought it was only a problem for Scotland - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...r-Germans.html

[Spc. Scott]

Neat little article.

One good thing about the times we live in is the comments section of these news stories. You can really get a lot more out of a story after filtering through the comments.

[george7]

Hear hear!

[Blinki]

Interesting story. The statement "The kilt-making industry is worth an estimated £350M a year" is that counting the "cheap foreign "knock-offs""? If so I wonder how much are the lower end imports contributing to the total?

I guess the flip side to the argument is how many tourists who are buying these things would really plunk down the money for a " bespoke garment" whilst on vacation? Most I would think look at £200 or £300 and a couple of weeks wait vs the £30 looks "just as nice". Plus the £30 cheapo has the instant gratification factor.

Even if somehow they were to stop importation by some sort of legislation or tariff then wouldn't they just ship the raw materials crappy material,leather,hardware and so on and have them made/assembled in Scotland?

Never thought I would see the day somebody was making knockoff Lederhosen though.

[McClef]

Knock offs are an increasing fact of life and any popular form of national address is going to attract them, especially if they can undercut the genuine article!

The comments on the article clearly show an awareness of the existence of the tartan tat shop empire in Edinburgh.

Wonder if those brothers of a nomenclature of a precious metal are aware of the potential profits in Munich?

[beloitpiper]

The comments on that site gave me a headache.

[Hamish]

The comments on that site gave me a headache.

I quite agree, Greg. To be honest, I have stopped reading the comments on the on-line editions of The Scotsman. On the whole they are pretty abusive regardless of the topic, and appear to be contributed by a smallish core of 'professional' stirrers. I rather wish the paper would dispense with that facility.

Take care,
Ham.

[gilmore]

When I was in Sweden, I was told that being reserved is a Swedish trait, that Swedes are kindly and polite yet withdrawn and don't often openly speak ill of one another. However, they sometimes let out all that represessed hostility in anomymous letters.

Could some Scots have inherited something from their Norse forebears?