Kiltmakers in Edinburgh, questions . . .

[ozone]

My vote is with The Celtic Craft Centre. I have now worn my kilt made by them skiing several times...inlcuding this past Sunday. If you want to place a kilt under harsh treatment, skiing would be it.

The lifts seats hit you so fast, you barely have time to sweep your kilt & end up with it rumpled under you for the lift ride up. Then there's the wind on the way down. If you fall...ice at 40mph can do a number on any variety of clothing....but never my kilt (yeah, I know...bad idea to fall).

Through all of this abuse, my kilt has held up very well with nary a wrinkle. My experience with The Celtic Craft Centre was exemplary and they personally brought me my kilt to the Estes Park games in Colorado and made sure everything was just right before i left the tent.

So, that's my $0.02

[Martin S]

I shall be having a brief visit to Edinburgh soon.
Does anyone know which shop would have the widest selection of samples to look at?
I am tempted by several tartans I have seen on web photos, but I'd much prefer to see the real thing.
The price some shops charge to send a few inches of swatch I find exorbitant.

Martin

[McClef]

Certainly Hector Russell and the Celtic Craft centre have plenty of swatch books for your perusal Martin!

[Rampant Lion]

I bought my kilt from the Celtic Craft Centre back when it was still in San Francisco. Though I only have the one kilt, this one is very well made; it only has two buckles and no belt loops, but that's because a belt isn't need it fits so well. And it was made in Scotland and then shipped to the US. When I needed a little repair done (caught my kilt on something and a seam thread came loose) they fixed it for no charge. I recommend them.

[Joseph McLaren]

I must add my recommendation for Stewart Christie, 63 Queen Street. I've just returned from a kilt-buying trip to Edinburgh and found Stewart Christie's service absolutely impeccable~ although, until I return for the second fitting, I can't speak definitively about the quality of the product! I ordered a made-to-measure kilt in McLaren Weathered Strome, as well as a charcoal tweed Braemar with waistcoat, and picked up a pair of the best ghillie brogues I've seen, by Cheaney.

I spent a few days looking at the various shops on the Royal Mile and elsewhere, but plumped for Stewart Christie for a few reasons: there wasn't a single tea-towel, fridge magnet or tin of shortbread in sight; the service was attentive and courteous without the merest hint of high-pressure salesmanship; nothing in the shop was anything less than excellent quality.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Stewart, Christie and Co Ltd, 63 Queen Street in the New Town. Well away from the tourist kilt shops. Excellent service, and an absolute top quality hand sewn kilt.

I have patronized them for more than 30 years. They also do the uniforms for the Royal Company of Archers. Need one say more?

[kscaddo]

I've had a CCC kilt for 9 or ten years. Great workmanship and it has held up well. I ordered it from their tent at a Highland Games here in Texas. That being said, when my wife and I visited their shop in Edinburgh in 2005, the two girls on duty there hardly would give us the time of day.
Regards,
Ken

[Philip S. Tibbetts]

Another one one worth mentioning is the Celtic Craft Centre.

They were heavily recommended to me by local Edinburgh people.

http://www.celticcraftcentre.com/

Website isn't up to much at present but a great place to visit and I have a kilt on order from them. Added advantage is that they not only have a shop in Edinburgh but also one in Palm Springs so can overcome a lot of the delivery and import problems that might otherwise arise.

Piccies of the Caledonia Ancient in due course of course!

I got mine from this shop, and they were recommended to me by my girlfriends mother who has been using them for 20 years. I found them to be very professional but at the same time take themselves a little less seriously than the likes of Geoffrey (Tailor), which is just something that I personally appreciate.

[hylander]

Wow! these posts have long lives. Being the original poster back '07, I have since been to Scotland and back (awesome time it was too!). I went to the Celtic Craft Center in Paisley Close on the High Street, and a great experience it was. Nikki was very helpful throughout the whole process. We were in Edinburgh in July and by Christmas I had my new kilt (flashes and flyplaid), in my "rare" family tartan and have worn it with pride ever since. The hand work on all is exceptional and I would not hesitate to recommend Celtic Craft Center to anyone. The folks there really understand personal service and went out of their way to make sure the whole experience was positive. Here is picture of me in my "new" kilt in the Great Hall in Edinburgh Castle (via a little Fireworks magic).

[Philip S. Tibbetts]

Wow! these posts have long lives. Being the original poster back '07, I have since been to Scotland and back (awesome time it was too!). I went to the Celtic Craft Center in Paisley Close on the High Street, and a great experience it was. Nikki was very helpful throughout the whole process. We were in Edinburgh in July and by Christmas I had my new kilt (flashes and flyplaid), in my "rare" family tartan and have worn it with pride ever since. The hand work on all is exceptional and I would not hesitate to recommend Celtic Craft Center to anyone. The folks there really understand personal service and went out of their way to make sure the whole experience was positive. Here is picture of me in my "new" kilt in the Great Hall in Edinburgh Castle (via a little Fireworks magic).

That looks great there hylander And thanks for the photo and story - good to see and hear the happy ending