The Kilt in Crisis

**skauwt** · 4th October 10, 03:52 PM

the journalist is a Canadian that's lived in scotland for 7 years and worked with various news papers about the us uk and canada ,
i reckon he`s went to a kilt shop and then been told this story by a disgruntled kilt maker fed up with tartan-tat and the stories matured to a broad sheet

**Riverkilt** · 4th October 10, 04:58 PM

Mentioned the article to my kiltmaker, she read it and got back saying she knows a number of kiltmakers in Scotland who would love to have some kilt orders to sew up.

Go figure.

**morrison** · 4th October 10, 06:28 PM

WOOF
I believe this, "For as long as someone wants a kilt, there will be someone to sew a kilt." Additionally, while many levels of skill exist, the perfect garment will always remain a stitch out of reach for the ever-so-demanding perfectionist. Some fella's don't care about specific alignments of crease or Sett or Stripe, while many will continue to return the item for repair of perceived flaws. Some makers of the kilt will be able to make the repairs while some will lack the acumen.

ah . .

tennnnn . . . .

. . HUT

KILT . . . .

. . . ON
arf

**Urchurdan** · 5th October 10, 02:28 AM

I don't consider it snobbish to take pride in ownership in an item that an Artisan has made especially for you, whether its a kilt, a sporran, a car or any other object.
The knowledge that you own a ' one of a kind' is second to none.

**Tobus** · 5th October 10, 04:20 AM

Originally Posted by Urchurdan

I don't consider it snobbish to take pride in ownership in an item that an Artisan has made especially for you, whether its a kilt, a sporran, a car or any other object.
The knowledge that you own a ' one of a kind' is second to none.

Sure, I agree with that. If you're responding to my comments, I certainly wasn't implying snobbery on the part of kilt owners. But it is snobbish for a kiltmaker to say that there's only ONE proper way to make a kilt, and everyone else who does it differently is heaping shame upon the profession or destroying it entirely. (Not that anyone said that directly, but it's the general feel of the article.)

I mean, let's face it. It's not like the modern kilt, or its methods of construction, have been around for thousands of years. Even these traditional kiltmakers are following a practice that isn't very old, and that has changed from the early kiltmaking days. The construction of the kilt, and the methods used to build it, have always been changing!

This really is, in my mind, a simple case of people who (rightly) take pride in the quality of their work looking to disparage others because they feel that their business is in jeopardy. It's understandable. And I really do hope that they keep their craft alive. But it still must be called what it is: snobbery.

**Riverkilt** · 5th October 10, 07:18 AM

Perhaps.....kiltmakers are similar to the may forms of auto mechanics. Some figure it out themselves under a shade tree. Some buy a "how to" book and do the work. Some invest the time and money to go to auto mechanic school and learn from the pros and get certification of their abilities.

Some take their cars direct to a mechanic who works for himself. Some take their cars to dealers who have mechanics on staff.

Will mechanics die out?....not as long as there are cars to repair. Will kiltmakers die out? Not as long as someone needs a kilt sewn up.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 5th October 10, 07:31 AM

I just spoke on the phone with one of the individuals interviewed for the article and he says that the number of kilt makers mentioned is an estimate from someone of the number of kilt makers who were trained in the traditional methods via an apprenticeship. It was not meant to be suggested that there were only 10 kilt makers in Scotland in total. However, the wording in the article, either through the fault of the writer or the editor, did not reflect that. The wording used was something like "only 10 authentic kilt makers left" which would of course get some hackles up.

**artificer** · 5th October 10, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

I just spoke on the phone with one of the individuals interviewed for the article and he says that the number of kilt makers mentioned is an estimate from someone of the number of kilt makers who were trained in the traditional methods via an apprenticeship. It was not meant to be suggested that there were only 10 kilt makers in Scotland in total. However, the wording in the article, either through the fault of the writer or the editor, did not reflect that. The wording used was something like "only 10 authentic kilt makers left" which would of course get some hackles up.

It's also a touch unfortunate that the author of the article left out "ESTIMATED" in the 'only 10 authentic kilt makers left'.

Thanks for the follow up info and fact checking (isn't that the paper's fact-checker's job?

)

**McFarkus** · 5th October 10, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

I just re-read the article. My, made in Scotland, hand stitched, 16oz, tank cost £300. 200-250 of those is £60,000 to £75,000 per annum. If it is true then why aren't more people doing it? Half of that is considered a very good income!

Maybe a pinch of salt required?

Regards

Chas

The cost of material is probably more than half of that

**Riverkilt** · 5th October 10, 07:55 AM

My kiltmaker is one of those trained in Scotland at Keith Kilt School and Traditional Kiltmaker's Guild members. Yesterday paid off the balance of $565 for a hand sewn kilt with flashes with the tartan a special weave by Dalgliesh. Went direct with her so no middleman. She's well enough known and sought out by pipe bands that she makes a fair living as a full time kiltmaker. But, she does not live in Scotland. She remains friends with and supportive of her classmates at kilt school who do live in Scotland.