Quote Originally Posted by RockyR View Post
The issue I take with articles like this (as others point out) is that a "kilt", BOILED DOWN is a tartan skirt with a flat apron in the front and pleats in the back. Cheap tat AND McCalls' kilts both fit that VERY basic description.

What I wouldn't mind (as a kiltmaker of "low end" AND "traditional" kilts), would be a designation of "Scottish Kilt" or something like that. However, I think that what's good for the goose if good for the gander. If Mr. Hawthorne wants the designation to include the things he stipulated, it should be EXCLUSIVELY Scottish and "traditionally" made.

Canuck of NI said it half in jest in his post (on page 1), but I agree with him. The kilt with such a designation SHOULD be:

1. All hand stitched (even the waistband).
2. Leather straps made of SCOTTISH raised cattle hide.
3. Wool tartan bought from a SCOTTISH mill (No Marton Mills or Batleys)
4. Cotton thread MANUFACTURED in Scotland
5. Buckles cast in Scotland
6. Sheep raised in Scotland and their wool sheared and spun and dyed IN Scotland (no Australia / New Zealand)
7. Dyes produced in Scotland
8. A traditional kiltmaker with X number of years apprenticeship and X number of years experience.

I think that if they're going to want the same kind of protection granted to Scottish Whiskey and Champaign, they should have ALL elements done locally, just like those industries do.

What I think is a bit hypocritical is the Scottish Kiltmaker arguing for "protectionism" using buckles and leather made in China. The Scottish Kiltmaker using cloth woven in an English mill. The Scottish Kiltmaker who uses a machine to sew the waistband while touting their traditional methods.

"Let him without sin cast the first stone" (sorry to get 'biblical', but it was the best quote I could think of). If you want to have protectionist status, make sure EVERY STEP of YOUR process will meet it. After all, we're talking about setting guidelines for top Scottish quality, right? Otherwise, tout your kilt quality and get on with your business.
This is exactly what I meant by the "Harris Tweed" style designation and label.

If the kilt is going to be Soooooooo precious, let's make sure it's justified.