Lochcarrron Mill to Shut

[skauwt]

its the same here in coatbridge we have mackinnon mills and my aunt works there

some months she works some she doesn't at the moment they had been told the contract they have can and will be terminated at anytime as its cheaper to employ them on that system than hire them all full time shes been made jobless about 7 times in a few years and taken on again from the company which i believe is part of the Edinburgh wool mill

lets hope the staff there in lochcarron might end up in a similar situation a part time basis is better than no job at all

[Alan H]

Ouch. I'm feeling for those people who will shortly be jobless.

[MacBean]

I visited Lochcarron in Lochcarron in August. They do some fine weaving there; I saw two largish looms, both for custom work. They confirmed that the production tartans were wavoen in Selkirk.

[Hamish]

Sad news indeed, Alex, and I feel for the folk of Hawick.

Take care,
Ham.

[SFCRick]

sad news indeed

[OC Richard]

It makes me angry to walk down the Royal Mile and see shop after shop chock-full with Pakistani bagpipes and Indian kilts, dirks, and sporrans and tourists buying same while old established local sporran makers are going out of business and wonderful local pipemakers are barely keeping going.

I am of the opinion that Scotland should enact a law proclaiming certain items National Cultural Products, these being illegal to import into Scotland for resale, and it being illegal to sell such items within Scotland unless they are Scottish-made. Items on the list would be things such as Highland Bagpipes, practice chanters, kilts, and sporrans. Some things such as jackets specifically designed to be worn with the kilt might be difficult to define.

Perhaps the law would have to be UK-wide to be effective.

[Phil]

Another nail in the coffin of what was once a thriving industry in the Borders. I doubt if anything will replace it either so a blow for local employment.

[McClef]

It would have to be UK wide OC as currently Scotland cannot define its own policy regarding imports.

[Steve Ashton]

May we please not speculate on what may or may not happen with Lochcarron.

As Scotland is closed for the day I contacted the President of Lochcarron Canada directly by phone and asked for an official statement from the Company that I could post here.

I should have that statement in the morning.

Until we have an official response may I remind our members that the mill in Hawick produced only knit wear. All Tartan fabric is produced in the mill in Selkirk. This mill in Hawick is the one that is mentioned in the article not the mill in Selkirk.

[Steve Ashton]

Here is the email I got from Lindsay,



Hello Steve ,

In reply to your question in regard to the planned closure of the Knitwear Division of Lochcarron in Hawick, will have no effect with regards to the weaving of the cloth at the Selkirk headquarters of Lochcarron .

The Official statement from Lochcarron read as follows ,

"All weaving production, which continues to grow and now makes up 85% of the company’s output, will continue in Selkirk. Lochcarron of Scotland moved its headquarters, including design and weaving production facilities from Galashiels to Selkirk in 2007. It also established a visitor centre that has since been awarded Visit Scotland’s five star rating"

Kind Regards Lindsay

Mr Lindsay Gaff
General Manager
Lochcarron North America.
http://www.burnetts-struth.com
http://www.biltkilt.com
Burnetts-Struth Scottish Regalia Ltd
Ph(705)728-3232 Fax(705)728-5923
Business Hrs Mon-Fri 8am-6pm Sat 9am-4pm

He also gave me his assurances that everything would be done for most of the employees in Hawick and that some would be offered positions at the Selkirk facility which is just down the road from Hawick.