Tartan tat kings go Scottish

[James MacMillan]

My question is the same as others have raised and I haven't seen an answer.

Has anyone actually had one of the Gold Brothers kilts in their hands or wrapped around their waist?

I would be very interested in a side by side comparison.

I own a few SWK, USA, etc and several tanks.

Are the Gold Brothers kilts really the same as those that Jerry sells?

[Frank McGrath]

companies is an independent Jaguar belongs to Ford, .

Ford sold Jaguar to an India based auto manufacturer. Is nothing sacred?

When one man builds a widget, the next guy will try to build a cheaper widget so he can sell more. It's just human nature. And the more people complain about it, the more advertising no. 2 gets for free. Like my mum used to tell me, Just ignore it and it will go away. But as long as people want a good deal (cheap prices), this kind of thing will go on forever.

[McClef]

In the spirit of your post, I respectfully disagree. Edinburgh is not unique and mostly they are just meeting demand. My sister has an office in S Africa and one in Lexington KY so we travel quite a bit, I have business (and pleasure) dealings all over the world and I don't mind visiting when necessary. I see CRAP being sold everywhere. Tourists have money to spend on trash, so they buy trash in Scotland, Mexico, Argentina, Botswana, Australia, I could go on forever. Those who want authentic study and pay accordingly.

Breeks are fairly expensive as well. Retailers here want $179 and up. I am still kicking myself for not having a nice pair made when the dollar was worth something.

David

I am completely aware that tourist trash is sold the world over David but its trash competing with other trash. And no matter that the name of the place on the souvenir is its probably been made in China.

Not trash competing with quality. You show me another place where you have trash kilt shops passing off the impression that their wares are genuinely Scottish (thanks to the misleading labelling) and those with the real home made article and I will believe you that Edinburgh is not unique in that respect. Economics is one thing, economics with ethics is another.

If you want to buy a particular TV for example it's the same entity no matter where you find it and no matter what the price difference for it may be between suppliers (and these difference can indeed be substantial). Golds are not selling the same entity but are trying to give the impression that they are.

[sharpdressedscot]

If it's not Scottish, it's crap!!!

[Raphael]

Ford sold Jaguar to an India based auto manufacturer. Is nothing sacred?

What is wrong with that? India is a growing economic power in the far east. In the business world, money talks. They have the money and probably have a good business plan. They also own Land Rover as well. I am sure these guys will respect the brand just as much as Ford, if not more. India is not a country that any one should look down upon.

Jaguar was once owned by the British government and they almost ran it to the ground. Just because the Brand is own by British, that doesn't mean the brand will be ran properly.

[Raphael]

If the Gold Brothers are barred from trading in Edinburgh, how much more business will the traditional kilt shop made or will they force to sell cheap kilts because the tourists can't afford the 'real one.'

Tourists buy kilts because they want to bring home a piece of Scotland with them, but not all of them can afford hand sewn creations with them.

[ForresterModern]

My question is the same as others have raised and I haven't seen an answer.

Has anyone actually had one of the Gold Brothers kilts in their hands or wrapped around their waist?

I would be very interested in a side by side comparison.

I own a few SWK, USA, etc and several tanks.

Are the Gold Brothers kilts really the same as those that Jerry sells?

I bought two Gold Bros kilts from Heritage of Scotland just a couple months ago when they had a big online 20% sale, before I got far enough into this forum and their background to have been more suspicious enough to go elsewhere. Mine were not their off the peg non-wool extreme budget variety however. They were their standard 8 yard machine sewn kilt from their special range of select bargain tartans, a 16oz Ancient MacDonald made from HOE tartan (their Nevis range which is of slightly coarser quality weave and significantly lower per yard fabric price, but of genuine Scottish origin), and a 16oz Black Isle tartan by Marton Mills (a Borderlands mill also noted for reasonable quality fabric but not up to the luxury quality of the usual Lochcarron, Strathmore or the regular HOE fabrics). After the sale discount they each cost just at $300US with free shipping. Add another $120 to that for Customs tariffs brings each purchase price to $360 US or so. They arrived in right around a month after ordering. I had a problem when they arrived, as I had measured according to their techniques, and the waist and hip measurements were identical to my first kilt, a custom made 13 oz Forrester Modern (Strathmore) built to the exact same measurements by JRHiggins here in the states, which fits like a charm. The Gold Bros kilts seem made to an equal level of quality and design, but were clearly way too big, at least 2-3 inches in the waist and hips. I got two separate kilt specialists (one a maker herself and one a kilt rental/special order kilt vendor recently relocated from Scotland himself) to look at them and they agreed that they were both built too big for the sizes specified and needed to be modified. After working through Gold Bros online complaint system, I got a response three weeks later that there might be an error in building the kilts, but since they were both off by an equal amount they thought the error was likely in my measuring technique (not likely since my Higgins kilt fits superbly using the same measurements). GB offered to recheck them and resize them although I would have to pay for the shipping back to Scotland and then again back her to Phoenix, and if they thought the kilts were made to the measurements I had given them (most likely their assessment) then I would have to pay for the alterations as well, although a relatively small charge. They suggested instead that it would be cheaper to have someone instead do it locally, so I had Kathy Lare in Albequerque move the buckles/straps to bring them in a few inches to a now perfect fit. Another $100 for the repairs and shipping brought the total tab to around $410 per kilt, but at least they finally fit right and actually look and wear good. Both Kathy and the guy at the kilt rental place estimated their value at around $500 each without knowing the original price paid, but commented that they were both well made machine sewn kilts of quality build and good quality Scottish fabric, surprising them for their experience having seen and/or repaired other Gold Bros work in their past. And both kilts have a tag stating that they were both sewn in Scotland.

So all in all, considering my level of ignorance about the Gold Bros reputation at the time I ordered the kilts, I think I got a couple pretty well made kilts and a decent deal out of it all, although it would have been better if they had fit properly the first time or if they had just fixed the kits themselves without all the added expenses I would have had to incur.

Now comes the real question: Will I ever go back and buy another from them? Not sure at this point, but since I am going to Scotland for a couple weeks in June I will firsthand assess their businesses on the Royal Mile and let that help make up my mind Not really fond of their complaint response/cutomer service end of things right now, either. So not entirely happy, not singing their praises, but feeling pretty lucky that I got a couple good kilts at a reasonable price out of the deal, even acountingfor all the hassles.

[Nanook]

Much of the "discussions" regarding the "Gold Bros" is little more than bigotry motivated by economic desire and want of racially defined privilege. The same kind of talk one would have heard 100 years ago. The simple truth is: much of the textile industry in the U.K.--- including much of the Scottish industry--- has been since the late 19th century driven by migrants (and not just household names of today such as Burtons, Burberry, Marks and Spencer).
A suit is not a suit and a pair of pants are not a pair of pants, not all shoes are the same and kilts are not all the same. Does the availability of $30 suits have any impact of the business of Brioni, Kiton or Oxxford for $4000+ suits? Does the availability of $10 plastic shoes effect the business of Alden ($350-600+ shoes)? Absolutely NOT.
The "Gold Bros" sell cheap ("Tartan tat") kilts quite legitimately. "Designed in Scotland"? How about those $100 USD Adidas, Puma, Nike etc. training shoes? Made in Viet Nam, Thailand, Bangladesh, China! Designed (perhaps) in USA.. perhaps not.. How about all those $500-$600 designer suits? Most are made in China? How about U.S. colonial furniture? Nearly all of it: Made in China. And that Apple iPod? "Designed in California, Made in China".
Pakistani kilts? What do you think those replica (WPG) kilts are made? And most of the economy and "frugal" kilts mentioned here? ALL of them!
Are the "Gold Bros" cheating tourists selling them something different from what they think it is? Absolutely NOT. You think Scots don't buy these cheap kilts? Of course they do.. Cheap imported kilts, sporrans etc., shoes made in India or China. Food from discount shops with questionable economic and labour policies. Is the US any different? How often do I see the name "WalMart" mentioned in this forum!

[McClef]

It's not a case of banning Raphael it's a case of them being honest about their off the peg cheapies. With those there is no "little bit of Scotland" to take home.

They do do made to measure stuff which is what Forrester got and no doubt as they take over more kilt makers that they have put out of business they will make even more of these.

[Clockwork John]

My question is the same as others have raised and I haven't seen an answer.

Has anyone actually had one of the Gold Brothers kilts in their hands or wrapped around their waist?

I would be very interested in a side by side comparison.

I own a few SWK, USA, etc and several tanks.

Are the Gold Brothers kilts really the same as those that Jerry sells?

I own two Gold Brothers kilts. In Fact, the kilt I wore to the Magic Castle came from a Gold Bros shop. The other one I own was about half the price, and it is crap.

I couldn't compare them to SWK as I don't have one, but I'm very happy with my Campbell of Argyll from the Gold Brothers.