Local made or import from Scotland?

**BCAC** · 27th September 12, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Mike_Oettle

This thread is almost a litany of problems occurring when North Americans have ordered kilts in their own country which have then been made (badly) in Scotland.
Since I expect in the near future to order a kilt from Scotland (through Scotweb) I am wondering whether this will be the best course to follow.
The problem in South Africa is that there are not nearly as many kilt makers around, and the only two I know of deal solely in four-yard kilts. So since my new kilt will be an eight-yarder, it seemed logical to have it made in Scotland.
An additional reason for using a Scottish kilt maker is that my wife does not think my South African kilts are properly made, and I want to be able to say: “This is the way my kilt was made in Scotland.”
Do our resident experts have any advice for me?
Regards,
Mike

First off, Mike, I will say that I have a Kilt that I ordered through Scotweb. It's a fine kilt and the whole experience was OK.
I was lucky in that I had no problems because buying from Scotweb you are buying through one of Riverkilt's big hates. A "middleman".

My last kilt I had made for me by Paul Henry. An all together different experience. A thousand times better. Even if it's only by email (or by phone if you have to) then you are talking to your kiltmaker. Your are talking to the man who works his magic on a nice piece of cloth to turn it into "your" tank. This is the top. There is no better. Your kilt becomes unique because you can ask for him to do something (anything really) that no one else will have. Paul tries to 'personalise' the lining he puts in the kilts he makes (in accordance with the person for whom he is making the kilt). This alone makes it unique. It's yours. You could ask for virtually anything, within reason, and, if you pay to cover the work involved, then you have what you want. You can't do that through a middleman.

I'm really biased but I would advise you to go through a kiltmaker whose work you have seen, who comes recommended, and with whom you can talk throughout the whole process. Even if it cost slightly more. It's well worth it. You wont regret it.