Kilt Shop Employee Not Allowed to Wear Kilt to Work

[Phil]

Phil - I have seen male staff wearing kilts in two branches of one quality kiltmaker - one branch on Princes St and the other branch on the High St.

Perhaps I was lucky but have been to both branches several times and seen them.

You are obviously referring to Hector Russell,Trefor, well established and reputable highlandwear shops. They are, however, firmly focussed in the tourist market and not really the type of clothing outfitter I had in mind. Forgive me for any misunderstanding about my earlier post but these type of touristy shops are not those that I, as a local, would go to for a kilt.

[McClef]

Yes I am Phil.

But I would not call HR any more "touristy" than any other non tat shop. To an extent all rely upon the tourist trade as otherwise local trade could not support the numbers that there are.

Naturally tourists are expecting to see people in kilts and are so frequently disappointed outside of the tat shops. There is a gap between expectation and reality and IMHO the more quality shops are only contributing to it with such no kilt policies.

Anyone who has walked around Edinburgh while kilted will know how difficult it is to get round without being asked to pose,

[Phil]

Naturally tourists are expecting to see people in kilts and are so frequently disappointed outside of the tat shops. There is a gap between expectation and reality and IMHO the more quality shops are only contributing to it with such no kilt policies.

I think tourists may often be disappointed when they come to Scotland only to find that virtually no-one is wearing a kilt. So why the shops that cater specifically for them don't "play the game" and dress up accordingly is a bit of a mystery. I know when I go to Wales I expect to encounter ladies in tall hats and aprons around every corner and in Ireland every second man should be wearing a green suit with shamrock in his lapel, and a green bowler hat on his head as he walks along brandishing his shillelagh. I went to France recently and, would you believe it, not a single individual did I see wearing a striped jersey and beret with a string of onions draped around his neck.. On that subject, by the way, when did you last see an "onion johnny"? I think it must be twenty years or more since I did. I wonder if the EU banned them.
Sorry for delving into some national stereotyping there and I do think the tourist industry of all people should be filling that gap.

[davidg]

Yes I am Phil.

But I would not call HR any more "touristy" than any other non tat shop.

There I disagree with you. As I said in my earlier post they have TWO outlets on Princes Street, the outlet being the upper floor of Romanes & Paterson a couple of blocks along Princes Street

Hector Russell is aimed at tourists and has a preponderance of souvenir type items. Yes, they sell kilts, but at the lower end of the market

The main highland outfitters, the ones I would refer to as up market, sell highland outfits but do not sell the souvenirs. There is a marked difference between the two

Having said that, Hector Russell kilts are not at all bad, but their stock tweed jackets can leave a little to be desired in the quality department

The difference between souvenirs and tat is a fine dividing line. When I was in full blown business I simply refused to sell the souvenirs. I don't believe anyone who does can be taken seriously as a real (i.e. quality) highland outfitter as most of those "souvenirs" are not even made in Scotland

[tpa]

I'm sure it is more expensive to kit employees out in kilts than polo necks with the shop name on them, but as ever in business it is a question of working out what gives the best return. I am always disappointed not to see staff in kilt shops wearing kilts as i feel it is a missed opportunity, but it would be interesting to hear from anyone who has tried both scenarios and quantified the results.

That said, the sense in banning an employee from wearing his own kilt in a kilt shop rather depends on what the options are. If all employees are identically and smartly kitted out in attire which clearly marks them out as a shop staff member, then it is understandable, provided the decision has a sound financial and marketing basis. If they are all wearing different outfits, then it makes no sense at all.

If people are going to buy tat, they will soon find their way out of a quality shop, however if they are are in a position to buy quality goods, then a good example of the wearing of the kilt might just tip the balance between a sale and no sale, especially if the purchaser's partner is involved in the decision.

[McClef]

I don't want to get into love or hate Hector Russell arguments I was merely trying to show that it's not only the GB empire that has kilts on its employees.

The level of expectation for Welsh pointy hats or onion sellers on bicycles is somewhat less, I would contend, than it is for seeing kilts being worn in the Capital city of Scotland.

All I know is that I always get asked to pose with visitors when kilted there. I somehow think that my handsome features and magnificent physique are only secondary reasons why.

[brewerpaul]

All I know is that I always get asked to pose with visitors when kilted there. I somehow think that my handsome features and magnificent physique are only secondary reasons why.

Ill have to remember that next time I get to Scotland for a bike tour. Might make a friend or two wearing a kilt and getting a photo snapped.

And I did pick up a Hecktor Russell off the rack "tourist kilt" when I was there this summer, in Callander, Mostly it was lack of knowledge of what I was buying but it by far is better than some of the tourist kilts I saw in Edinburgh. It isnt deep pleated but the fit is nice and it makes a good pub kilt.

[seanachie]

Hector Russell is aimed at tourists and has a preponderance of souvenir type items. Yes, they sell kilts, but at the lower end of the market

I am NOT taking sides on this issue but I have to say this is factually correct. I was in Inverness in January and perused their shop and was surprised at just how many aptly named "souvenir type items" there were. My other surprises was the number of natives, perhaps due to the proximity of Burns Night, who were inquiring about renting kilts. But that may be me falling into the trap of stereotypes.

[GG]

I just don't understand the Scottish traditional view of when a kilt is appropriate.

Neither do I. The more I read, the more I'm convinced that Scotsmen do their very best to not wear the kilt and that kilt shops/makers are doing their utmost to limit usage of the stuff they sell.

Could you image The Coca Cola Company advicing consumers only to drink Coke at anniversaries?

[Tobus]

Neither do I. The more I read, the more I'm convinced that Scotsmen do their very best to not wear the kilt and that kilt shops/makers are doing their utmost to limit usage of the stuff they sell.

I'm not a Scot, but my take on it (after seeing many such conversations and weighing a lot of the evidence) is that Scots are proud of the kilt. But they're also a little embarrassed by the way the world has treated it.

They seem to cringe a little (and rightly so) at cartoonish, Brigadoonish uses of their historical garb. And so, rather than embracing it for daily wear at the risk of furthering the stereotype, they hold it in reserve for special occasions.

The same seems to be happening with this kilt shop. The jokers down the street are making a mockery of the kilt with their "tartan tat" displays and such. Respectable kilt-makers do not want to risk being associated with that level of ridiculousness, and so they hold the wearing of the kilt in reserve. They have a reputation to maintain, and would rather be seen as respectable businessmen rather than the caricatures seen down the street.

It's a sad state of affairs, but it makes perfect sense. It's not that Scots want to necessarily limit the wearing of the kilt or its availability. They just would rather not wear it if it's going to be associated with ridiculous stereotypes. I can't say I blame them.