Isle of Skye look-alike tartans out there?

**k.mcrimmen** · 10th June 09, 06:14 AM

I want to have a dress made for a friends Scottish wedding this fall and my husbands kilt is of Isle of Skye- but its a costly tartan. Anyone know of a wool or poly viscose that is similar to IoS tartan?

OR.... anyone know of a poly viscose tartan manufacturer who has yardage fairly inexpensive.... say $15 a yard or so?

**BEEDEE** · 10th June 09, 06:30 AM

I beleive Marton Mills weaves IOS, but do not know the price.

Brian

**McMurdo** · 10th June 09, 06:32 AM

I own an Isle of Skye Tartan kilt, as it is very distinctive I'd have to say there really are no lookalikes, however it is now available in Poly-Viscose from Marton Mills. USAKilts, Freedom Kilts and Canadian Casual Kilts have it in PV.

**Riverkilt** · 10th June 09, 06:36 AM

Understand finances to be an issue.

I will tell you that there is no finer look than a woman in an Isle of Skye tartan skirt or with an Isle of Skye tartan wrap around her shoulders IF the cloth is Lochcarron Strome. Eyes rachet in their sockets from across the grounds.

The tartan is beautiful on large garments.

I understand the sett of the Isle of Skye PV is smaller than the sett of the wool - if that is of importance to you.

Ron

**Kiltboy** · 10th June 09, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Understand finances to be an issue.

I will tell you that there is no finer look than a woman in an Isle of Skye tartan ...

Hey! I think there is nothing finer than a man in a IOS tartan kilt. Of course, that's because a own one from USAKilts.

You'll find many similar tartans for IOS, but I've never found one that compares to the real Isle of Skye. Oh, and if someone offers you a Bright Skye, cover your eyes. It's painful to look at.

**scotchmaster** · 10th June 09, 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by k.mcrimmen

I want to have a dress made for a friends Scottish wedding this fall and my husbands kilt is of Isle of Skye- but its a costly tartan. Anyone know of a wool or poly viscose that is similar to IoS tartan?

OR.... anyone know of a poly viscose tartan manufacturer who has yardage fairly inexpensive.... say $15 a yard or so?

Have you thought of jusat adding a IOS sash/shawl to a dress you already have?

**The Wizard of BC** · 10th June 09, 08:23 AM

To directly answer your question;

Yes, there is a reputable Mill that weaves IOS in Poly/Viscose.
The price is not quite as low as $15.00 us per fabric yard but it's close.

You can contact any of us who buy fabric from Marton Mills and we can order it for you.

Rocky at USA Kilts

Pete at Canadian Casual Kilts

Me at Freedom Kilts

**ForresterModern** · 10th June 09, 08:25 AM

Scotweb lists wool tartans in IoS by Lochcarron and Marton Mills. 16oz MM Jura is not listed there but I know is available for about $55US per DoubleWidth (DW) meter from other vendors. Lochcarron is about $10 more per DW meter. 13oz MM Bute is on Scotweb for about $36 per DW meter, and 10.5oz MM Glamis is on Scotweb for about $28.50 per DW meter (Lochcarron is about twice this price). Marton Mills does not list it on their website, but are supposed to be the sole manufacturer of IoS in 11oz PV (polyester-viscose synthetic), which is listed as available at Scotlandshop.net at around $28 per meter DW. Scotweb prices are assuming you use the xmarks discount by entering their website by clicking on their advert top right of each page. Then you would have to add shipping, and VAT if you are in the EU. So the Marton Mills PV is not really any cheaper than the MM Glamis 10.5 oz wool. For a womans skirt or shawl I think the 11 oz material would be fine, depending on how you plan to use it. I have no knowledge as to color matches between the various versions within MM or between it and Lochcarrons fabric.

It is a beautiful tartan but legally registered and copyrighted so "copy cats" are not generally available, except for one god-awfully neon bright one called "Bright Skye" by those vendors that sell stuff made out of it. Not even close to the original.