Kilt-Mart sporran

[Tiny]

Part of the unseen cost involved in purchasing a cheap Asian imported sporran or kilt is the effect it has on Scotland's economy. Nicoll Brothers, a Scottish sporran maker who had been around since the 1830's was forced to close their doors a couple of years ago due to the fact that the plague of cheap Asian imported sporrans has had a devastating impact on the demand for high-quality, Scottish manufactured goods. The more people buy this foreign crap, the more high quality Scottish owned businesses will suffer, until there are eventually none left, then everyone will have to settle for shoddily-made counterfeits.

As a testament to the enduring quality of true Scottish made goods, I would offer the following example:

Note the silver-mounted sporran worn by the lad on the left in the front row of this circa 1900 photograph:



It's the same one shown being worn by his great nephew 100 years later in this photo:

I will eventually buy a high end sporran, however right now I'm in no position to spend that kind of money. In regards to the high end sporran I get later I am more likely to commission a custom piece made by a local leather worker instead of buying a sporran from Scotland. By hiring a leather worker to make my sporran I can have a true custom piece of art that is exactly what I want and no one will have the same sporran. Also by using a local leather worker I support my local economy.