Major Jonseing -- and longish post

[Riverkilt]

Don't know if its an option in Australia - but you'll have much better results if you deal directly with a quality kiltmaker, rather than through a middleman who can "get it for you." I have one kilt made by a nameless, faceless kiltmaker filtered through a middleman - but only because it was sewn to the wrong size for the buyer and the wrong size happened to be my size and the middleman wanted to sell it at a well reduced price.

Otherwise I deal direct with kiltmakers....full time kiltmakers who devote their full work time to kiltmaking. The orders in front of me are filled faster so my kilts get sewn up sooner. Biggest wait is often for fabric to be shipped in from Scotland or for fabric to be custom woven then shipped in from Scotland. I've never waited more than three months - often less - for a hand sewn kilt from my full time kiltmaker....and I expect to wait that three months when I place the order.

If its just you talking directly to the craftsman who's going to sew up your kilt there is much much less chance that you'll have confusion over sizes and tartans or God forbid delivery deadlines for that kilted wedding. If you can visit the kiltmaker and have them measure you for a kilt that's best of all.

And quality kiltmakers are all well versed in working with the mills in Scotland and can find you the exact tartan you want - or have it woven - just like the middleman. So why pay someone else to do the work that you can easily do yourself and your kiltmaker will happily do for you as part of the total cost?

Gotta be kiltmakers in Australia you can contact direct. If not, or none to your satisfaction, I think any overseas kiltmaker would be happy to work with you too. No clue on import/export costs though.

Your mileage may vary - but working direct has been a smooth process for me through over a dozen hand sewn kilts. Higher quality, faster service, lower cost....seems to violate the rule of you can have any two of price, quality, or service....maybe you can have all three.