Shops in Edinburgh

[JonathanB]

I hope some time this year to get to Edinburgh, as I can get there by train with only one change.

I'd like to browze kilt accesories. I don't want to buy a kilt, but I'd be amused to get a sporran or kilt pin or jacket or whatever takes my fancy.

I'm aware there are large number of tourist rip-off places. I'd probably tell them soon as look at them, but in order to save valuable time, can anyone advise me as to the reputable shops?

[David]

Hector Russell have a place on Princes Street and Nicolson has a place on the Royal Mile, bth only a cough and a spit from Waverley Station. Kinloch Anderson are a bus/taxi ride away in Leith. There will be others that I dont know of

[The Wizard of BC]

If you don't mind walking about 20 min go find 21st Century kilts. You may have to go to the pub across the street to find Howie but the experience is worth the effort.

I would also suggest that you walk the Royal mile. Right outside the castle gates you will find Jeffery (Tailor) Nicklesby and he has another shop half way down on the same side of the street.
But walk into the others too. Look around. It gives you are real insight into the "Tartan tat controversy". Some 100% Scottish owned and operated, honest and reputable, shops with sales clerks who happen to wear turbans. Definitely worth the effort.

OH, and take a hat. If you go to the Castle and stand there in your kilt, people will flock to have their picture taken with you. When they approach to take the photo, casually drop your hat on the ground at your feet. You can almost pay for the trip.

[McClef]

Hector Russell are also on the High St not too far when you turn left into it from Bank St and before you get to Jeffery (Tailor)'s lower shop before John Knox's House.

Venturing down the Royal Mile to the Canongate the salmon pink building housing St Kilda (Nicholson's) is on the left and worth a look.

Plenty of Tartan Tat places around but they are easy to spot with racks of kilts outside and loud music.

[Carlo]

I think it's Geoffrey (Tailor) , you might also be lucky in Armstrong & Son.

[1oldsarge]

As you leave Edinburgh Castle, turn right past the guard shack and take a few hundred stairs down to "The Grassmarket" (street name). Nearby, at 83 The Grassmarket is a second hand shop called Armstrongs. http://www.armstrongsvintage.co.uk/
On the right when you walk in should still be a section of the store dedicated to kilts, sporrans, etc. at a wonderful price.
Sadly, I only found two kilt shops along The Royal Mile that was ran by Scots....

[Steve Ashton]

"Sadly, I only found two kilt shops along The Royal Mile that was ran by Scots...."

While it may be true that those clerking or owning the shops you walked into may not look like what we imagine a Scot to look like I feel I must point out the Scotland is a very multi-cultural nation.

The Gold Bros. (that is actually the name of their first shop, their surname is Singh) while ethnically not of the same stock as William Wallace, are born and raised in Edinburgh. They are just as much Scots as Geoffrey Nicklesby who is not originally from Scotland either.

I have met the youngest of the Gold Bros. and Geoffrey. Both speak with Scottish accents. Both are Scottish citizens, have Scottish passports, live in, vote in, and raise their families in Scotland.

[Phil]

I'd like to browze kilt accesories. I don't want to buy a kilt, but I'd be amused to get a sporran or kilt pin or jacket or whatever takes my fancy.

I would suggest starting at the top of the Royal Mile and working your way down for accessories. You will soon realise whether or not the particular shop is a "tourist tat" shop by the stuff they are selling and don't be fooled - the likes of Geoffreys keep the pink furry sporrans too. Armstrongs in the Grassmarket sell a lot of ex-hire stuff so you may get a jacket there at a good price but they rarely have sporans or other accessories.
Kinloch Anderson keep the lot in one place at their unit in Leith - a 22 bus from Princes Street takes you there - but it is all new stuff so no bargains.

[OC Richard]

Isn't this about the time of year all the kilt hire shops sell off their old/discontinued stock?

It's the big advantage in Highland Dress those living in Scotland have. A friend here lived in Glasgow for a few years and he said shop after shop had rows of wonderful Scottish-made jackets, sporrans, handsewn kilts, etc for a fraction of their normal price.

The hire tartans go in cycles and if a particular tartan isn't going to be 'in' next spring the kilts will be sold off.

It's not the time an overseas tourist would usually choose to visit Scotland, but it's tempting.

My friend acquired all sorts of things this way.

About the Royal Mile tat shops, it saddens me, because I clearly remember my first visit there in the 1980s when such didn't exist. All the shops had legitimate locally-made things, and a few top pipemakers had shops there too. Now tourists from all over the world buy their "real Scottish kilts" and "real Scottish bagpipes" that were made in Pakistan. As a pipe teacher I have new students bring me these pipes all the time. They are absolutely convinced that since they took the trouble to travel all the way to Scotland, the pipes they bought were made there. It's a rude awakening when you tell them the truth. I wish there was a law requiring things to be labelled clearly.

Back in the 80s there was a wonderful tiny shop, at 1 Cowgatehead as I recall, that was full of used kilts and jackets, not ex-hire but used pipe band stuff. Also plenty of great bagpipes.

[MacRobert's Reply]

In nearby South Queensferry we have a kilt shop just opposite the Hawes Pier (of RLS, "Kidnapped" fame). It sells a eclectic range of new and used highland dress. So if you want to browse for interesting bits and pieces of highland wear, give them a visit. Also PM me if you're visiting and would like to meet up.