Searching for a Good Ex-Hire Argyll Jacket - Opinions on Kilts-4-Less

**innisart** · 2nd February 16, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Blupiper

I recommend ordering up a size from what you consider your normal (if you're from the USA.)

JMB

When you ordered up a size, was that just something you knew to do, or was that Craig's advice? It's a three bears thing: I've seen some people ordering up, others down, and others their US blazer size.

**OC Richard** · 3rd February 16, 06:34 AM

I clicked on the link exhirekilts.com AKA kilts4less AKA tartans4less and note that no-where does it say that the jackets were MADE IN SCOTLAND or MADE IN UK.

This means, in 99% of the cases with sellers like that, that the jackets were made in Pakistan or India.

Which is fine if that's what you're looking for. If you're looking for high quality UK-made items you'll have to keep looking.

I bought one of their supposed ex-hire Spirit Of Scotland kilts, and the fabric 1) wasn't the actual tartan but a knockoff and 2) had a strange feel to it and obviously was woven in Pakistan out of who-knows-what. The sewing of the kilt was typical Pakistani machine-sewn stuff. They're very careful about not openly telling lies, yet they have a crafty way of making things seem like more than they are. What I got was a new mystery-fabric machine-sewn casual kilt, the price being not so bad for that. However that's not how the kilt was described, and it's not what I was looking for.

**Mike S** · 3rd February 16, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I clicked on the link exhirekilts.com AKA kilts4less AKA tartans4less and note that no-where does it say that the jackets were MADE IN SCOTLAND or MADE IN UK.

This means, in 99% of the cases with sellers like that, that the jackets were made in Pakistan or India.

Not true Richard. If you contact the owner, he will give you the U.K. manufacture who fabricates these and supplies them (located in England.... Which means they are probably being MADE by Indians and Pakistanis.

). They assure that these are NOT made in India or Pakistan.

**innisart** · 3rd February 16, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by Mike S

If you contact the owner, he will give you the U.K. manufacture who fabricates these and supplies them (located in England.... Which means they are probably being MADE by Indians and Pakistanis.

). They assure that these are NOT made in India or Pakistan.

I'll contact Craig and see what he has to say. I asked him some sizing and shipping questions before, and he responded to my queries very quickly. I haven't purchased anything from them yet, but at least their communication is very good.

**OC Richard** · 3rd February 16, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by Mike S

Not true Richard.

I stand by my statement that the page linked to states nowhere that the jackets are made in the UK.

I also stand by my statement that in the vast majority of cases I've seen jackets not labeled Made In UK are made in Pakistan or India.

Those were my statements. Note that I didn't state where those specific jackets were made, because without labels they could have been made anywhere. However that guys' assertion raises questions: If those jackets are UK made, why does neither the advertising nor the jackets themselves say so? Usually firms selling UK made things don't make a secret of it.

Here's their site. Scroll down to the lower right to see a waistcoat half made of Isle Of Skye tartan, half made of a Pakistani knockoff of Isle Of Skye.

http://www.kilts4less.com/jackets-waistcoats.html

**KiltFitz** · 4th February 16, 02:17 AM

They are supplied by a number of companies but rely heavily on Gold Bros. They may have Gaelic themes items too but not many from when I was last there. They seem to be in a perpetual stock clearance sale caused by the closing of their hire department. This has been going on for years now.

I was brought one of their kilts once to look at. It was utterly bizarre. The fabric had the feel of sack cloth and had been pleated at the back with nothing cut away.

I bought a jacket set with them years ago. Man it was cheaply made. The cloth was fine (Marton Mills) but it cost me almost half the price again to fix the cheap features and have adjustments made. It smelled badly of curry spices when it arrived and took several weeks beyond the expected delivery. The smell is still there. It doesn't say where it was made. I wouldn't go back to them now.

**innisart** · 4th February 16, 05:30 AM

I heard from Craig at Clan Alba Products (Tartans-4-Less, Kilts-4-Less, and ExHireKilts.com). His reply was prompt. Here's what he had to say:

"The fabric is Milled by Marton Mills in England and our Jackets are manufactured in Scotland and England. This is for the NEW jackets.

For exhire we buy in bulk batch each month from UK hire companies."

This was in reply to a specific question about barathea Argylls jackets, but may apply to all of their jackets.

So if you buy new, you get Scotland-made; exhire is a crapshoot.

**Mike S** · 4th February 16, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by innisart

I heard from Craig at Clan Alba Products (Tartans-4-Less, Kilts-4-Less, and ExHireKilts.com). His reply was prompt. Here's what he had to say:

"The fabric is Milled by Marton Mills in England and our Jackets are manufactured in Scotland and England. This is for the NEW jackets.

For exhire we buy in bulk batch each month from UK hire companies."

This was in reply to a specific question about barathea Argylls jackets, but may apply to all of their jackets.

So if you buy new, you get Scotland-made; exhire is a crapshoot.

Cheers. That would explain a lot, paramount my very satisfactory experiences with merchandise purchased from them. All of my jackets have been new, even the ex-hire I ordered, which was substituted with a new set due to the size availability on hand. Craig has never been anything but 100% candid, helpful, and prompt with me.

**Blupiper** · 3rd February 16, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by innisart

When you ordered up a size, was that just something you knew to do, or was that Craig's advice? It's a three bears thing: I've seen some people ordering up, others down, and others their US blazer size.

I ordered up a size based on experience and some recommendations that were made when I bought some other jackets, etc. In my case, my blazer size is a snug 44, so I ordered the set in 46 and it fits just right. I can second Richard on the country of origin; I don't know what it is. That being said, the seams were straight, the fabric had a good weight and feel, no loose threads or buttons and I felt it was good value for price. There's my two cents worth.

JMB

**Mike S** · 4th February 16, 05:35 AM

I've seen the Gold Brothers merchandise first hand, as well as their labeling, and fortunately the examples I purchased from this vendor are decidedly NOT from that source (not that there is anything wrong with it if that is what you are after). Since Kilts-4-Less is a "close out" sort of retailer, I suspect that the inventory varies quite a bit regarding selection of goods. I can only speak about my experiences with this firm and the wares I received, which have been very favorable.