Is tweed always day wear?

[Tomo]

(the last I heard the sale of seal was illegal in the UK)

The sale of seal skin sporrans is widespread in the UK. All of the kilt shops in Scotland sell it, along with sporran makes such as Margaret Morrison (now incorporating Nicoll Bros.) and others.


Legally speaking - in one context there is a ban on all seal products in the UK this is subject to Regulation (EC) No. 1007/2009 which applies an EU-wide ban on the commercial import and placing on the market of all seal products and any products containing such items - BUT this is also subject to a Customs Information Publication (CIP1) which includes various exemptions: including (i) personal items and (ii) items that result from traditional hunts by Inuit and other indigenous communities that:

• contribute to their subsistence
• aren’t conducted primarily for commercial purposes
• are conducted in a manner which has due regard to animal welfare

So much of the seal skin in the UK comes from Greenland (and is likely to be Harp Seal or Ringed Seal) were it qualifies under the exemption to the ban. Many items (my own sporrans included) also have stickers identifying that the skin as Greenland Seal.