Travelling to Scotland - Great Kilt or different type

[Steve Ashton]

As a kiltmaker visiting Scotland to meet with my suppliers I wore a kilt.

No matter where I went I was instantly branded a 'tourist'. During my time in Edinburgh, myself and Howie Nicklesby of 21st Century Kilts, were about the only kilts in the city other than hotel bellboys and street performers.



At the castle, I could have paid for the trip if I had put my hat at my feet from all the other tourists who wanted a photo of "The guy in the kilt'.

I walked into perhaps one of the most respected kilt shops on the Royal Mile. The single clerk was a young man in trousers up on a ladder arranging a display. He had his back to the door and I had walked about halfway down the shop before he turned around. His snide comment was "Oh, another American who came to Scotland and got himself a kilt." I was so shocked that my only response was "Actually I am a Canadian kiltmaker and I wear a kilt every day in my shop. And you, sir, just lost a sale." I turned a walked out.

More times than I care to think about I heard rude comments said behind my back.

My suggestion about wearing a kilt in Scotland - Unless you are attending a kilt specific event - don't.