FYI: Gordon nicholson ex-hire sale

[OC Richard]

I don't have many occasions where wearing a PC is necessary or even recommended, retired and living far from big cities, but the combo has come off my rack and onto my body at least half a dozen times since then.

You're doing better than I am! I picked up a nice Scottish-made PC a decade ago and have only worn it twice. Here in Southern California we just don't do much in the way of formal dressing.

First, how do mainline shops; e.g., Gordon Nicolson, manage their inventory? Is cleaning (or washing) and pressing after EACH rental customary?

I don't know about them, but I worked at a Highland Outfitter here who did kilt hire, and we dry-cleaned the kilts and jackets every time.

Second (and noting the varying pricing for seemingly identical garments), what stimulates that variation? Is it more likely that there's just one or two items left for a tartan that the shop has decided to suspend from availability, or is it more likely that an offer garment is in such an odd size that it is likely to languish (take up space in the shop) for a LONG, long time? Or is it more likely a reliable index of the condition of the garment?

Probably all those factors.

Kilt hire is a massive industry in the UK, and fashion tastes can vary season to season.

I used to follow the UK kilt hire trends closely (not so much now) and for example greyscale kilts (led by Grey Douglas) would become the rage for a few years, then purple kilts (led by Isle of Skye) would become the rage for a few years, and the big hire shops would stock up on the in-demand tartans which left out-of-demand tartans sitting on the racks.

The big ex-hire sales are usually in the late fall and around the new year, when shops are getting rid of tartans that aren't popular to make room. At first they'll have a big range of sizes in a given tartan, but once they're picked over they'll only have a couple left, on the ends of the bell-shaped-curve of sizes, and they get marked down more.

In August I visited several Highland Wear shops in Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Kilmarnock) and there would often be a sad rack of odds and sods, a couple random jackets in tiny sizes and a couple more in huge sizes, at quite low prices. But the shops who are part of a chain will have a single designated location where all of these things are sent, and only that location will do ex-hire sales (walk-in and/or online).

And yes condition is a factor. Some garments will have damages, generally trifling.

Ex-hire used to be a great way to get UK-made jackets, kilts, etc at low prices HOWEVER back when I was following UK kilt hire trends at one point I suddenly saw a number of new kilt hire shops and chains appear hiring everything for half the cost of the established shops.

How? Their hire stock was made in Pakistan. It was obvious both from the prices and the appearance of the items themselves.

You can see for yourself, just look at the hire prices from ten or so shops and you'll see a two-tier system of price and quality.

So this must be taken into account nowadays when lookng at ex-hire things.

Another thing to be taken into account is the rise in places selling new Pakistani things as "ex-hire". It's a deceitful ploy to make you think you're getting a bargain. I even see Pakistani firms claiming that everything they sell is "ex-hire" (I doubt the Kilt Hire industry in Sialkot is very large).

[SF Jeff]

I would have been at the Phoenix Games today, but they were cancelled.

And here in California our San Diego Games have been cancelled too.

It's sad.

Had no idea about Vista. I was on their website about 3 months ago looking at the piping school and there was no mention of the games being cancelled. I've been a few times but it was never on my "must do" list. Logistically a pain with the parking and shuttle and all. Hopefully it's temporary and they can find a new site for next year.

[scratchy]

Taken far too long to update(work, health, life, etc), and I'm going off fuzzy memories.

The order took almost a month to the day of order to receiving. Was probably folded nicely when packaged(just placed in a box), but considering distance, not bad. Minimal communication, all messages seemed to be of a 'form' type. Think I gave them an extra few days after the projected ship date before I sent an inquiry. Got back a canned "We're busy fulfilling customer orders and busy rental season, contact soon" type response. Day or two later I got the shipping notification and tracking number. Almost a week later it was at my door.

While I was waiting, I began getting the feeling that they'd ship a 52L jacket with a 52R vest, which is what happened. Given the price, shipping hassel and 'all sales final', I just sighed in disappointment, and decided against fussing. The jacket fits well, the vest maybe a little short. There's no one around to take a photo and I lack a suitable mirror for DIY. I'll try to take photos of the fabric at least, and the one or two labels on them.

[OC Richard]

Was probably folded nicely when packaged (just placed in a box), but considering distance, not bad.

I've often had jackets and kilts arrive from the UK just put in a plastic bag.

Though it seems a bit dodgy I've never experienced damages.

I began getting the feeling that they'd ship a 52L jacket with a 52R vest, which is what happened.

This could be a very good thing!

Why? Because the waistline of men's clothing has been dropping for many years.

Highland Dress, at least UK-made Highland Dress, has been less impacted than "Saxon" clothing, still men (especially American men) have been ordering kilts shorter and shorter and therefore requiring waistcoats to be lower and lower.

All waistcoats, "Saxon" suit waistcoats, used to be the length that most UK-made Highland waistcoats still are. But due to waistline-dropping "Saxon" waistcoats in "Regular" length are generally two to four inches longer than most UK-made Highland waistcoats.

Still, I've recently seen bespoke kilt jackets of the highest quality come with waistcoats an inch or two longer than traditional waistcoats are. It's the fashion now.

So a shorter waistcoat could be a blessing IF you wear your kilts at the traditional height (not blue-jeans and modern trousers height) and IF the maker of your kilt waistcoat has uniformly lengthened all their sizes.

[OC Richard]

Here's the lowering of men's waistline I mentioned.

The older one, coming to the "natural waist", is still how traditional style kilts, kilt jackets, and their waistcoats are made.

The newer one has been increasingly adopted by kilt-wearers recently, especially in the USA.

[SF Jeff]

I've often had jackets and kilts arrive from the UK just put in a plastic bag.

Same here. An Argyll jacket stuffed (not even rolled) into a thin plastic bag (think 4 gal trash bag) and shipped from Scotland. Got here just fine with no damage and the shipping was free, so I can't complain.

Regarding Nicholson, I had a different experience. After this thread first appeared, I went to their website and browsed the used hire items. I emailed them with some questions about sizing on a few jackets and vests. The initial response took about a week and had the "sorry we're very busy now" line, but with that email and a few follow ups, they were very responsive and answered every question I had, even measuring a few items and sending me the exact measurements, overall condition and their opinion on what would fit me and what wouldn't. In the end I didn't buy anything, but i thought the customer service was very good.

BTW they are next door to, and either own or are invested in, Kilberry bagpipes. They make custom tartan bag covers if black velvet doesn't appeal to you.

[OC Richard]

BTW they are next door to, and either own or are invested in, Kilberry bagpipes. They make custom tartan bag covers if black velvet doesn't appeal to you.

Like this?

[SF Jeff]

Those are some wild bag covers. I've never seen a leopard skin cover but I suppose they are out there. Might clash with the bass drummer though.