What Is ‘Made in Scotland’ Worth?

[Troglodyte]

This is a very good question, and it puts into detail a great deal that far too many people ignor or disregard when buying items of Hughland dress.

Every item of Highland dress that is made outside Scotland, or made from non-traditional materials, and bought on cost, is another nail in the coffin of Scottish makers. Every such purchase is seen as a loss to Scotland and its culture, and it is difficult to see how the purchaser can take pride it what they have bought.

Recent years have seen an alarming number of traditional Highland dress retailers, tartan weavers and accessory makers go out of business - having lost their trade to foreign retailers selling foreign-made 'copies'. From a Scottish perspective, it matters little whether the kilt, or jacket or sporran is made in Pakistan or North America, if it is not Scottish-made, it is a fake and its purchase is no benefit to Scotland nor Highland culture.

Whatever reason the individual has, or justification he gives himself for buying items made in the USA or Pakistan, or wherever, it is nothing to the damage his actions have on the home country whose style and culture he is pretending to support and maintain.

Certain breeds of sheep whose fleece once produced the tweeds and tartans that people craved have been allowed to die out through lack of demand and competiton from inferior alternatives. A Scottish sheep's fleece, once prized around te world, is now worth literally less than nothing, as each shearing costs the farmer a fee he can never recoup. It is a very sorry sight to see the fleeces being burnt or sent to landfill, but the wearer of a foreign-made PV kilt looks the other way and let his eyes rest on the price-tag with a 'Wow, what a bargain.' glint in them. It is not that there is no demand for Scottish tweeds, tartans and all elements of Highland dress, it is that people prefer to buy on price rather than quality. And 'quality' includes authenticity.

The rate of decline and demise of the true Scottish-made materials and garments is shocking. So the answer to the question is that 'Made in Scotland' has a value that ought to be priceless to all on this forum. Has it..?