When Ham. met Howie

[Hamish]

Well, actually it was when Jim and Ham. met Howie. Yes, last Saturday afternoon, Jim and I went up to the capital to meet with Howie Nicholsby at his 'Geoffrey (Tailor)/21st Century Kilts' monthly London showroom. This is a regular event held at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel. Jim wanted to make a couple of purchases and I wanted to go through the tartan swatch books!

At the end of the day's business, and after the crowds had dispersed (!), we managed to snap a few photos aided and abetted by Stewart, Howie's sales assistant who is usually to be found at the shop on Edinburgh's Royal Mile or at the Edinburgh Weaving Mill next to The Castle. Every month, Howie tries to bring to London a different member of his staff from the family's retail shops north of the border. Good experience for them, plus a weekend in London ..... it can't be bad!

So, to the photos:

Here Howie (in a gorgeous country tweed kilt, part of a 3 piece suit) goes through the swatches of the family's own range of GT tartans - which are all woven at the Edinburgh Weaving Mill - with Jim in his Baillie kilt and me in one of my early TFCK Worsted kilts.

By the way, it was not until I saw these photos that I realised I was wearing my sporran too low - my apologies for looking such a mess!

Two more similar shots:



Howie and me beside the racks of sample kilts, jackets, etc. which are used to show the different styles and alternative materials available:


Finally, Stewart and Howie chatting over the day's business just before we all retired to the hotel's bar for a bevvie or three.


Next month's London showroom will be held on February 10th and 11th. Attendance by appointment only - call the Edinburgh HQ on 0131 226 1555 for yours!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I like Howie's tweed kilt. I really do. I like the kilt, vest, and jacket together.

However, you'll have to forgive me but I just cannot stand those huge unsightly pockets that some 21st Century kilts have. They just look frumpy to me. I've never liked the look of them, they just mess up the clean lines of the kilt.

I feel the same way about the "seat belt" buckle belt. I saw some of those at GT's booth at the Stone Mountain Highlang Games last year. Way too "urban-chic" for me. I really don't see why people feel the need to make the kilt urban and hip-hop, but then again, I don't see why anything needs to be urban and hip-hop.

One last thing: Hamish, next time you see Howie, you will tell him to tuck his shirt in, won't you? :-)
Matt

*side note on the tweed -- I don't think it's really a tweed. I think it's a worsted, but woven in an estate tweed-like fabric. I think likely from the House of Edgar/Isla Mill range of Glen Tilt Tweeds. (I notice that that's a House of Edgar "Old & Rare" swatch book you are flipping through.)

If anyone wants cloth in that (or a similar) tweed pattern, see:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/glen_tilt.htm

[GMan]

Ham as always you look very dapper while Kilted. Toss in a few other Kilted lads and what can I say but stunning!!

I do like the looks of Howie's tweed.

Now the next question that we are all wanting to say did you find something in the swatches tat will bring you another addition?

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I have to agree with Matt, some shirts look fine untucked wit a kilt, but that is not one IMO. I doo like the fabric.

And I was wondering what those things were that hung down around the front of the kilt. Looks like a vest that ripped apart at the shoulders seams, fell southward and got hung up on Howie's hips. I am all for new styles, I just don't have to like all of them...

Now Stewart's kilt is very nice. What tartan is that?

[andyfg]

Ham,

Thanks for great photos.

Now I'm getting a bit long in the tooth (49) but I think Howie looked totally and utterly cool, and if I was young enough and bold enough, and stylish enough . . . that is the way to wear a kilt for a new generation.

Showed the pictures to my 23 year-old daughter. Loved the style! Not unlike the style on kilt2.com

I'm pretty sure the students I teach would agree with my daughter.

So, may be that is the way kilts wil be introduced to the next generation . . . redefine the look . . . be bold . . .

[Riverkilt]

I like Howie's boots...have sort of a Viking flair to them.

Ron

[Panache]

Ham,

Good show for Howie for taking kilts into the 21st Century.

However, I think he could learn a lot about how to wear a kilt from the two mature gentlemen who came to visit with him.

Cheers

[Tattoo Bradley]

While I will most certainly not be wearing my kilt the way Howie does, I DO respect the heck out of his pioneering devil-may-care attitude towards fashion. I say "good show" as well.

[David Dalglish]

I'am with Matt on this one, I thing the pockets on the Suit look totally out of place, But very nice pictures

[Pour1Malt]

nice piccies Ham-

guid oan ya