Dir. of Scottish Tartan Authority Criticizes Edinburgh Shops

[M. A. C. Newsome]

The original article from the Tartan Herald included a side bar clarifying that most Scottish kiltmakers had no issue with the fact that inexpensive, ready-made, off the peg kilts were being offered. And really not even with the fact that they were made in Pakistan. They admit that there is a place in the market for such an item -- for children, for those looking for a "costume peice" or simply for those who cannot afford a kilt otherwise.

Their criticism has more to do with the labelling of the product leading people with the impression that these are genuine Highland kilts. The labels, which the original article pictured (and which I've seen many times at Highland Games in the US) display the words "Scottish Highland Kilt, authentic woven tartan, designed in Scotland."

The problem is that all of this is technically true. Yes, the kilt is a Scottish Highland garment. Yes, the tartan cloth is really woven (doesn't say of what material). And yes, the kilt was "designed" in Scotland. But there is nothing there to say that it is actually woven from a cheap acrylic, or that this kilt was imported in from Pakistan.

In other words, those who purchase such items can easily be misled into thinking that this is the real Scottish deal. Those of us familiar with kilts can sit back and say, "Well, what do these people expect? A kilt for only twenty pounds? Cant' they tell from the material and construction that this must be a cheap import?"

Well, no. Most people are not familiar with authentic kilts up close and personal and have no experience with this. It is easy to imagine the visitor to Scotland seeing these "kilts" and assuming that this must be what all the fuss is about. And those who care about maintaining Scotland's reputation and traditions don't want these products associated with the skill and craftsmanship of Scotland's weavers and tailors.

That's really the crix of this issue.

I thought the article was a good one, and made some very valid points. I think if any Royal Mile merchants are offended by it, it might be because it hit a little close to home.

Matt

[RockyR]

I thought the article was a good one, and made some very valid points. I think if any Royal Mile merchants are offended by it, it might be because it hit a little close to home.

Matt

I agree with everything that Matt said, especially his last statement. Also, the BIGGEST problem is NOT where the kilts are made or the material is woven, it's the fact that they're being passed off as "authentic Scottish Kilts".

Please note... WE (Kelly and I) make "casual kilts" from Poly Viscose (not wool) and sell them for around $110. While these aren't "real kilts" in some people's eyes, we don't CLAIM they are. We describe them (on the site and in person) for exactly what they are and don't try to pass them off as "traditional kilts". Truth in advertising is all we ask and expect. It's the deception that's the problem.

BTW... while this can never be proven or disproven (because it was my personal experience), I did my own little experiment when I was on the Royal Mile last January... take it for what it's worth:

I asked every shop attendant selling the "cheap kilts" if they were made in Scotland or if they were REAL kilts. Not only were the tags on the items misleading, but their answers were misleading (and / or outright lies). Out of the 6 shops I asked, only 1 eventually admitted (after several inquiries and digging) that he thought they MIGHT be made overseas. Most of the shops said "SURE they're real kilts" or "I THINK they were made here... do you want to try one on?" When asked why they weren't 300 GBP, they said that they didn't know and that their prices were just better. They would skirt the issue as best they could to make the sale and deceive me.

[RockyR]

BTW... the article refers to a quote from Graham Muir (BTW... they misspelled his name in the article) at the Tartan Gift Shop. He's a VERY fiesty middle aged man who will have PLENTY to say about the "imported kilts" issue if you let him. If you get a chance to stop into his shop, talk to him for 5 minutes... he's a hoot. Also, tell him Rocky and Kelly from USAKilts said hello.

[Tartan Hiker]

And to follow up on my own post, what Rocky and others describe is the reason that the Native American reservation analogy works only up to a point. The cheap touristy crap that they sell in the rez shops is actually made by Cherokee tribal members on the reservation...it's actually legislated by the tribe that this is the case. If the rubber tomahawks were imported from Taiwan and the shop owners claimed that they were genuine, then the analogy would be better, and a whole lot sadder.

[McClef]

Deception is clearly a Trading Standards issue. A bit of "mytery shopping" by them might not go amiss.

But as I said earlier a law requiring clearer and more accurate labelling would go a long way to addressing the issue.

Gold Bros do sell some Scottish made items as do the other "tat" shops but I wonder if this helps to camouflage the issue in that in makes people think everything is made in Scotland.

I also found from previous visits that many of their staff are from eastern Europe and therefore may not be as aware as Scots might be about the products they sell. They may well make assumptions because they have not been educated as to origin.

I don't know if this is just an Edinburgh problem or not but I haven't encountered this anywhere else in Scotland personally. Supply and demand forces in Edinburgh seem to work differently as I discovered when booking my accomodation for next week. The hotel I used in October wanted three times their normal room rate for the Saturday night what I paid before. Needless to say I found somewhere else!

[RockyR]

I don't know if this is just an Edinburgh problem or not but I haven't encountered this anywhere else in Scotland personally. Supply and demand forces in Edinburgh seem to work differently as I discovered when booking my accomodation for next week. The hotel I used in October wanted three times their normal room rate for the Saturday night what I paid before. Needless to say I found somewhere else!

It seems to work that way in the Hotel industry... not only in Edinburra or Scotland, but all over. The tip seems to be to go in the "off season" (i.e. October, like you did or January, like I did). The B & B I stayed at in Edinburra was 25 GBP per person per night in January. In Summer, it's 75 GBP per person per night.

[McClef]

But it was only the one night Rocky, many hotels were already full for that one night and maybe word got around that there was a demand.

I hate to think what prices will be like when the Festival/Tattoo season starts!

Cheap kilts and expensive hotels what a combination!

[Hamish]

It seems to work that way in the Hotel industry... not only in Edinburra or Scotland, but all over. The tip seems to be to go in the "off season" (i.e. October, like you did or January, like I did). The B & B I stayed at in Edinburra was 25 GBP per person per night in January. In Summer, it's 75 GBP per person per night.

The great B&B I have used for years in Edinburgh is in Murrayfield Avenue (10 minutes on the bus from Princes Street). Their rates (from £30 pppn) are the same winter or summer. The name? It's The Craigelachie Hotel (yes the spelling IS correct!)

[McClef]

Hector Russell are still on the Royal Mile Ham!

They have a shop at 137-141 High St! I was there in October and will be visting them again next week!

Thanks for the tip on the B&B - marked down for future reference.

[Hamish]

Hector Russell are still on the Royal Mile Ham!

They have a shop at 137-141 High St! I was there in October and will be visting them again next week!

Thanks for the tip on the B&B - marked down for future reference.

Yes, you are absolutely correct, Trefor. I had, for the moment, forgotten about their second branch further down the road. Personally, I prefer their shop on Princes Street (spread over two floors above the Whisky Shop) but, even there, they have the embarrassment of a large tat shop (probably another branch of Gold Brothers!) which opened a few doors away.

The B&B is excellent - Tel: 0131 337 4076 - ask for George or Harrison.