Just because it has a Lochcarron label does not mean Lochcarron made the kilt. Many of my kilts, for example, have Lochcarron labels because I use Lochcarron cloth. So that's no guarantee.

I'm very family with Lochcarron kilts as they supply the majority of kilts to the Scottish Tartans Museum. I can tell you without hesitation that Lochcarron made kilts are top quality.

However, I wasn't in the business 15 years ago, so if this kilt was made by them 15 years ago, I really couldn't comment. However, as I said above, just because the label says Lochcarron doesn't mean that they made the kilt.

However, I think this guy is a little confused over what constitutes a "quality kilt." There are lots of ways you can tell a quality kilt from a poorly made kilt, and you can look at Barb T.'s book to learn those. But looking at the little hanger loops and counting the number of buckles ain't among them! :-)

First of all, those little hanger loops are completely superfulous. Not all kilts even have them, and that's just fine. If you have them, whether they are made of silk, or cotton, or rayon, or whatever doesn't really matter.

Second of all, almost every kilt you see, whether it is made in Scotland, the US, Canada, Australia, or anywhere else, will probably have three straps. This is just the way kilts are usually made these days. That lower strap on the right hip is completely unneeded, and I don't put them on my kilts. However, this is largely a matter of preference, and really doesn't reflect on the quality of the kilt, or lack thereof.

A few things you mention would indicate a lack of quality. First, no canvas beneath the lining -- this is typical of casual kilts today -- 4 yard varieties. These usually don't have any canvas because in these cases the cloth inside the pleats is not cut out. Since the wool is left intact, you really have enough thickness in the back of the kilt that canvas isn't needed, so it's not usually put in. For instance, when I make my four yard box pleated kilts, I put a 2" wide strip of canvas in at the waist line only for reenforcement, but I don't line the whole thing with canvas. In a lot of the "casual kilts" I have examined by many major kiltmaking firms, canvas just isn't used at all.

In an 8 yard kilt, the cloth inside the pleats should be cut out, and a full layer of canvas would be expected to stiffen the back of the kilt. All Lochcarron made 8 yard kilts I have ever seen have had this, so this is one indication that Lochcarron did not make the kilt.

The fact that the buckles were sewn on with a machine is also a red flag. The kilts I've seen this kind of machine work on have all been less expensive casual kilts. In an 8 yard kilt, this is usually done by hand, like any other visible stitching. Again, all Lochcarron kilts I have examined have had hand stitched buckles.

Lastly, this guy seems to be saying your kilt could not have been made in Scotland because of these supposed "flaws." Nonsense. Made in Scotland does not always equal quality (though a lot of qulaity kilts are undoubltedly made in Scotland). This is only to say you can't just assume that if a kilt is made in Scotland it will be the best quality, and if a kilt is made anywhere else it will be poor quality. Some of the best kilts I have seen have been made in North America (US and Canada). I've also seen some "less than fabulous" kilts made in Scotland. So county of origin is no guarantee.

Aye,
Matt