Tartan fabrics from "less well-known" mills...

[auld argonian]

When I was looking for the Campbell of Cawdor tartan it looked like one of the smaller mills did a darker version than Lochcarron...I, of course, would have prefered a darker version if I could have gotten it. There was some discussion about Duncan's kilt from MOTG...the consensus was that it was Hunting Stewart but it was a very dark version of it that must have been woven at a smaller mill. The old canard that "colors on your monitor may vary" certainly applies...too bad that there's not some kind of reference standard that could be applied. I know from personal experience that photographing fabric, whether with digital or conventional film, is difficult because the sensor/film emulsion reacts differently to the light reflected from the dyes in the fabric...several years of shooting Sears towels for the catalog and being driven to the point of madness trying to get this year's shot to match up with last year's shot teaches you valuable lessons.

I guess that all you can do is ask for a swatch ahead of time...which means tempering your desire and being even more patient while waiting for that new kilt that you so richly deserve.

One of the nice things about Highland Games is that the merchants bring the swatch books along so you can get at least a basic idea of what's goin' on.

Best

AA

[Tattoo Bradley]

One of the nice things about Highland Games is that the merchants bring the swatch books along so you can get at least a basic idea of what's goin' on.

Best

AA

Being a tartan junkie, I want one or several of those books. Just for admiration and browsing purposes of course...

[auld argonian]

Being a tartan junkie, I want one or several of those books. Just for admiration and browsing purposes of course...

I'd haunt ebay....one might turn up somewhere, sometime....

Best

AA

[Barb T]

A follow-up question:
Who or what is "Glena", the abbreviation for one of the weaver of many tartans shown on Kiltstore's site?

Martin

This is not something that the Kiltstore folks are willing to share - they are understandably not happy to have you go around them and order directly from the mill.

I think Marton Mills is a very good buy in tartan. I just made a kilt in their Scottish-American 16 oz, and it's a nice substantial tartan. I don't like their selvedges much, but they are better than some that have been previously discussed on this forum. DC Dalgliesh is by far my favorite for quality, but they don't have a very big range in heavy weight tartans. Their real forte is 11-12 oz dress tartan for dancers and their one-off custom weaves.

Cheers,

Barb

[sjrapid]

Glena is likely to be Glen Affric Weavers.

Best regards

[O'Callaghan]

Marton Mills is a well known tartan mill. They are in the county of Yorkshire, England, and the actual company name is Viking Technology Ltd., i.e. Marton Mills is their trade name. Batley is a well known town in that part of England, so I'd guess that's where your other mill is as well, although I've never heard of them.