Hudson Bay Company Tartan Box Pleat

[SteveB]

Nice kilt, you wear it well. Nice smile. Like the belts you have chosen to go with the kilts as well.
Hamish has real competition now! All in one very good day.

[The Wizard of BC]

James, to re-cap the story of how the HBC Tartan came to be featured here.

I was walking through "The Bay" store here in Victoria and my eye happened to land on a ladies pleated skirt in one of the nicest Tartans I had ever seen.
Then I noticed that there were also purses, earmuff hats, and even a hope chest lined with this wonderful Tartan.

So I approach the sales lady and inquire it's name and availability as fabric. Her response floored me when she stated "That's our Tartan and no you can't have any fabric."
I then approached the folks in the little HBC Museum tucked into a corner of the store with the same question. Their answer, although polite was firm. "That Tartan and fabric are restricted to licensed vendors of The Hudson's Bay Company and not available to the general public."

Now I've never been known to accept an answer I didn't like. I usually respond with "OH yea, why? And you better offer proof." The response I got was not better than the first. "you can't have any, no way, no how."

I stew on this for about a week until I suddenly remember Holy cow! I'm a member of the Scottish Tartans Authority. I'll check my computer.
Low and behold, there is the Tartan, ITI no.1612. The description stated "Woven by West Coast Woolen Mills". A little light goes on up in my head and I remember that West Coast Woolen Mills was bought out and is now known as Fraser & Kirkbright Weaving Co. THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WOVE THE XMARKS THE SCOT TARTAN. AND I HAVE THE PHONE NUMBER!

So, I call Gordon Kirkbright and inquire what Copyright restrictions and availability were on the Tartan. His answer was short and precise. "I designed it, how much do you want?" And thus we now have the only bolts of HBC Tartan in private ownership.

Now my answer to the original question is Gordon Kirkbright designed it and I have bolts of it. HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT.

[Moosedog]

I would love to buy some of the fabric--how much do you want?

Moosedog

[ChattanCat]

I would love to buy some of the fabric--how much do you want?

Moosedog

It is listed here:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/h...811/index.html

[Marshal Moroni]

I sure hope that some of that beautiful tartan is still around when I reach my weight loss goal. My incentive for losing weight is that I will get a "nicer' wool kilt when I finally make it!

Truly a beautiful tartan, thank you for sharing the pictures, you look marvelous wearing it!!!!

Cheers,

Marshal Moroni

[Lee]

That is a great looking kilt.

Love the tartan.

Lee

[James MacMillan]

Thanks Steve - I had forgotten the whole story. And you should also remember that I have a kilt winging it's way to me even as I type. Review to follow. It is indeed a georgeous tartan!

[Moosedog]

Thanks, I didn't read to the end the first time through.

Moosedog

[Wompet]

Racer, that's a fine looking kilt.
Steve, I have some fabric sitting here that I definitely should send you 8 yards of.

[pipesndrumsnun]

Lookin' good, Racer! Congrats on a fine new kilt!