Hands Aff Oor Kilts!

**McMurdo** · 29th February 08, 01:40 PM

Thanks for the link, all I can say is it's about time, I am getting rather tired of the excuse "But this is all I could afford."
I was thinking about it the other day if I wanted lets say a Ferrari but could not afford one would I buy a Ford and tell everyone it was a Ferrari? No I think not, I would save my money until I could afford it, the same should be true with a Scottish Kilt. As was said in the article:

"A real Scottish kilt is like a designer item these days; I see more and more men wearing them. It's a quality item and a proper one will cost upwards of £150. These £20 things are degrading our national dress."

I really do not see that this should effect anyone outside of Scotland, however I think that truth in advertising and a reputable and honest image to the public is paramount. At least this should allow the public/tourists judge for themselves without being duped.

**auld argonian** · 29th February 08, 01:42 PM

"Look for the Union Label.", eh?

Remember that they tried to do a "Made in the USA" bit a few years ago and that wasn't exactly a smashing success. You got things that were assembled or partially assembled in the USA that were made out of imported parts. My old Mercury station wagon would have been a prime example.

Sounds like good senor just wants to make some noise and let people know that his competitors are selling stuff that's not the genuine article. Goods should be labeled with the country of origin but it looks like the imports say "SCOTTISH KILT" in big letters and "made in pakistan" in really tiny type on the back side of the label.

Best

AA

**Ozman1944** · 29th February 08, 02:04 PM

They can rule what they like.
Personally, I love my 'shoddy pieces of grabage' (!?)from Stillwater, Frugal corner et al. If it were not for them, I wouldn't be Kilted-ever! I look just as smart in these as in any $350.00 model. Only an expert could tell (and there are none in the San Fernando Valley).
The expensive ones are, of course vastly superior in quality, workmanship,cloth etc. But for someone in my way of life, I could never justify an expensive Armami suit. So am more than content with the 'Low Budget' Kilts I wear.

**highlander_Daz** · 29th February 08, 02:08 PM

these guys who buy the gold bros tut kilts soon find the error of their ways on windy days!

**sharpdressedscot** · 29th February 08, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Ozman1944

They can rule what they like.
Personally, I love my 'shoddy pieces of grabage' (!?)from Stillwater, Frugal corner et al. If it were not for them, I wouldn't be Kilted-ever! I look just as smart in these as in any $350.00 model. Only an expert could tell (and there are none in the San Fernando Valley).
The expensive ones are, of course vastly superior in quality, workmanship,cloth etc. But for someone in my way of life, I could never justify an expensive Armami suit. So am more than content with the 'Low Budget' Kilts I wear.

Yeah, just because one didn't pay $500 for a kilt doesn't mean it's a piece of crap. but of course there are limits to it...

**Standard** · 29th February 08, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Tattoo Bradley

Does the person sewing the kilt have to be a Scottish Citizen? What if Barb were on vacation in Scotland and picked up some cloth in Edinburgh and sewed a complete kilt in her Edinburgh hotel room at night? So, that kilt would then be a "Scottish Kilt"? But, the hundreds of others she'd previously made are different? Or what about the fact that Kathy Lare was trained to make kilts in Scotland by a Scot (by invitation at that.) Read her awards and qualifications here. Can you still say the likes of her deserve to be lumped with the crap peddlers??

You bring up some valid points IMHO. Does the simple fact of the location make it a "Scottish Kilt"? I think that it has a lot more to do with the skill and level of care that goes into the kilt than the location in which it was manufactured. Also, are kilts which are not 100% hand sewn anyl ess of a quality kilt than those which are completely hand sewn? I'll agree that 100% machine sewn can't match hand stiching, but at what percentage of the stiching being done by hand vs. machine would the line be drawn?

I think that this whole issue sounds like someone got his nose bent out of shape by people that don't know any better buying cheaper products than his. For many the only chance to own a kilt is to start out inexpensively, with the wish to someday own better. Truth in labeling would be a step in the right direction. Anyhoo, just my American two cents worth on the issue.

**McClef** · 29th February 08, 04:28 PM

By applying his "hand sewn" criteria Howie is already alienating those who should be his natural allies.

My Hector Russell (just a little further up the High St on the Royal Mile) Hunting Robertson is machine sewn, so I paid less for it. But it was machine sewn and woven from 100% wool in Scotland and is still excellent quality. Yet, according to Howie, that would not qualify to be called a Scottish Kilt!

I have to wonder if Howie has thought it through properly or consulted other quality establishments about the criteria or whether Redshank has a point.

**Larry124** · 29th February 08, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by Ozman1944

They can rule what they like.
Personally, I love my 'shoddy pieces of grabage' (!?)from Stillwater, Frugal corner et al. If it were not for them, I wouldn't be Kilted-ever! I look just as smart in these as in any $350.00 model. Only an expert could tell (and there are none in the San Fernando Valley).
The expensive ones are, of course vastly superior in quality, workmanship,cloth etc. But for someone in my way of life, I could never justify an expensive Armami suit. So am more than content with the 'Low Budget' Kilts I wear.

I’m wi’ you Ozman.

Originally Posted by McMurdo

…I am getting rather tired of the excuse "But this is all I could afford." …

Steady.

**slohairt** · 29th February 08, 05:44 PM

It seems a simple issue, really. All they want to protect is the term Scottish kilts. Most reputable kilt makers abroad (such as here in Canada or in the U.S. or elsewhere) don't bother calling it a Scottish kilt, because any customer buying a kilt from them knows the kilt as a garment originated in Scotland! I don't think it's an attack on those kilt makers, rather sweatshop-made kilts. It's truth in advertising.

If Scotland (and by extension, the United Kingdom) really wanted to do something effective about it, they could impose a hefty duty on tartan made in low-wage countries.

**slohairt** · 29th February 08, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by Coemgen

While I certainly understand the motivation behind this campaign, I can't support it, being a free market, free trade guy. Personally, I think an education campaign would be better. Say, some posters, or advertisements in newspapers and magazines that tourists would be apt to read.

Respectfully, Coemgen, it isn't free market, free trade, or even fair trade. It's globalisation and it's exploitation. We in the Western world are evolving into a society of merchants who do not actually make anything. Instead, we exploit the lax or non-existent labour laws of Third-World countries to make obscenely cheap products (often made by children). It's our need for instant gratification. You will sometimes hear people claim that things are this way because our own labourers demand a wage which is too high. I believe it is because companies discovered that exploitation is the key to their success. And they have tricked most of us into believing it.

I agree that an education campaign would certainly help. It certainly couldn't hurt. Maybe it would even dispel myths as well. Like the Lord Lyon's authority over tartan or tartan oghan!

I apologise in advance if this is considered a political posting, I think of it more as social commentary.