Tartan tat kings go Scottish

[McClef]

They are 1) Scottish Highland KIlt (just not terribly fine in quality and made somewhere other than Scotland) 2) Use some kind of woven cloth (albeit not wool and not from Scottish sheep) 3) Are designed in Scotland (I have no doubt that the design and specifications have come from the Gold Bros. which are a Scottish Company). The Singh Gold family are as Scottish, after all, as Sir Montague Burton (founder of Burtons), Michael Marks (co-founder of Marks and Spenser) were English.

All of what you say above could be argued but the impression the label seeks to create isn't how Scottish the Golds are but how Scottish their product is. The Golds aren't even the only concern to sell these kilts with this label - I have seen them in other places such as John O'Groats also so it's unlikely they are unique to them to begin with. The composition of the cloth is not given and as we have seen from other posts they are a potential fire hazard so information regarding composition could be vital. Most other clothing carries this information, wherever it's made in the global market.

If you were to apply the demand that "Scottish kilts" be labeled as to the source of their tartans, the wool and the workmanship.. (why not even the means of production as there are differences between individual kilt makers and the increasingly common assembly line methods) and apply it to nearly any other items in the shops.. things were look quite odd..

And even Scottish made clothing.. Where do you think the material likely comes from? "Made in Scotland" does not mean entirely made in Scotland. Even the finest "made in Scotland" kilt probably has imported leather straps and buckles. "Made in.." does not also say anything about "who".

I was one of those who criticised Howie's definition that a Scottish kilt had to be hand sewn. No cotton is grown in Scotland so a cotton garment saying "Made in Scotland" would of course refer only to the country of manufacture.

But it does mean that Scottish workers have been involved. It is of course impossible to always have everything 100% - heck even if the leather straps and buckles were Scottish, there is still COTTON involved in the sewing! But what percentage of a cheapie can really claim anything Scottish apart from its appearance and the fact that is is offered for sale there?

Truth? Truth of the matter.. Why get so upset with the Scottish Singh-Gold family and not with WPG in Salinas? His "army" kilts are not Scottish (and not designed in Scotland) but made in Pakistan. They are fine kilts but not very accurate reproductions and easy to spot when compared to the "real thing" (which is natural given that "real" army kilts were completely handsewn and made by some of the best shops including Wm Anderson and Thomas Gordon & Sons using very special cloth made by Robert Noble of Peebles).

And who provides jobs in Scotland?

I know nothing of WPG in terms of seeing and handling and I also do not know what is shown on the label. But I do know they are not located in the Scottish capital with many shops in the tourist areas purporting to be what they are not. It's virtually a unique situation.

As to the jobs, my experience of looking in their shops is that when you are approached by a member of staff they are more likely to be from an eastern Europe EC country who are often unable to answer questions. Heck in one shop I saw a guy trying a cheapie on and he had it the classic wrong way around with the pleats at he front - the staff had done nothing to correct him - I had to do it! Some shops had signs in advertising for staff but Scots seem reluctant to apply for the positions.

[Nanook]

All of what you say above could be argued but the impression the label seeks to create isn't how Scottish the Golds are but how Scottish their product is.

I assure you more Scottish than the VW New Beatle is German.

The Golds aren't even the only concern to sell these kilts with this label -

The "Designed in" label is quite common. It always means NOT made in...

The composition of the cloth is not given and as we have seen from other posts they are a potential fire hazard

I actually own a Sialkot kilt (for 10 Quid I figured...). I call it mystery fibre but its clearly wool in some composition (smells like a sheep farm when steamed). The kilt is also 100% sewn by hand (just not very well). The tartan colours are all wrong (very bright), the weave loose and a bit too soft, selvedge a bit primitive... Sure its not to the quality or workmanship of my other kilts.. but nowhere as tatty as much of the leisure wear I've seen people wear on the streets of Edinburgh, Glasgow, ....

so information regarding composition could be vital.

Only, I think, if you plan on wearing it to a motivational training seminar--- where people scream funny words and walk on coals. Don't see the same concern over all the acrylic clothing filling the bins at the discount shops.

Most other clothing carries this information, wherever it's made in the global market.

And its time and again wrong (especially with small makers that don't seem to have labels to handle one-off production). I had some nice Austrian "polycotton" breeches (purchased at a very good shop) that were eaten by moths (I, of course, knew it was wool) and my wife has a nice silk jacket whose label claims its 100% cotton....

I was one of those who criticised Howie's definition that a Scottish kilt had to be hand sewn.

The Royal Regiment now, I guess, have taken to wear skirts (they are machine sewn). My Sialkot kilt being by that standard "more of a kilt" given that its entirely hand-sewn (just not by someone living in Scotland).

No cotton is grown in Scotland so a cotton garment saying "Made in Scotland" would of course refer only to the country of manufacture.

Since there is a difference amongst the different grades of cotton some of the better garments will go out of their way to point out the source (such as Egyptian or Sea Island Prima sorts) and the means of their production (Organic etc.). Cotton is a raw fibre material and needs to be dyed, spun and woven. That's what the British textile industry was about.

I know nothing of WPG in terms of seeing and handling and I also do not know what is shown on the label.

I don't think the country of manufacture is listed. It claims to be an accurate reproduction (in my opinion not that accurate for reasons I've already given).

But I do know they are not located in the Scottish capital with many shops in the tourist areas purporting to be what they are not. It's virtually a unique situation.

Everywhere is unique. Where do you think the Lederhosen sold in the Munich shops to not just tourists are made? A proper pair of regionally made Lederhosen can't be found for under 1000 EURO yet the shops are filled, especially around the Octoberfest with Bavarian styled leather pants for a fraction of that amount... How 'bout lace in Malta or Brussels? Hawaiian shirts in any of the tourist shops on Maui (including some of the very high priced "vintage" items intended for Japanese tourists)...