I have to weigh in on this by saying that I think we are comparing apples and oranges. Someone has already said that most tourist will not shell out a ton off money for a "souvenir". When I was in the UK in '07 I did not try to buy anything expensive as a momento. In fact the one thing that I brought back was a guide book from anywhere I went that sold them.

The casual tourist is not looking for a hand-sewn tank. They are looking for something that they will never wear but be able to say that they bought a kilt in Edinburgh. These shops are selling "kilts" as a souvenir just like here in Kentucky we sell anything with a horse on it.

It is capitalism, plain and simple.

Rev.