The Royal Mile

**robthehiker** · 18th March 10, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Brian K

It's the poor guy or gal who says "Oooh..that 20 quid kilt would be a perfect souvenir of our trip to Edinburgh!" who needs protection.

Regards,

Brian

Who's going to protect them from buying cheap cars, cheap wine, cheap food, etc.?

People who are spending 20 quid on a kilt would NOT buy a 250 quid hand-sewn 8 year kilt "if only someone were to educate and protect them".

**Heather MacCain** · 22nd April 10, 05:33 AM

Originally Posted by Nick (Scotweb)

Couldn't agree more with your sentiments. But it's ironic you've included a picture of "John Morrison", since it's a venerable old name that's been... erm... how can I phrase this politely... bought up and cynically exploited by Messrs Singh, Singh, and Singh to punt their imported tat with a more upmarket label on it, presumably looking for yet another way to unfairly profit from other people's original work by siting themselves next door to Geoffrey. Don't be fooled by the presentation!

Dear Nick,
thank you for your perspective. As you know I work for "Messrs Singh, Singh, and Singh" so I'd like to make something clear here:
We DO sell cheap imported kilts for tourists and we do not feel it's wrong in any sense. We also do NOT label these items as "Made in Scotland".

We also DO sell made in Scotland kilts and accessories though - especially in John Morrison shop! And this is something many people seem to forget. We have a number of online and offline shops and we have really done a lot to PROMOTE SCOTTISH HERITAGE and Scottish culture all over the world and also to make it more accessible to people. It's really sad that this has not been appreciated at all.

We do appreciate your opinion, however we also believe that it might not be really objective as Scotweb is one of our competitors...

**OC Richard** · 23rd April 10, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by Heather MacCain

We DO sell cheap imported kilts for tourists and we do not feel it's wrong in any sense. We also do NOT label these items as "Made in Scotland".

Ah, but the rub is, are these clearly labelled MADE IN INDIA and MADE IN PAKISTAN? I can't recall seeing any such labels, and at the very least Scotland should require such.

Ignorant tourists don't notice the absence of a MADE IN SCOTLAND label and assume that they're buying Scottish-made goods.

I know, because as a piper I get phone calls on a regular basis from people who bought sets of bagpipes on their travels to Scotland or Ireland who want to come over and begin lessons. In 9 cases out of 10 their pipes turn out to be Pakistani rubbish. They are quite amazed when I tell them that their Scottish pipes are not Scottish in the least, and are quite useless for musical purposes.

**morrison** · 20th March 10, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Being an infrequent visitor to Edinburgh, visiting there twice in the 1980's but not again til 2004 and 2007, I was amazed at the difference the interval of time had wrought.

In the 1980's cheap Pakistani and Indian goods had not yet flooded the market and all the shops along the Royal Mile were Scots selling Scottish-made handcrafted goods. There were long-established pipemakers with shops there.

My jaw dropped when in 2004 when I saw shop after shop manned by bearded and turbanned Easterners selling nothing but cheap Eastern bagpipes, sporrans, kilts, etc. Tourists seemed to be unaware that the things they were buying were not Scottish.

In my opinion Scotland should pass laws, such as exist in many other countries, protecting their native industries. Kilts, sporrans, bagpipes, and what-not should not be allowed to be imported into Scotland for resale. (This would allow individual Scots to purchase overseas kilts and bagpipes for their personal use.)

Another thing that struck me about the Royal Mile is the discrepancy between the Castle end and the Holyrood end. Close to the castle were all sorts of nice shops (though touristy) while at the other end were many shuttered, abandoned-looking places.

Oh... another thing about the Holyrood end: the unspeakably hideous Parliament building:

Still a few legit Highland dress houses:

I couldn't help myself! As soon as I saw the pix I rushed to GOOGLE Maps street level of the Royal Mile and presto-chango here I found a similar view of the image in the post. How cool is THAT? This.

**Kilted Rogue** · 24th April 10, 07:00 PM

Oh... another thing about the Holyrood end: the unspeakably hideous Parliament building:

I loved the Parliament Building. We rented a flat just off the Mile and around from the Parliament Building.. Yeah is a little out of place, but what do you want another Castle!!

**bchunter** · 16th March 10, 04:30 AM

I agree with you, OC. While I cannot speak for earlier times, the abundance of cheap imports diverted most unaware tourists away from the much more expensive, quality shops. Like you, I found that the World's End pub marked the essential end of the vibrant portion of High Street.

**Tobus** · 16th March 10, 05:40 AM

In my opinion Scotland should pass laws, such as exist in many other countries, protecting their native industries. Kilts, sporrans, bagpipes, and what-not should not be allowed to be imported into Scotland for resale. (This would allow individual Scots to purchase overseas kilts and bagpipes for their personal use.)

I can understand your frustration and your desire to want to help Scottish industry. But honestly, more law isn't the answer. And such a law would be highly discriminatory anyway... bordering on racist. It would be challenged as such and probably overturned.

**Lachlan09** · 16th March 10, 05:43 AM

I haven't been there's for donkeys ! Is JR Glen (aka Steptoe & Son) still there ?

**auld argonian** · 16th March 10, 07:19 AM

Maybe we need an "app" for that. Some kind of Google Map thingie that directs the kilted faithful to the GOOD places and away from the TAT.

With the technology today you can put actual photos of the locations into the system so that they show up according to the GPS coordinates.

A new project worthy of the members of the forum!

Best

AA

**OC Richard** · 16th March 10, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Tobus

...such a law would be highly discriminatory anyway... bordering on racist. It would be challenged as such and probably overturned.

Discriminatory yes, discriminating against kilts, bagpipes, and sporrans (at the very least) which are made outwith the UK.

Racist no. Whether a set of pipes is made in Pakistan or Canada, by a native Pakistani or a white Canadian, it would be illegal to import into the UK for resale under this approach.

The absurdity of having tourists from all over the world come to Scotland to buy Scottish kilts and bagpipes etc, but end up with goods not made in Scotland, I think might be felt by most people.