D.C. Dalgliesh - an update on changes

[seanachie]

But I remain quite annoyed with what they did when my kilt maker tried to order Ulster Peat. They had it listed as a stock Tartan and then tried to charge the same price per meter for 29" as 54" wide. This despite several individuals indicating this was not how their order had been dealt with for the same tartan. While I would not rule out attempting to select one of their tartans again, this left a very bad taste in my mouth as I had to cancel the order with the exorbitant increase.

[Nick Fiddes]

So as I am reading this, if we want a length of tartan woven by Dalgliesh we would order through Scotweb rather than from Dalgliesh directly.

Will only tartans not otherwise available from say Locharron be available?

I guess I am asking if it is not listed by DCDalg, will we just take what is listed on the Scotweb site?

And I do understand about price increases. We really appreciate what you are doing for the industry and the continued availability of such an important commodity

For non-trade customers (i.e. basically not purchasing for re-sale) then yes, you can purchase from Scotweb (or "Tartan Mill" in future) or indeed from any other retail outlet. Don't forget the XMTS discount we give to anyone coming via this site.

And no, Dalgliesh doesn't only weave fabrics not available elsewhere. Our mill does have its own speciality stock fabrics - especially the Reproduction colours that they pioneered, and everyone else copied, and also Dance tartans of course. But we also have a decent range of clan tartans etc. in Modern and Ancient colours, some of which overlap with other mills, and we will go on doing so for customers who value the quality of fabric we produce. Plus of course, any tartan can be woven to order, unless it's strictly copyright.

But Scotweb/Tartan Mill will continue to supply not only D.C. Dalgliesh fabrics, but essentially every tartan we can source from every mill in the country. So if you can't find it here, it's probably not available.

[Nick Fiddes]

madmacs: I, and the "trade customer" I am dealing with, have been waiting for 7 months for some cloth from Dalgliesh. It may come next month. Admittedly, it is a custom run and, apparently, requires some dyeing of thread, but that's still a long time.

After waiting for months, Jonesing turns into numbness. You sit in front of your TV staring at the blank screen, guzzling Woolite and sucking and chewing on your wool accessories like diced hose and old flashes (but not my Ryan Ross bonnet). It's a debilitating disease!

I'm really disturbed to hear this. If you'd like to contact me with your details directly, I'd be glad to look into it for you.

But it's true that until we stepped in, the mill had been getting into increasing difficulties with shortage of yarns, basically due to cashflow issues. And that's one of the big things we've been investing in since. It will take time to get the dye house to produce everything we want (especially since the other local dye house burned down a few months ago). But we're already in a much better position.

And more generally, we are also working on significant improvements to the ordering process, and communications. This too will take some time to get up and running. For example, in fact, just today we're introducing the first big step with a new email system that I can participate in from a distance, which will let me be more aware of day to day issues, and help to resolve them. So I'm optimistic that things will improve steadily in this sort of a way, and fewer socks will have to be gnawed in the future!

Please bear with us as we work on this. And to anyone who has had a disappointing experience in the past in any way, please let me know (directly by pm if you like) as we are keen to know all about any problems that need fixed.

[Tartan Tess]

Nick
Within the last 3 months I was sent two samples of O'Neill tartans from Dalgliesh. When my client makes up his mind which one he wants and I order it from Scotweb, do I need to specifically ask for that tartan from Dalgliesh? I am thinking that the more "common" clan tartans might come from different mills and I will want the one from the samples I gave him. I am wondering since it was during the changeover.
Thank you for your time

[ForresterModern]

I find myself in the lucky position of owning 4 handsewn 8 yd kilts in Dalgleish tartan, 1 12 oz in a "stock" weave Black Douglas, 1 custom woven 12oz Allen 1996, and two 15oz custom woven in Ancient Red Douglas and Brown Douglas. And the even luckier position of having been a savvy shopper when I purchased each to get a good deal on the tartan and labor in each instance that I would be ashamed to mention the cost of each here. My wife knows me as a savvy shopper finding what she considers incredible deals just with a little searching and knowledge of how to work the system to my advantage. I guess I was lucky in my timing to get them all before the changeover in pricing and direct consumer availability, as I could not replicate those deals again under the new circumstances.

They are all fine kilts and I wear each with pride and a smile on my face knowing what a good price I got them for considering the great quality of the tartan and the workmanship that went into each. I remain saddened by the economic situation that forces these changes in the way the company does business, and the resultant costs kilt wearers will end up bearing in order to have the pleasure of wearing such fine cloth. But I understand the ways of the world and if this is how it must be in order to keep a valuable mill in financial solvency, then so be it. I still lament that it will likely take the Dalgleish kilt, especially the custom weave, out of reach of many who heretofore could have had the chance to enjoy it. I will always treasure mine.




jeff

[English Bloke]

... I will always treasure mine...

And I shall treasure mine too!

[Emmet]

As an aside the photo tour on the D.C Dagliesh site was very interesting.

[Geoff Withnell]

Nick
I hope this mill prospers, but that video was SCARY. I have spent alot of time as a Safety Officer in manufacturing. Those machines are full of pinch points.

[Fedgunner]

If you wish to see a sample of D.C. Dalgliesh's product, please see my post in the Celtic Croft area.. You will not be dissapointed in anything ordered from them.

[mookien]

Nick: Thank you. I appreciate your generous offer, but I suspect you have more than enough on your plate.

Also, I have a good relationship with my "retailer" and am confident they are keeping my best interests at heart. If they ever feel the need to escalate the matter, I'm sure they will do so.

And, when my family finally dons the kilts associated with this transaction, the waiting time and associated Jonesing will have served to bind us even closer to the heirlooms created for us by the Scottish weaving industry and kilt-making craftsmen, ... as long as it doesn't stretch into years.