Shops in Edinburgh

[John_Carrick]

Me too! And also I believe that anyone born before 1949 was a British subject not a citizen. Complicated isn't it?

I think this may in part relate to Ireland declaring itself a Republic in 1948, and Irish people born before then may apply for British passports. My late Mother was incensed that her passport called her a "subject" whereas I was a "citizen".

Turning to Edinburgh kilt shops, the serious shops and the tartan tat emporia are easy to distinguish.

May I give good reports too of Nicolsons on the Royal Mile. Slanj on Rose Street and McCalls on Haddington Place are more contemporary but I like some of their stuff. Hector Russell has a few shops and the two on Princes Street are good for accessories (one is upstairs in a shortbread and tourist stuff shop and one is under their own name).

For those who have not completely forsaken trousers, there is a nice shop on Grassmarket that does old fashioned John Buchan style tweedy suits called Walker Slater. Hope I don't get banned for this.

John

[Jock Scot]

I have met the youngest of the Gold Bros. and Geoffrey. Both speak with Scottish accents. Both are Scottish citizens, have Scottish passports, live in, vote in, and raise their families in Scotland.

Scottish passport? Pray tell, what is a Scottish passport?

[1oldsarge]

WOW!! It really wasn't my intent to start an International Incident!!

[TheOfficialBren]

Thanks, guys. I shall have to consider these purveyors when I make it over.

[Father Bill]

Glad we're calming down. Let's keep it cool!

[ThistleDown]

Chisholms in Inverness is my suggestion, too.

[Phil]

I'd like to browze kilt accesories. I don't want to buy a kilt, but I'd be amused to get a sporran or kilt pin or jacket or whatever takes my fancy.

I would suggest starting at the top of the Royal Mile and working your way down for accessories. You will soon realise whether or not the particular shop is a "tourist tat" shop by the stuff they are selling and don't be fooled - the likes of Geoffreys keep the pink furry sporrans too. Armstrongs in the Grassmarket sell a lot of ex-hire stuff so you may get a jacket there at a good price but they rarely have sporans or other accessories.
Kinloch Anderson keep the lot in one place at their unit in Leith - a 22 bus from Princes Street takes you there - but it is all new stuff so no bargains.

[OC Richard]

Isn't this about the time of year all the kilt hire shops sell off their old/discontinued stock?

It's the big advantage in Highland Dress those living in Scotland have. A friend here lived in Glasgow for a few years and he said shop after shop had rows of wonderful Scottish-made jackets, sporrans, handsewn kilts, etc for a fraction of their normal price.

The hire tartans go in cycles and if a particular tartan isn't going to be 'in' next spring the kilts will be sold off.

It's not the time an overseas tourist would usually choose to visit Scotland, but it's tempting.

My friend acquired all sorts of things this way.

About the Royal Mile tat shops, it saddens me, because I clearly remember my first visit there in the 1980s when such didn't exist. All the shops had legitimate locally-made things, and a few top pipemakers had shops there too. Now tourists from all over the world buy their "real Scottish kilts" and "real Scottish bagpipes" that were made in Pakistan. As a pipe teacher I have new students bring me these pipes all the time. They are absolutely convinced that since they took the trouble to travel all the way to Scotland, the pipes they bought were made there. It's a rude awakening when you tell them the truth. I wish there was a law requiring things to be labelled clearly.

Back in the 80s there was a wonderful tiny shop, at 1 Cowgatehead as I recall, that was full of used kilts and jackets, not ex-hire but used pipe band stuff. Also plenty of great bagpipes.

[MacRobert's Reply]

In nearby South Queensferry we have a kilt shop just opposite the Hawes Pier (of RLS, "Kidnapped" fame). It sells a eclectic range of new and used highland dress. So if you want to browse for interesting bits and pieces of highland wear, give them a visit. Also PM me if you're visiting and would like to meet up.