Best material for a test kilt

**The Wizard of BC** · 10th March 14, 12:05 AM

Ok I played some more. And you are right. I changed the unit of measure to 1 yard and entered a quantity of 4 and the price changed. Now $165.00 for 4 yards.

I knew I had to be doing something wrong.

Strange though how fabric from N. Batley is listed as $30.00 per yard in one place and $40.00 per yard later.
And Strathmore fabric is $65.00 per yard with Lochcarron going for $55.00.

That's a pretty large spread. Far larger than my wholesale prices from the same weavers.

**Son of the Rock** · 10th March 14, 12:27 AM

EDIT: I posted this just before you edited your post, I think (therefore, please ignore the attached images I can't seem to get rid of).

I'm not sure if it's as cheap as the wholesale prices you can get, but for a cut of 4 metres, it still seems like pretty good value.

**The Wizard of BC** · 10th March 14, 12:40 AM

Yea, as you can see I don't spend much time on Nick's site. Even before I opened my shop I bought my fabric direct from the weavers just as anyone can.

I never go through a third party. Even the retail price direct from the weaver is less than what it would be going through 1, 2, or even 3 middlemen who each add their mark-up.

**Stephan** · 10th March 14, 09:23 AM

Ok, so would someone mind clarifying something for me? I do purchase all my tartan cloth through Scotweb as it just seems like the best price going. For instance, I've just priced 3.7 meters (4 yards) of double width cloth from Lochcarron on their website and it comes up as: 135.98 pounds and that is with a 10% discount because it's done through Xmarks priced at 36.75 pounds sterling/meter. If I go to Lochcarron's website, the same tartan cloth is priced at 50.00 pounds/meter. This doesn't include shipping charges to Canada. Shipping by Scotweb is free if you've purchased over a certain amount.lochc_auldscotland.jpg
I'm not sure what I might be missing when folks say I'd be getting a better price if I purchased directly from the mill. I've always been told that I'd be paying a 'premium' through a 2nd or 3rd party but it always seems to be a better price if done through Scotweb, for example. Are the prices on Lochcarron's website 'RETAIL' prices rather than 'WHOLESALE"?? I am ordering quite a bit of cloth these days and if I could find a less expensive way to indulge my kilt making addiction than PLEASE do tell.

Many thanks!

**Barb T** · 10th March 14, 09:48 AM

If you don't have to pay duty, shipping, or the brokerage fee when it comes through Customs, this is a very good price. And yes, the prices on the Lochcarron web site (http://www.thetartansite.com/) are retail, not wholesale.

**Stephan** · 10th March 14, 10:26 AM

Ok, thanks Barb,

Just to clarify:

1) I DO PAY duty upon arrival into Canada, but I would Imagine I have to do the same if the product were to come directly from one of the mills
2) I don't pay for shipping for the reason stated previously but that means the parcel will be shipped via Royal Mail, the most basic shipping alternative available. So, I don't pay brokerage fees.
3) Oh, I DON'T pay the VAT either.

So? Am I on to something here or might I be a rather happy fool?!

**Barb T** · 10th March 14, 10:35 AM

The issue here is that kiltmakers do, in fact, get a wholesale discount from the mills. For the most part, though, mills do not sell wholesale outside "the trade", and some mills don't sell at all outside the trade (e.g., Dalgliesh). So, yes, it is cheaper for you to order from ScotWeb than it is for you to order retail from Lochcarron, but it's cheaper for me to order wholesale directly from the mill.

And as a point of information, one kilt length is all that can be sent via Royal Mail small packet.

**Stephan** · 10th March 14, 10:45 AM

Something rather interesting has occured....I followed the link posted by Barb (http://www.thetartansite.com/) just previously and decided to quickly create an account and found the prices to have changed significantly. So, same product (Auld Scotland, 16oz for instance) now priced at 41.67 GBP sterling, down from 50.00 pounds.

Yes, thanks for clarifying the 'Royal Mail' small packet thing!

**crinis** · 15th March 14, 04:06 PM

I'm almost ready to pull the trigger and order the cloth. Of the ones here at scotweb.co.uk for the Scott Green Tartan, is there a brand or a weight which will make a first-time kilt easier? 13oz or 16oz? 11oz seems a little too light, no? The plan is to get 8 yards of fabric (or 4 yards if it's double wide) which for most of the brands (save DC Dal), come out to under US$300 before tax and vat. I can do that, I think. (And then if I get a decent kilt out of this, I'm going to custom some yards of the California Tartan do it again :-)

**ASinclair** · 15th March 14, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by crinis

I'm almost ready to pull the trigger and order the cloth. Of the ones here at scotweb.co.uk for the Scott Green Tartan, is there a brand or a weight which will make a first-time kilt easier? 13oz or 16oz? 11oz seems a little too light, no? The plan is to get 8 yards of fabric (or 4 yards if it's double wide) which for most of the brands (save DC Dal), come out to under US$300 before tax and vat. I can do that, I think. (And then if I get a decent kilt out of this, I'm going to custom some yards of the California Tartan do it again :-)

We don't have to pay the VAT since we live outside the EU, but USA customs can assess an import duty on packages valued in excess of $200.