What Is ‘Made in Scotland’ Worth?

[PaulineaMcLaughlin]

“What Is ‘Made in Scotland’ Worth?” — exploring craftsmanship, perception of value, and fair pricing for Scottish-made garments compared to imported ones.

What Is ‘Made in Scotland’ Worth?

In an age where global production dominates, it’s easy to forget that where something is made still matters.
A garment can be designed, cut, and stitched in any part of the world — yet when the label reads Made in Scotland, it carries meaning that extends far beyond geography. It speaks of heritage, skill, and trust. But how much is that worth? If a jacket costs £100 when made in the Far East, what should it be worth if made in Scotland?

The Economics Behind the Label

Let’s begin with the simple arithmetic.
Manufacturing in countries such as China, Bangladesh, or Vietnam benefits from low labour costs, vast industrial scale, and lower regulatory overheads. These systems can produce garments efficiently and cheaply, often with minimal artisan input.

By contrast, a Scottish maker pays vastly higher costs across every line of the ledger:

Cost Factor Far East Scotland
Hourly labour £1–£3 £12–£20+
Workplace standards / safety Basic Strictly regulated
Energy / utilities Subsidised Market-rate UK energy
Material sourcing Synthetic bulk Premium wools, tweeds, natural fibres
Scale of production High volume Small-batch or bespoke
Environmental compliance Minimal High (waste, dye, emissions)
Logistics / shipping Low unit cost Local distribution but smaller runs

When you add these layers, the true cost of a garment made in Scotland can easily be four to six times higher than one imported from overseas — before any brand markup or retail margin is applied.

The Hidden Value: Craftsmanship and Authenticity

Yet pricing isn’t only about cost — it’s about worth.
A Scottish-made garment isn’t merely a product; it’s a representation of culture and craft. Each piece connects to generations of textile tradition — from the looms of Harris Tweed to the cutters of Hawick and the tailors of Edinburgh.

When you buy Scottish-made, you pay not just for materials but for human skill:

A kiltmaker aligning every pleat by hand.

A tailor shaping shoulders with iron and steam.

A weaver matching colours to the Hebridean landscape.

Those skills take years to master and cannot be replicated by automation. They embed character, longevity, and pride into every stitch.

Durability and Sustainability

A well-made Scottish garment often lasts decades. Harris Tweed, for instance, is woven to outlive fashion trends and can be re-cut, repaired, or passed down. In contrast, mass-produced fast-fashion equivalents may last a season or two before fading, pilling, or losing shape.

When you measure cost per wear, a £400 Scottish jacket worn for ten years is cheaper — and more sustainable — than four imported jackets replaced every two years. True value lies not in the purchase price but in the lifespan of the garment.

Environmental Impact

Local manufacturing also carries tangible environmental advantages.
Producing in Scotland reduces global transport emissions, ensures adherence to UK environmental standards, and supports circular economies where waste and resources are monitored responsibly. “Made in Scotland” is not just a badge of pride — it’s a statement of lower carbon cost and ethical traceability.

Intangible Worth: Story, Trust, and Provenance

Buyers increasingly seek authenticity — they want to know who made this and where it came from.
A label that reads Made in Scotland tells a story of provenance. It carries emotional and cultural weight, particularly for those with Scottish heritage or an appreciation for traditional craftsmanship.

This story adds perceived value: people are willing to pay more for honesty, artistry, and transparency. In marketing terms, that “origin premium” can increase the retail price by 50–300%, depending on the product and audience.

So, What Should It Be Worth?

If a garment costs £100 made in the Far East, a directly equivalent Scottish-made item — using comparable materials but local craftsmanship — should realistically retail for around £350 to £600, depending on:

Labour intensity (hand tailoring vs. machine production)

Scale (artisan workshop vs. industrial unit)

Fabric (Harris Tweed, pure wool, or synthetics)

Brand reputation and finish

That’s not profiteering — it’s the true cost of ethical, skilled, sustainable production.

The Real Question: What Do We Value?

Ultimately, the “worth” of something made in Scotland can’t be measured solely in pounds and pence.
It represents a commitment to skill, community, environment, and continuity — values that mass production often erodes. When you buy a Scottish-made garment, you invest in people, not machines; in craft, not convenience; in heritage, not haste.

The real question isn’t “Why does it cost more?” but rather:
What kind of world do we want to live in — one that values the cheapest price, or one that values the hands that make what we wear?

What do you think?

[Troglodyte]

This is a very good question, and it puts into detail a great deal that far too many people ignor or disregard when buying items of Hughland dress.

Every item of Highland dress that is made outside Scotland, or made from non-traditional materials, and bought on cost, is another nail in the coffin of Scottish makers. Every such purchase is seen as a loss to Scotland and its culture, and it is difficult to see how the purchaser can take pride it what they have bought.

Recent years have seen an alarming number of traditional Highland dress retailers, tartan weavers and accessory makers go out of business - having lost their trade to foreign retailers selling foreign-made 'copies'. From a Scottish perspective, it matters little whether the kilt, or jacket or sporran is made in Pakistan or North America, if it is not Scottish-made, it is a fake and its purchase is no benefit to Scotland nor Highland culture.

Whatever reason the individual has, or justification he gives himself for buying items made in the USA or Pakistan, or wherever, it is nothing to the damage his actions have on the home country whose style and culture he is pretending to support and maintain.

Certain breeds of sheep whose fleece once produced the tweeds and tartans that people craved have been allowed to die out through lack of demand and competiton from inferior alternatives. A Scottish sheep's fleece, once prized around te world, is now worth literally less than nothing, as each shearing costs the farmer a fee he can never recoup. It is a very sorry sight to see the fleeces being burnt or sent to landfill, but the wearer of a foreign-made PV kilt looks the other way and let his eyes rest on the price-tag with a 'Wow, what a bargain.' glint in them. It is not that there is no demand for Scottish tweeds, tartans and all elements of Highland dress, it is that people prefer to buy on price rather than quality. And 'quality' includes authenticity.

The rate of decline and demise of the true Scottish-made materials and garments is shocking. So the answer to the question is that 'Made in Scotland' has a value that ought to be priceless to all on this forum. Has it..?

[Janner52]

Sadly we live in a throwaway age, despite all the press about climate change and wastage we continue down that road. This does not only apply to Highland dress. Years ago our clothing manufacturers outsourced supply to the Third World to reduce cost. We now get underwear and shirts made in China/Bangladesh/Pakistan and so forth. What we also get is poorer quality, inconsistent sizing and shoddy looking clothes.

About 15-20 years ago a colleague of mine bought a set of highland dress. At that time a Scottish made kilt cost around £250-£300. I recall he spent just over £150 on the full outfit. His words to me “I don’t see why you needed to spend all that money” Well, his kilt, if you dare call it that, was a rag. You only had to give it a hard stare and the pleats would fall out. The Prince Charlie was so badly made he had to throw it away. All of the accessories were cheap tat. A few years later I was in a shop near Edinburgh and the owner showed me a kilt of similar origins to my friends. It and been burned and was a mass of molten cloth.

A poor quality kilt can be spotted a mile away and it certainly wouldn’t feel anything like the real thing.
Part of the problem is we live in an age where few worry about standards. For some, every day wear is a tracksuit/hoodie combination. A large number of men probably don’t own a suit.
Other than that we should support our heritage craftspeople whatever the product.

[Pleater]

I am probably one of a dying breed - hopefully still around for a little while but I have caught covid so - well - you never know these days.

My grandparents went through two wars and my parents one, and they kept alive skills which might well have been already lost - I know how to hatch eggs, for instance, and how to get the most from a vegetable garden and orchard.

I am Pleater not from making kilts, as that was a fairly late interest, but from English smocks, and it was not unusual for a smock to be passed down or on for many years, carefully or skilfully repaired or restored as the years passed, but with changing times it became the dress of the lower classes, the poorhouse, and the prosperous farmer or farm manager wore a woollen overcoat and topper rather than a pure white linen smock and stove pipe hat, first to market and then every day.

The author Terry Pratchett described the phenomenon of the rich being able to buy quality boots for 50 dollars and spending less than a poor person, ten dollars a year, - and having dry feet as well. The Sam Vimes philosophy of boots is quite famous now.

I am sure that the US could produce quality fabrics and garments, given time and the necessary impetus but it would be expensive and slow going to acquire the skills and the machinery.
There are people spinning and weaving high quality fabrics in the US, but it is all done by hand and their output is tiny, and it is, of course, very expensive - plus they seem to concentrate on linen and cotton rather than wool. Perhaps the right quality of sheep fleece is not available.

Anne the Pleater.

[kiltedsawyer]

Every item of Highland dress that is made outside Scotland, or made from non-traditional materials, and bought on cost, is another nail in the coffin of Scottish makers. Every such purchase is seen as a loss to Scotland and its culture, and it is difficult to see how the purchaser can take pride it what they have bought.

I am not sure that I can agree with you here. Surely the purchase of a Nissan Sentra has never cut into the sales for Rolls Royce. I fully understand and have practiced the concept of saving with the intent to be able to purchase better quality igoods. I also fully share your lament at seeing long standing mills and artisans going out of business, but I am not sure that cheap foreign made goods are completely to blame. I have owned a Nissan Sentra and will never own a Rolls Royce. Clearly this comparison is exagerated, (although here in the states, Highland dress will never be seen as a necessity,) but with out an entry level into the market, Highland dress will seem out of reach for most. Yes, you could rent but the for-hire shops pedal the same low-end goods we see on e-bay and it is likely most of their customers requiring Highland dress in order to be part of a wedding ceremony, would never purchase a kilt anyway. To be clear, I am not promoting cheap third world products from on-line retailers whose marketing is tantamount to fraud at best. Lighter weight, lesser yardage, top sewn PV kilts may be the answer, however education through forums like X-Marks may be the best remedy, but sadly even this seems to be in decline. Nothing lasts forever.

Cheers,

David

[Jock Scot]

[QUOTE=kiltedsawyer;1412820]I am not sure that I can agree with you here. Surely the purchase of a Nissan Sentra has never cut into the sales for Rolls Royce.

You are quite right, Rolls Royce faces little or no threat from Nissan, but without a shadow of doubt, cheap kilt attire, in conjunction with lack of customer knowledge about kilt attire and impatience, most certainly does affect the higher end of the kilt attire market.

What can be done about it? I have no sensible answer.

[ShaunMaxwell]

I am sure that the US could produce quality fabrics and garments, given time and the necessary impetus but it would be expensive and slow going to acquire the skills and the machinery.

Anne:

There was a time that there were many textile mills in the US, but the mills were all closed and the work offshored to cheaper, foreign locales. What a pity!

I read an article recently talking about what was, in the '80s, a fairly inexpensive portable stereo (cassette deck!) produced in the US. The article stated that there are currently no manufacturers in the country who could produce such a devise today.

Times change, but things seldom seem to get better.

Cheers,

SM

[geomick]

at one time, the cotton mill in McKinney TX was the single largest producer of denim in the world, now it hosts weddings, rents space to photographers and dance studios

The down side to a lot of textile production in much of the USA (and probably much of the world) was the contamination which poured into the rivers. There were a number of rivers I used to fish in when I lived in NC that you wouldn't consider eating fish from. We still have the raw materials but now understand a lot of what not to do.

[OC Richard]

Unfortunately "Made In Scotland" isn't worth as much when Pakistani firms are stamping their stuff with those words.

I've been collecting photos of sporran backs for a few years now, because you can tell much more from the back than you can from the front regarding where the sporran was made, and by whom. The factors include overall body shape, sporran-strap tab shape and stitching, and (with some sporrans) the popper tab shape. I've seen sporrans stamped in various ways which obviously were by the same maker.

I'd only been looking at what I reckoned to be quality Scottish-made sporrans (and I have to include L&M in Canada) but I kept encountering sporrans that didn't look quite right though stamped "Made In Scotland".

So recently I've been gathering photos of the backs of sporrans being sold directly by Pakistani makers and sure enough I've found matches with sporrans stamped "Made In Scotland" and being sold by Scottish retailers.

The other dodge is to name your firm something like (and I'm just making this up) "Alba Highland Crafts Scotland" so "Scotland" is part of the firm name, and not an open claim as to where the stuff was made. I've found at least one three-way match where identical sporrans were being sold direct from Pakistan with no stamp, being sold by a Scottish firm and stamped "(firm name) Scotland" and being sold by a Scottish firm and stamped "Made In Scotland".

[OC Richard]

About weaving quality wool kilt cloth here in the USA, there isn't a big enough market.

The Kilt Hire industry in Scotland is huge, and there are hundreds of pipe bands in Scotland and Northern Ireland each of which needs dozens of kilts.

I just looked it up, California, with a population of 39.5 million, has three kilt hire places, none of which AFAIK have brick-and-mortar locations. In Glasgow I could walk to three Kilt Hire shops from my accomodation, all of which were bustling with people coming to pick up their hire kilts. (I read that the "Glasgow region" has 1.7 million people.)