where to buy a kilt

[English Bloke]

...My suggestion would be to buy directly from a kiltmaker you know and trust rather than from a middleman who has kiltmakers working for them...

I'm with Ron on this issue. I've been lucky with my Kilt purchases. The best Kilt I have is a hand sewn bespoke and I dealt direct with the maker who I discovered by tip off from a satisfied customer. I have been fortunate with other custom made Kilts I have aquired (all machine sewn) and I've not had problems personally but I have heard numerous horror stories here and elsewhere from other people who have had their kilts made by the same kilt retailers I've used so it seems sometimes hit and miss. If you deal direct with a reputable kilt maker there can be no misunderstanding in what you require.

Kilt weight? I have wool Kilts in 12, 13, 15 and 16oz. Of them all I prefer the heavier weights. 13oz is fine but 16oz hangs and swings better in my opinion. But then I don't live in a HOT place.

Hand / Machine? As previously stated, up close? Yes, however people won't notice from a passing bus.

My Kilt maker doesn't reside in Scotland but there are plenty who do. An enquiring email to Stewart at Rendall's of Edinburgh wouldn't hurt. Excellent quality and exceptional value, have a look at his testimonials.

[robbiethepiper]

In Scotland. you would find veryn few people other than poseurs. american tourists or the military wearing box pleats. Make your own choice. Scotweb make good value stuff. but please be aware they are at the "value" end of the spectrum.....Robbie

[TheBrus]

Question from bystander: Are the customs duties on a kilt made in Scotland and brought back to North America something to consider?

[Gryphon57]

Question from bystander: Are the customs duties on a kilt made in Scotland and brought back to North America something to consider?

Yes. I must say I was surprised by the amount of duty on my purchases. I got the bill from the taxman several weeks after the purchase and didn't realize it wouldn't be part of the shipping etc..

[Jock Scot]

Question from bystander: Are the customs duties on a kilt made in Scotland and brought back to North America something to consider?

Well I suppose by the time the kilt is made it will have to be shipped. We in the UK are subject to VAT(value added tax) at 20% on top of the purchase price which as an "outsider" you will be exempt. I cannot say about other countries import duties(outside the Euro-zone) and how they are imposed on the purchaser from outwith the UK.

[David Dubh]

Thanks for all the input. On the tax front I don't have to pay the VAT on the purchase. Since the wife and I will be in Scotland for two weeks we are each entitled to bring back $750 in personal exemptions. When we arrive back in Canada we declare goods to follow when they arrive which can be months later you present your customs declaration form to the carrier who then has to send your stuff back to customs who will reasses it and reduce or eliminate the duties. I have done it before no problem the only inconvenience is the extra customs delay. But well worth it unless you are in a hurry.
David

[English Bloke]

Post withdrawn... Self censorship.

[Damocles]

being a tailor i would like to put my 2cents in on this hand made vs. machine made garments and this can be generically applied to any quality garment it is true that hand stitching has more control then machine work how ever machine stitching is 3 to 4 times stronger. there are parts of a kilt that benefit greatly from machine stitching. such as applying the wast band. this is the part of the kilt that needs to be vary strong in order to take the waitey load of 8 yards of fabric. if you are an experienced and superb tailor then there is no reason that machine stitching can not be applied to a garment in such a way as to garinty a long and useful life with excellent draping over the body. after all the way a kilt or any garment hangs is a skill of the cuter and pattern maker as well as how it was stitched together. only the best hand sewers can create stitches that are as even and strong as a machines work. there are stitches that are applied to the binding off of edges and interfacing that to do by hand would add a considerably amount of time that can be achieved with Machine sewing in vary short order. thees types of bindings are hidden inside the garment and no one can ever access them to see if they are hand sewn unless you take the garment apart. they do not fundamentally shape of have any thing to do with how a garment would hang but they do have every thing to do with how a garment will last over many years by controlling ravel and damage to the movement of seams and such.
so is hand sewing better? some times in the controlling of the pleat set and general contouring. then hand sewing is Superior and any good tailor that is interested in his of hers longevity as a tailor would make the effort. but as i have already out lined there are parts that would benefit and make a better garment over the years of its life with machine stitching. so a mixture of both is optimal. i have purchased from scotweb and they are of the same opinion as i. tho we differ on just what things should be hand sewn and which should be machined.
so sorry if that was long winded but i think the more important question. is the kilt a good one? dose it use quality fabrics? is the tailor committed to his or her craft? and do they stand behind there work with the pried of generations of tradition? and Know how?
and ultimetly the truest mark of quality is do you love your Kilt?
Paul Baswell

[MacMillans son]

David, you may want to consider one of the many wonderful kilt makers in North America and save all the shipping, tariff and customs costs and delays.

I can personally recommend both Bonnie Heather Greene and Kathy Lare's work as top notch, and they are also exceptional values.

Best of luck!

[Scottish Terrier]

I agree with Jock,
Chisholms of Inverness, very good quality tailoring. I had my last Ancient Gow kilt made by them in 2008. Loving to this day