Nice jacket, but um...

[OC Richard]

"we have kilts, outfits and accessories to suit every budget... We have sourced some the finest products from all over Scotland and the world"

I'm 100% positive that those jackets are made in Pakistan or India.

You have to read carefully what is said, and what is not said.

I will say that I've examined some kilt jackets made in India that would pass as UK made, just almost. The fabric is very close but doesn't quite have the feel of Scottish 100% virgin wool, and the detailing always has subtle quirks.

Trouble is, until recently one could rely on ex-hire jackets, kilts, sporrans, etc as being good quality UK-made things... but now loads of low-price kilt hire places are cropping up, obviously hiring Gold Brothers type stuff.

[HarveyH]

The fabric is very close but doesn't quite have the feel of Scottish 100% virgin wool

Whilst I fully agree with the caution over some of the stuff appearing on e-bay I do have to query a phrase like "Scottish 100% wool".

There is quite a lot of cloth woven in Scotland but almost all of this cloth is made from Australian, New Zealand, and now some South African wool. Very sadly the price of a fleece (fifty pence if you are lucky) means that wool production is simply not economic for farmers in the UK.

There are a few special breed producers. But yarn that is 100% British (let alone Scottish) is a rare artisan production and very little fine cloth is produced. Aside from the specialist protected production of Harris Tweed, I am only aware of one commercial weaver in the UK who is seeking to source British yarn and is only doing so to create special fully traceable sourced cloth which can thus be sold at a premium.

Sad to say, but if you see a label claiming that your new fine tartan cloth is made from 100% Scottish wool, it is either very rare and expensive or simply a lie.

[rondo]

Opps...my bad. Disregard...nothing to see here.
Rondo

[Big Mikey]

And what the heck is an "araca"?

[Laird_M]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Araca can refer to:

• Araca, a town in Bolivia
• Arača, a ruins of a Romanesque monastery in Serbia
• Araca group, a theatrical production company

[Jock Scot]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Araca can refer to:

• Araca, a town in Bolivia
• Arača, a ruins of a Romanesque monastery in Serbia
• Araca group, a theatrical production company

Sooooo, just what connection has all that got to do with a kilt jacket? I wonder.

[rsvpiper]

Its just your standard tat shop Araca tweed kilt jacket, like most things in today's world built to a budget! Yes you could spend $/£ on a good quality item BUT balance it off with how often and when/ where it will be worn.
Just my 2pence worth

[Laird_M]

That was one of my considerations. I wouldn't wear it that much, so £300+ woudl not be a worthwhile investment.

[Jock Scot]

Its just your standard tat shop Araca tweed kilt jacket, like most things in today's world built to a budget! Yes you could spend $/£ on a good quality item BUT balance it off with how often and when/ where it will be worn.
Just my 2pence worth

OK, please put me in the picture here, I have (and apparently, neither has Big Mikey) never heard of an "Araca" kilt jacket. Is it a kilt jacket style? Is it a tailors name for his particular kilt jacket-----not unkown in the tailoring world of Scots kilt attire? What connection has the word "Araca" got to Scotland(none apparently)? What? Just wondering.

[rsvpiper]

To be honest Jock I don't know they came on the market a few years ago mainly via the tat shops up in Edinburgh/Pakistan, mostly based on the crail style in a grey charcoal material. Sizes will be all over the shop so it's best to try before you buy. I've seen a few in the solo comps this year mostly young lads due in part to the cost versus growth!,
Sorry if this reads a bit naff I'm tryping on my phone :-D