Are there any kilt makers in the UK which stand above others in quality?

[North40]

I appreciate all of the advice and recommendations that people in this thread have given me.

Braw Kilts is a two person business, Cathy is the kiltmaker, her son does their social media etc.

Yes, their kilts are 100% handsewn. My kilt from Cathy.

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Nice. Whenever I'm able to make the trip to Scotland, and specifically the area where Braw Kilts is located at, I'll go and get a kilt from them. Their work and business seems lovely.

I've had two kilts made by a Glasgow company called St. Kilda Kilts

That's actually where I'm looking at getting the argyll jacket & vest for my kilt made. They seem to have a rather good reputation for their jackets and the selection of tweed they have looks good as well.
Were you able to go inside to their store and get fitted for things or is it purely an online-ordering storefront? I haven't been able to find muc

As for USA Kilts, they seem like a great business manned by great people. I saw quite a few of their videos regarding advice for kilt buying and wearing etiquette when I was first going down the rabbit hole and they were really helpful with learning about the two different thought trains behind wearing the kilt.

If you go to Scotland, a visit to Lochcarron's mill in Selkirk (Scottish Borders) is VERY interesting

And I'll definitely keep this in mind when planning the trip eventually. Thank you for the recommendations once again.

[jsrnephdoc]

(regarding St. Kilda Store in Glasgow)

That's actually where I'm looking at getting the argyll jacket & vest for my kilt made. They seem to have a rather good reputation for their jackets and the selection of tweed they have looks good as well.
Were you able to go inside to their store and get fitted for things or is it purely an online-ordering storefront?

As for USA Kilts, they seem like a great business manned by great people. I saw quite a few of their videos regarding advice for kilt buying and wearing etiquette when I was first going down the rabbit hole and they were really helpful with learning about the two different thought trains behind wearing the kilt.



And I'll definitely keep this in mind when planning the trip eventually. Thank you for the recommendations once again.

I think that St. Kilda is online only. I think the public face is a History Professor at Glasgow University. He's responded personally to some of my messages. I do NOT think they have made-to-measure jackets or do in person measurements for kilts. I once considered having a made to measure Prince Charlie Jacket made, but the price for that (at Kinloch Anderson, for example) is astronomical.

I just had a kilt made by Barb Tewksbury; we did a Zoom session to make sure my son took my measurements. The kilt is beautiful, and Barb is also very approachable. When I lived in Santa Rosa, I didn't know about Barb and Elsie's book, nor that Elsie lived just 20 miles south of me. I've heard that her waiting time is almost a year, but also that she may no longer even be sewing kilts.

[kilted2000]

(regarding St. Kilda Store in Glasgow)



I think that St. Kilda is online only. I think the public face is a History Professor at Glasgow University. He's responded personally to some of my messages. I do NOT think they have made-to-measure jackets or do in person measurements for kilts.

They do made to measure jackets but it is online only. They are also the public face of Gaelic Themes, whose highland wear accessories are ubiquitous. I have a MTM tweed jacket from them. Their website also has a large clearance section which can be bad on the wallet as well.

[North40]

Is it pretty easy to get an accurate jacket measurement by yourself with the help of another person? Or is it something you would recommend getting done in person?

If you want a hand sewn kilt then consider forum member and sponsor Barbera Tewksbury.

I just had a kilt made by Barb Tewksbury[...]

I appreciate the other recommendation. I'll have to keep her name in mind in-case something happens and I'm not able to get a kilt from Braw Kilts.

[kilted2000]

Is it pretty easy to get an accurate jacket measurement by yourself with the help of another person? Or is it something you would recommend getting done in person?




I appreciate the other recommendation. I'll have to keep her name in mind in-case something happens and I'm not able to get a kilt from Braw Kilts.

They are website has instructions on measuring yourself with someone else’s help but you could also have a local alterations tailor do it.

[North40]

I'll have to keep that in mind, thanks.

[jsrnephdoc]

Is it pretty easy to get an accurate jacket measurement by yourself with the help of another person? Or is it something you would recommend getting done in person?

Most people never have a suit or jacket tailor made. If they did, there wouldn't be a huge "ready to wear" business with very well respected shops such as Nordstrom, or J Press, or Brooks Brothers. But we all differ in how our shoulders and necks articulate with our chests, so if you want a perfect fit you'd either get it made to measure or have a tailor make minor adjustment, but adjustment more complicated than just hemming the length of pant legs.

I picked up a Prince Charlie jacket (probably from previous rental use) at some Highland Games about 3 years ago. I don't remember how much I paid, but it wasn't much more than $100 for jacket and waistcoat (that actually came from different used clothing vendors. The labels inside say they were made in Scotland The satin lapels are a bit wrinkled, and the collar doesn't quite work with my crooked neck. Most people wouldn't notice, but they both bother me. On the other hand, the PC is the highland wear item that least commonly comes out of my closet, so I'll probably just wear it once or twice a year and not worry about it.

[North40]

That's a good point. I think(?) I should be fine just getting a general measurement and buying one of their "prepared" sizes for the jacket/vest. A bit apprehensive since I've never gotten measured for formal wear or a suit before and the jackets are quite the investment.

][...]and the collar doesn't quite work with my crooked neck. Most people wouldn't notice, but they both bother me.

I guess the silver lining to this, relatively speaking, is that you didn't pay a substantial sum of money for the PC lol.

[OC Richard]

Another vote for Cathy Hope, "Braw Kilts" in Edinburgh.

[OC Richard]

Is it pretty easy to get an accurate jacket measurement by yourself with the help of another person? Or is it something you would recommend getting done in person?

I've been wearing kilt jackets for nearly 50 years and what I've found is that giving measurements almost never results in a jacket that fits the way you want your jacket to fit.

In August I went into every kilt shop I could find in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and a side-trip to Kilmarnock.

In shop after shop I saw the same jackets from House of Edgar and St Kilda/Gaelic Themes. I have a jacket I got on Ebay with a Lochcarron label. I also have a Geoffrey Tailor jacket.


All these jackets fit the same. In fact they look as if they're made by the same people, though various places state or imply that they make their own jackets in-house.

What I've found is by far the best way to get a jacket to fit is to try on jackets and find the right size. Then I can purchase a jacket from any of the legit UK firms and I know it will fit.

I've found that the least successful way is to send somebody measurements. I've had places do crazy things like add 8 inches to the waist, to send me a Long when I didn't order a Long, and other goofy things. And you can't return these mutant jackets because they're bespoke.

But yes, if you happen to be able to order a jacket in person and they have an experienced person who does the measuring then you'll probably be fine.