It Has Arrived.

[Colin]

I am just curious about all these "buy from home" comments, refering to kilts made overseas. I hope to buy a traditional Scottish kilt one day. Is that not overseas?

Not if it's made in North America.

But when you think of Celtic peoples, you think of the immigrants who found a new home in North America. Or stayed behind in the Old Country. Pakistan is nothing more than a cheap source of labor that can work more cheaply than the artisans of North America and the Celtic Nations who have been keeping their art alive for centuries. That way of life is threatened by cheap labor that otherwise has no vested interest in the Celtic community other than how many kilts & sporrans can they sell.

But it won't be a Scottish traditional than. There are numerous local Scottish shops in North America that sell kilts. I am willing to bet that the majority of them don't make those kilts. They send the orders off to kilt makers in Scotland to be made. The majority of kilt suppliers (local shoppers, internet suppliers) are more of a distributer than kiltmakers. Can you get a well made traditional style kilt in North America? Sure you can, but 9 out of 10 companies will likely import the tanks rather than make them on site.

Secondly the labour in Pakistan (or where ever) was already existing when North American companies came looking. After all there has been a demand for cheap products for tourists on the Royal Mile for ages.

Thirdly, the Celtic Nations are worldly, and immigration was not specifically to North America (right Graham!). After all, the Celts ruled a large part of Europe for a time, and there are still colonies in Northern Spain that are as Celtic as Ireland. Not I am not saying that I would prefer to buy from a Pakistan labour company over a Celtic artisan, the opposite in truth, but those Celtic artisans also utilize cheaper labour, so that they can make a profit too.

I just think we need to look more at the quality, price, and desirability of the product, rather than just wear it was made. When I was in Ireland, I bought my wife a lovelty Celtic hair clip. Upon turning it over, I found that it was made in France. Did I care, ........no, that merchant buy it for cheaper, and still made a profit off of me.