Nice Balmorals

[Nanook]

The MOD placed its most recent kilt order with Asia, no doubt hopefully expecting high standards,

They did not place their order. The issue was one of should the MOD accept tenders from Asia.

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=278112006

THE British Army has lowered the standards required of ceremonial kilts for the new amalgamated Scots regiment so that they may be manufactured from cheap tartan made abroad, a move critics say could lead to poorly made outfits.
.
.
.
An MoD spokesman insisted that the changes have been made in order to provide best value for the UK taxpayer and added that the new worsted fabric would be less "fluffy" in appearance.

The MoD contract will be directly between the kilt manufacturer and the MoD.

It is up to the producers of the garment to source the material at the cheapest possible price, making it more likely that it will come from abroad.

The talk was even to let Asian companies join but that got shelved so now its British kiltmakers under the squeeze but also armed with lower (cheaper) standards to meet.

but these days buying British is no longer automatic, the Goverment is affected by the global market too.

No, it not called "Global market" but its called short-sighted quick savings. Its about balancing books, avoid taxes and getting re-elected.

In a story unrelated to kilts (but to the spirit) a story came over the wire today that the German government has tabled their plans to restrict smoking in public places due to (open and explicit!) concerns that people might smoke less and this would reduce the amount of monies derived from tobacco tax--- seriously folks that's their line (and why too they have been filibusting EU directives on advertising).

What's the value of a couple of blokes running about in archaic ceremonial garb or tattoo parades for tourists? In the future we'll see the boys trooping-the-colour in tartan polyester mini-skirts from textile discounter overstocks

I found a site offering the Black Watch hackle for £0.78 http://www.blackwatchshop.co.uk/prod...products_id=29 which is a quarter of what you can expect to pay for a "civilian" hackle.

That's a good deal. I don't know about their conditions but they normally fetch much much more (if they are real)-- and why I guess its their top selling item. The Black Watch shop is a fan shop associated with the Black Watch Regimental Museum--- which is directly related to the Black Watch Regiment Association. So if the Regiment Association is selling an item then I'd hardly imagine that it crossed the line to wear one!