I, for one, think this Scotsman article is ridiculous. For one thing, it completely misses the main point that was made in the article from the Scottish Tartans Authority.

The STA has nothing against inexpensive kilts. In fact, in a sidebar in the article, they stated so quite plainly, and admitted that there is a place in the market for inexpensive, off-the-peg kilts. Are you going to want to wear one with your Prince Charlie jacket to a wedding? No, of course not. But if you want a kilt to play rugby in, or need a cheap kilt for your kid to wear, it might be just the thing. In fact there are a whole host of reasons why you might decide to buy an inexpensive kilt -- and unless you are a very gullible shopper, you should realize that the quality you get will be much, much less than the higher priced hand tailored kilts.

What the STA's problem is -- and this was explicitly stated in their article -- is that certain merchants are selling "kilts" imported from Asia as "authentic Highland kilts" and misleading the tourists into thinking they are purchasing a genuine made in Scotland product. And this, their main concern, was not even mentioned by the Scotsman article. Not once.

If you are going to attack the STA's position, at least attack their actual position. Or is journalism in Scotland as bad as it is here in the United States?

The STA is made up largely by members of the tartan weaving industry, it is true. And also quite a number of tartan academics. And it has quite a large individual membership, as well of interested people. And it watches out for the interests of its membership. Why shouldn't it?

Let me put it plainly. The STA is not out to promote one tartan company over another. It's membership is made up of woolen mills that compete with eachother for your business. It's looking out for the tartan industry as a whole.

And if people are led to beleive that some cheap, acryllic, made in Pakistan, machine sewn, ill fitting "kilt" is representative of tke kinds of products that the Scottish woolen mills and kilt making firms are producing, it is quite unfair to their image.

If you go back and read the original STA article again, all it is asking is that you call a spade a spade. If the kilt was made in Scotland, then label it made in Scotland. If it was made in China, then you should be required to label it as such. A lot of people who buy the cheap kilts in question are doing so as a souvenier of their time spent in Scotland. They have the right to know that the "kilt" they just bought was not made in the country and does not represent "authentic Highland" dress, despite what is claimed on the label.

Aye,
Matt