Recreating a tartan fabric?

[Chas]

Let me know when you find them and if they weave tartans!

You, obviously, have me at a disadvantage Rocky and although not wanting to doubt your word, I find it almost impossible to believe. Are you seriously telling me that there are no mills weaving tartan in the whole of the United States. How did the US get itself in to such a position? Are all the twills imported, or is there no market to make it viable?

I had assumed (obviously incorrectly) that with a population of 300 million, that there would be a thriving weaving industry. Where does it all come from - China?

In bewilderment, Regards

Chas

[artificer]

THIS Ralph Neilson?

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&expIds=...41562a61b59af3

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...nsman+knitwear

Search the forum threads and do some homework on Clansman Knitwear / Ralph Neilson before ordering.

I'll add to Rocky's links with THIS little eye-opener

You, obviously, have me at a disadvantage Rocky and although not wanting to doubt your word, I find it almost impossible to believe. Are you seriously telling me that there are no mills weaving tartan in the whole of the United States. How did the US get itself in to such a position? Are all the twills imported, or is there no market to make it viable?

I had assumed (obviously incorrectly) that with a population of 300 million, that there would be a thriving weaving industry. Where does it all come from - China?

In bewilderment, Regards

Chas

The US USED to have a lot of mills, most jobs were shipped overseas in the mid 90's when cheap labor really 'came online'. North Carolina was especially hard hit.

[Downix]

The US USED to have a lot of mills, most jobs were shipped overseas in the mid 90's when cheap labor really 'came online'. North Carolina was especially hard hit.

North Carolina only had such a fabric presence by stealing it away from New England. Until the 1960's, New England was the textile center of the US. When the new tax codes of the 1970's, which benefitted companies which relocate with tax reduction, they fled south, the Carolinas mostly. But once you convince a company that moving for tax purposes is a good move, and reward them, they cannot help but have new wandering eyes.

North Carolinas skill in stealing away the fabric mills was also the skill that taught the mills to jump ship, which of course hurt them in the long term.

[BoldHighlander]

I know Pendleton Mill in Pendleton, Oregon does all kinds of quality woolens, but tartan? I really don't know

[Downix]

I know Pendleton Mill in Pendleton, Oregon does all kinds of quality woolens, but tartan? I really don't know

They have Black Stewart and Royal Stewart, but it is not good for kiltmaking, being quite flannelly.

[RockyR]

You, obviously, have me at a disadvantage Rocky and although not wanting to doubt your word, I find it almost impossible to believe. Are you seriously telling me that there are no mills weaving tartan in the whole of the United States. How did the US get itself in to such a position? Are all the twills imported, or is there no market to make it viable?

I had assumed (obviously incorrectly) that with a population of 300 million, that there would be a thriving weaving industry. Where does it all come from - China?

In bewilderment, Regards

Chas

I'll echo Artificer's comments:

The US USED to have a lot of mills, most jobs were shipped overseas in the mid 90's when cheap labor really 'came online'. North Carolina was especially hard hit.

the majority of the material here is imported from China and the like. I've been to "fabric Row" in Philadelphia and NUMEROUS fabric stores here in PA, NY, NJ and VA (different states) and always come across VERY poor quality fabric in tartan... NEVER quality tartan fabric (on par with UK woven stuff). I have seen high quality FABRIC, but never in tartan.

There are a number of mills who shut down due to globalization and cheap labor coming out of the far east. I'm not saying all the US Mills are gone, but I don't know of any that weave tartan suitable for kiltmaking. The closest we have is Frasier and Kirkbright in Canada, though I prefer UK cloth to theirs.

Also, please note my comments in my initial post were sort of 'tongue in cheek' and no malice was intended, Chas. It's sometimes hard to convey subtleties of the spoken word into read-able text.