From what I've been able to glean from discussions about our uniform, the Louisville Pipe Band originally ordered their kilts, headgear, flashes and waistcoats/vests through J Higgins (with some help from Clan Henderson*). I think we got our latest batch of kilt hose (white "piper's hose") through The Scotland Yard - our "local" outfitters. Our sporrans (black hunting with chrome cantles) we got a couple of years back, I believe through The Piper's Hut/Jon Maffett. We got our custom ties (black with gold lettering "Louisville Pipe Band" and fleur-de-lis - a symbol of Louisville) through another, unknown, source. If you shop around a little and talk to the shops, you may be able to work a deal, depending on how many items you order.

Shoes (black, any style, preferably ghillies), shirts (white, button-down Oxford cloth, l/s or s/s depending on the weather), jackets (black Argyle, any style cuff, single-button preferred) and other accessories are up to the individual.

We all play McCallum Mk2 chanters, but I don't know the source (probably also The Piper's Hut/Jon Maffett). We play Warnock broad reeds, also source unknown. We also have matching drone cords (black) and bag covers (black with zipper along the bottom, silver braid trim and Dycem patches), source unknown. (I don't do the ordering or pay the bills.) Drones, drone reeds, bags, moisture control, etc. are individual choice. I also know nothing about the drums played by the band. (Last year we got a new bass and new tenors).

I have no idea what the turnaround times were for most of the original orders. The hose we got within about a month. The sporrans took about a month of negotiations, once we decided which look we wanted.

Good luck!


* The band wears Ancient Henderson in honor of Col. Richard Henderson, who sponsored Daniel Boone's explorations of Kentucky. Clan Henderson was honored that the band chose their tartan and agreed to help in the initial outfitting of the band. In reciprocity, the band plays for Clan Henderson when we're asked to - if we're at the same Games (and we usually get an honorarium). We also have a blue toorie and flashes to coordinate with the blue stripe in the Ancient Henderson tartan.