Lochcarron Sold to Koreans

**Cygnus** · 4th July 11, 07:37 PM

My hope is that this is simply a Korean business-person with an eye on both the increased demand for wool in Asia and the increased cost (and, for him/her, possibly increased profit margins) that such demand is causing.

I have a feeling that CDN Sushi and MacMillan of Rathdown are correct in their predictions; I sincerely hope so!

**ScotAtHeart** · 4th July 11, 07:38 PM

I will be stopping by Lochcarron in mid-August....I wonder if things will be at all different by then. I have been there once before, but last time I got about a half second to look around....got there late in the day and went to use the restroom, and when I came out all of the lights were turned off.

**Lime** · 5th July 11, 01:39 AM

Originally Posted by Morris at Heathfield

There's a video on the history of Lochcarron here, narrated by Wedge Antilles. The answer is yes. The business got its start in Lochcarron shortly before moving to Selkirk on the Borders.

Super thanks. Curiosity satisfied - often wondered never asked.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 5th July 11, 03:43 AM

Well, I'm sad to see that they were sold, and sadder to see that they were sold to a company outwith Scotland. But if that means that the Selkirk mill can keep running, that the tartan cloth will be produced in Scotland, and that people there in Selkirk will continue to be employed, then all of that is for the best.

Lochcarron is one of my favorite mills to work with probably the majority of kilts I have made in my career have been from Lochcarron cloth. Certainly the great bulk of kilts we sell through the museum gift shop have been made from Lochcarron cloth, and many (if not most) made by Lochcarron kilt makers.

Contrary to what another poster on this thread has intonated, I have had nothing but good things to say about the kilt makers Lochcarron employs. Both their standard gentleman's kilts as well as their casual kilts have always been top notch in my experience. In particular the casual kilts they are making blow what most other firms produce as "casual kilts" out of the water. (But I allow that individual experiences can vary, I'm just saying I've seen a lot of Lochcarron-made kilts pass through my hands and I have nothing but praise for them).

In any case, I hope Alistair Buchan enjoys his retirement and I wish nothing but success for the company in the future.

**biblemonkey** · 5th July 11, 05:17 AM

Aw crud...

**Nick Fiddes** · 5th July 11, 06:35 AM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...tland-14011889

Here's hoping their tartan traditions are continued. At least they've been saved!

haeng-un-eul bil-eoyo (Good luck, in Korean)

Nick

**Nick Fiddes** · 5th July 11, 06:47 AM

Oops, I looked but failed to spot this news had already been posted. Could the mods please delete this...

**Nick Fiddes** · 5th July 11, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by Lime

Does anyone know if the Lochcarron discussed above has any connection to the weavers on the shores of Loch Carron (between Lochcarron and North Strome)?

As it happens they made their last weaver there redundant a few months ago, and turned his weaving shop into a tea room... presumably as a cost saving measure.

We all seriously wish them the best, as the tartan ecosystem in Scotland can't afford to lose such an important player. My big fear would be if they offshored the production, and so also hit all the associated industries in the area such as dyers and spinners. But my hope is that since authenticity is at a premium in their local markets, they'll have the sense to keep production going in the Borders, and just make it more efficient... though this might mean a slimming of ranges. Time will tell.

This has been common knowledge in the trade here for some months, and it was known that this firm was looking at them very actively. FWIW you can download the last published accounts at Lochcarron that showed they lost around £1.5 million pounds on a turnover of around seven (that's from memory). So clearly something had to give.

**cessna152towser** · 5th July 11, 07:23 AM

Oops, I looked but failed to spot this news had already been posted. Could the mods please delete this..

Threads have now been merged.

**creagdhubh** · 5th July 11, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Well, I'm sad to see that they were sold, and sadder to see that they were sold to a company outwith Scotland. But if that means that the Selkirk mill can keep running, that the tartan cloth will be produced in Scotland, and that people there in Selkirk will continue to be employed, then all of that is for the best.

Lochcarron is one of my favorite mills to work with probably the majority of kilts I have made in my career have been from Lochcarron cloth. Certainly the great bulk of kilts we sell through the museum gift shop have been made from Lochcarron cloth, and many (if not most) made by Lochcarron kilt makers.

Contrary to what another poster on this thread has intonated, I have had nothing but good things to say about the kilt makers Lochcarron employs. Both their standard gentleman's kilts as well as their casual kilts have always been top notch in my experience. In particular the casual kilts they are making blow what most other firms produce as "casual kilts" out of the water. (But I allow that individual experiences can vary, I'm just saying I've seen a lot of Lochcarron-made kilts pass through my hands and I have nothing but praise for them).

In any case, I hope Alistair Buchan enjoys his retirement and I wish nothing but success for the company in the future.

Well said Matt, thank you!!!