Tartans

There are more than 4000 registered tartans. Many people choose a tartan that has a family connection, for example a parents or grand parents surname. You could also choose a district tartan, picking an area of Scotland that you feel an affiliation with. Other counties with district tartans include Canada, Australia, Ireland and the United States.

Made To Measure kilts are tailored to your measurements by an experienced kilt maker, a made to measure item ensures the perfect fit as well as giving you a range of options regarding the cut and design such as pleating to the sett or stripe.

Outfits

Prince Charlie

Named after the Young Pretender, Charles Edward Stuart, the Prince Charlie is a traditional choice for weddings, dances and other formal events. Prince Charlie's come in black, blue and green. For a classic look team a black Prince Charlie a 3 button vest (waistcoat) and bow tie.

An Argyll jacket is the most versatile option as it works for both formal and casual events.

A Tweed Crail is a great choice for casual events such as a Ceilidhs and Highland Games. It's also smart enough to wear when attending a wedding. It can be worn with or without a vest (waistcoat).

Hire

Whether it's a casual, prince charlie or argyll kilt package, we offer fantastic value and choice. Our hire range for men and boys starts from £69 for a full outfit. We aim to provide the best value, choice and quality around - from Argyll, Prince Charlie, and tweed jackets, to a Jacobean waistcoat, in our collection of 16 hire tartans we have four very special prestige tartans. In addition we offer group and student discounts as well as extended and express hire options.

We are an Edinburgh based Scottish kilt shop. We pride ourself itself in selling a broad range of affordable Scottish kilts and full highland outfits. Visit our shop today and take advantage of the online offers with free global shipping on all orders placed online. We also have a fantastic hire range for men and boys - with a choice of 16 tartans which you can team with a Prince Charlie, Argylle Tweed jacket or Ghillie shirt, our range of quality accessories will add the finishing touch for any outfit. As well as regular hire promotions we offer a 15% discount to students as well as for group booking. If you need to be measured for your kilt / outfit please pop in. If you have any questions about hiring or buying a kilt package, please do get in touch.

Interview with a kiltmaker

Our kiltmaker has been kind enough to answer some questions about the process. Having worked as a kilt maker for over 30 years, including a stint with the company who make kilts for the royal family, she is something of an expert! Read on for a unique insight into this traditional craft.Training to be a kiltmakerI trained as a kilt maker in 1985 at the time it was a 5 year apprenticeship, the early stages were learning how to hand sew. We did this by adding the lining to finished kilts. This element of the training alone took several months. We were then taught how to plan a kilt. This process involved, getting to know the tartans, learning how to measure and chalk the aprons and planning the pleats - which are individually measured and then pain-stakingly hand sewn, allowing the kiltmaker can shape the kilt to the contours of the body. An 8-yard kilt will normally have between 22-32 pleats.”One problem facing traditional kilt-making is that the knowledge of kilt-makers has generally been passed down from person to person verbally. The lack of written information is understandable, as kilt-makers need to protect their trade secrets.Given the level of detail and skill involved Kiltmaking is regarded by professional tailors as the most difficult and complex skill in their trade, with proper alteration or repair of a kilt is an even greater challenge!How long does it take to make a kilt?Each kilt requires about 3,000 hand stitches and can take between 12 to 15 hours depending on the type of pleating required. as there is a great deal of skills and labour involved. A hand-made kilt should last a lifetime, so it's certainly worth the initial outlay.”Some fear that the kilt has begun to lose its traditional values as new modern styles and techniques become available to kilt-makers. The last decade or so has shown that the kilt can be a fashion item and thus is vulnerable to change and alteration. Our kiltmaker talked about how these changes were effecting kiltmaking."The wedding industry, has played a part in the changes that have taken place within the industry. Wedding shows need to come up with something different every year, this had led to the use of different materials including linen, cotton, leather, and denim. However fashion kilts tend to date quite quickly." It seems that while new styles provide fun, contemporary pieces, the traditional handmade wool kilt will always be the most popular due to it's classic and timeless appeal.”Another interesting development our kilt maker pointed out is the inclusion of tweed, itself a traditional material."Recently there has been a deliberate bit to boost the Tweed industry and as a kiltmaker I have seen tweed used in kilts and indeed kilt suits. The tweed has a contemporary look and when teamed up with a tweed waistcoat and tweed jacket. As a kilt maker I enjoy working with tweed as there are some lovely tweed being woven.”Any unusual requests?“Over the years I have been asked to make kilts in various materials a Denim kilt for Levis many years ago which actually turned out pretty good, or the groom who wanted his kilt made up in the colours of his country's flag. Although the most obscure kilt I have made had to be the whopping 90" waist and 37" length kilt - the customer was big bird from sesame street!”How enjoyable is the job?So would our kiltmaker recommend the job to others? "I can honestly say I have not really had any bad experiences in 25 years of kilt making. It is a satisfying job to have. To produce a garment made by hand for the customer to see them delighted with something you have made for them. Making a kilt for someone is a very personal process. It means a lot to be able to assist and help customers in their choice of highland dress. It is very rewarding knowing the garment is for a special occasion or a future family heirloom.I work on many old kilts which can be decades old passed from father to son and then to grandson. People trust you to take care of something that was once belonged to a family member and have been handed down to them. the kilt makers job is to re-measure and remake so the kilt can be worn with pride once again.”Any advice for people buying a kilt?Finally I asked our kiltmaker for a few pointers when selecting a made to measure kilt. She suggested you start by asking the following questions - Will the pleats be cut out at the back for shaping and comfort? What will the bottom edge of my kilt be like? Will it be a traditional selvedge, hemmed or a modern selvedge? How deep will my pleats be? How many (estimated) pleats should I expect my kilt to have? Do I have the adjustment space for future growth?

Specialist Services

Made to measure kilts Kilt measuring service Kilt hire service

Trade Bodies / Associations

None

Trading Since

1996

Find Us

100 yards south of junction with the Royal Mile, inside Off beat Clothing store.