Getting a Kilt Made for Scottish Wedding

[DaveC426913]

Got a Scottish wedding coming up. Think I may go in a kilt of my (Irish) family's tartan.

Recommendations of where/how to get one made?

 

[lisab]

Awesome choice!

Kilts are becoming very popular here in the Seattle area. I've seen them for sale in Celtic-themed stores...do you have those where you are?

Gotta warn you though - they're pretty expensive. Think $100 to $200. No idea why.

 

[DaveC426913]

Awesome choice!

Kilts are becoming very popular here in the Seattle area. I've seen them for sale in Celtic-themed stores...do you have those where you are?

Gotta warn you though - they're pretty expensive. Think $100 to $200. No idea why.

We have Celtic-themed stores, but I want one made in my family's tartan.

I'm thinkin' $200 is on the low end.

 

[FrancisZ]

Well that's cool.

From what I understand though: Scots have tartans by family name; and the Irish have it by county of origin.

You might just choose a color scheme of your own.

 

[physics girl phd]

We have Celtic-themed stores, but I want one made in my family's tartan.

I'm thinkin' $200 is on the low end.

I sew. I looked up kilt-making online, and it seems a man's kilt (in traditional style) takes about 8-9 yards of fabric. Most "decent" wool fabric here in the states runs at least $10-12 per yard (when you find it on sale), often more... and that's not counting special weaves.

check out http://www.geoffreykilts.co.uk/gentskilts.html" from a wool mill in Edinburgh. Granted the mill is on the touristy "royal mile" -- but it gives you an idea of kilt prices in general, and you can follow a link to the left to find their fabric prices. I think you could go with the shorter width (which would stick you around $30-40 per yard). I visited Scotland a LONG time ago (fall of 2000?)... and did purchase some fabric from both local shops and around Glasgow (tartan selection was hit and miss) and this one (where selection was much better, and I only got stuff that was "on sale" -- i.e. short cuts with <8 yrds remaining on the bolt). And I was only looking for tartans I liked; not a specific family one (since my family is not Scottish at all).

Honestly, I found a few other tartan mills online that were MORE expensive (try $50-70 per yard). The tourist business and "rental kilt" business they do in and around Edinburgh might keep their costs DOWN; and they don't seem to really push the high quality "Harris tweed" fabric.

And I agree... if you're doing it for a Scottish family wedding, you'll want to do it right, or not at all. (Glad I dropped the Scottish boyfriend before he wanted me to make him a kilt. )

 

[DaveC426913]

A little research corroborates the idea that Irish tartans are by county, not by family. And since Cork is pretty common, I might be able to get one off the shelf rather than having it custom-made.