Bid to keep kilt-making in check

Ruthven Milne shows off a hand made kilt he has pinned up ready for sewing

Some of the country's leading kilt-makers are meeting in Perth to determine exactly what is, and what is not, a Scottish kilt.

The organisers hope by outlining the skills needed to make a genuine kilt, they will be better able to protect the craft from cheap imitations.

Fashion and textiles body Skillfast-UK wants to create a set of National Occupational Standards.

They want to create a blueprint for the traditional kilt-making industry.

The meeting will cover general tailoring skills as well as construction techniques and specialist knowledge of tartan.

Kilt-maker Ruthven Milne said: "A kilt is a traditional garment, not a fashion garment.

"It is something that has been worn in Scotland for hundreds of years.

"It has changed over a period of time from a full kilt with a plaid down to a half kilt, which is just worn on the bottom half.

"It is hand-sewn, hand-made, made of very good quality material and it should have a traditional approximately eight yards, you can have more or less depending on the size of the person.

"There is a certain length it should be. It must be about an inch and a half from the floor when you are kneeling and it is pleated to the pattern that is in the kilt itself."

Jackie Cullen, from Skillfast-UK, said there was a "broad spectrum" of kilts produced in Scotland.

'Quality standard'

She said: "We are looking at preserving the traditional skills associated with the production of kilts in Scotland.

"The whole sector contributes about �350m to the Scottish economy.

"What we want to do is identify a quality standard through looking at the skills which are required in making this traditional product."

She said she wanted to maintain the distinctive, high-quality associated with Scottish kilts.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version