I’ve been asked by the sixth grade teachers to do my talk on how my Scottish ancestors came to the new world. I prefer to do this in traditional dress. I thought that this year, rather than making my great kilt out of the old tartan bed sheet (good enough to fool sixth graders, but you know, it just isn’t the same…) I might go all the way and get myself the fabric for the real thing.
So, does anyone know a reputable dealer, preferably in the states (for time’s sake) where I could get a large plaid in the Gunn tartan, along with related “stuff” (to use an ancient scottish term), without having to donate an internal organ to pay for it? There are so many suppliers coming up through the search engines I have no idea where to start.
You may want to try J. Higgins Ltd. out of Kansas. They usually have the best prices on just about anything you could want from Scotland. Although they don’t advertise selling tartan yardage they do make good kilts and it may be worth a phone call, 800-426-7268, to find out if they will sell you just the cloth (I can’t image they wouldn’t).
Tyghress, that is REALLY cool! I’m not really looking to design my own, but wow, that’s fun.
Anna…yeah, I know. I already called Higgins LTD, and I’m looking at around $400 just for the fabric. Whew, that’s a mighty expensive blanket…
[edited to fix a misspelling of Tyghress’ name!]
[ This Message was edited by: WyoBadger on 2002-02-04 16:33 ]
On 2002-02-04 16:32, WyoBadger wrote:
Tyghress, that is REALLY cool! I’m not really looking to design my own, but wow, that’s fun.
Anna…yeah, I know. I already called Higgins LTD, and I’m looking at around $400 just for the fabric. Whew, that’s a mighty expensive blanket…
[edited to fix a misspelling of Tyghress’ name!]
[ This Message was edited by: WyoBadger on 2002-02-04 16:33 ]
I play tenor drum in a pipe band(only play my pipes for me and the cows) and our band has gotten our new kilts from a place in Scotland that had much better prices than anyone here in the states, even with paying duty.These are a heavy weight wool of very good construction. I can check with my pipe major and see where they were ordered from. If you are looking at $400. just for yardage you would definately do better getting a finished kilt for about the same price or less. I do know that you can get a finished kilt from Everything Scottish in Linville NC for about that price. The kilt makers daughter plays in our band. In fact, I’ll see her tomorrow nite at practice and ask her the best place price and quality wise here in the states. I’m sure she’ll know.
Here is another source. We visited them once when we were in NC. I don’t know anything about their quality, but they seemed to be nice folks. http://www.scottishtartans.org/index.html
Question: How come kilts are so darn exspensive? They don’t seem all that complicated, but then again I’m an Irish dancer, not a Highland dancer, so I wouldn’t know
You could try Geoffrey Tailor in Edinburgh. The contact page is http://www.scotweb.co.uk/Highland/Geoffrey_Tailor/#Contact and I noticed they have a toll-free number for north American customers. Their site says that they do sell tartan by the yard.
Well, Higgins is out of ancient Gunn, and isn’t placing another order for another couple weeks. I just talked to Taylor of Edinburough. They said they could get it to me quite quickly, but I’m worried about import duties. The cost from them will be around $300. Does anyone know what the duty would be on that?
I think that if they merely mark “Gift” on the outside of the package there will be none. I ordered a flute from Eamonn Cotter a couple of years ago and that is what he did. There was nothing more to pay on my end.
David
[ This Message was edited by: Feadan on 2002-02-05 14:42 ]
I checked with my band’s pipe major and the name of the company we got our new kilts from is Eccosais. (in Scotland)Edinburgh I think.I also talked to the kiltmaker I know and she said she’d make you one, that 400.00 was way too much to pay for just the tartan fabric. I can get you her e-mail if you want.
Cowtime, that sounds great. Time is of essence, though; I’d like to get something ordered today, so a phone number would be better if possible…if I don’t get this thing pretty quick, I’ll end up having to do the Scotland talk in the flannel sheet kilt. :roll: I don’t THINK the tartan police operate in Wyoming, but still…
Thanks!
Tom
p.s. Edited to add that I’ll need about seven yards of double-width wool. That IS a big chunk of fabric.
[ This Message was edited by: WyoBadger on 2002-02-06 10:06 ]
