Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 11 on 17/11/2003.

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Kiltmakers

The kilt is becoming ever more popular. Kate Patrick picks out the best shops to buy one from

Some years ago the designer Vivienne Westwood launched a ‘Highland Warrior’ tartan collection for men.

The idea was to photograph the pieces on real Scotsmen. One was low-slung, to reveal the navel; a matching, full-length, slightly fluffy cape was flung around the shoulders, and at the neck and cuffs were exuberant lace jabots.

Another included a jacket with rosebuds all over it, to accompany a tartan kilt; and a third had a sweater made of pom-poms over a mini kilt that left little to the imagination.

Westwood’s iconoclastic approach to interpreting highland dress demonstrated just how enduring and resilient tartan is as a fashion medium.

It’s an attitude that has paid dividends for Howie Nicholsby, who, as the son of a traditional kiltmaker, Geoffrey Nicholsby, has successfully employed the company’s tailoring expertise to create a collection of thoroughly modern kilts that sit on the hips rather than two inches above the waist, and can be worn day or night.

Robbie Williams is one of the many stars who have adopted the kilts as fashion wear. Although the team at 21st-Century have debunked some of the other conventions on having a kilt made they do still hold that the best kilts are tailor-made to the wearer; and they continue to turn out the traditional, heavy wool tartan, deep-pleated, eight-yard, Prince Charlie kilts (£325).

In a country where men wear such dress as part of modern daily life, kiltmakers have learned to be versatile.

If you come as a total novice t.....

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By Kate Patrick

Section : Scottish Shopping

Page number : 62