Kilt, Stewart Royal tartan.

Stewart Royal tartan.   






Farquharson tartan
Farquharson tartan




0. Contents


1. VAT, custom duty and fee buying online
2. Ready-made kilts
2a. Locally manufactured
2b. Made in Pakistan

3. Custom kilts
3a. Locally manufactured

3b. Made in Pakistan

4. Accessories
5. Neo-traditional kilts
6. B2B
7. Tartan mills
8. Tartan finders




1. VAT, customs, and fees

For EU-citizens buying a kilt and accessories, hereafter called kilt, online    EU>

Within the European Union
No formalities or extra cost, other than shipment – provided the kilt is also sent from an EU country. If not, it is treated as coming from a 3rd country.

Kilt shipped from a 3rd country
All countries outside the Union are considered 3rd countries and customs, import duty = VAT, and declaration cost apply.

1. Customs duty
If the kilt is less than 150 EUR - or the equivalent in other currencies within the Uninon - no customs duty is to pay. If the price is 150 EUR or higher, 12% customs duty of kilt plus shipment applies.
UK is an exception. Due to a free trade agreement between UK and EU, customs duty never applies to goods manufactured in the UK, no matter their price.

2. Import duty
always applies. It replaces VAT but the rate is the same. It varies from 16% in Luxembourg to 27% in Hungary. Average is 20.4%.
It is to pay on price, shipment, and customs duty.

When buying kilt or accessories from Scotland you shall not pay British VAT. Therefore, make sure that the seller has deducted it. On many sellers' websites, VAT is automatically deducted when visitng them from an EU country, but better check to be sure. It is not always clear whether the price is with or wiyhout VAT.

3. Customs declaration fee
You must always pay a customs clearance fee to the courier company. It varies with the courier but may be up to 20 EUR, making the fee the dark horse in the calculation.


Kilt Holyrood tartan
Due to the free trade agreament between UK and EU no customs duty applies on this 100% Scottish made £300 kilt in pure new wool. But a declaration fee does. Holyrood tartan.


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Kilt Holyrood tartan
Ready-made kilt, Holyrood tartan.

2. Ready-made kilts


When buying your first kilt or you just want a kilt to wear in situations where an expensive wool kilt would be overkill, a ready-made kilt might be a good choice.

Ready-made means that all you can choose is tartan and waist size. The length of the kilt shall with very few exceptions be 24" or 61 cm, take it or leave it. A kilt can be shortened but with five or eight yards hemline it is a bit moe complicated or at least more expensive than with trousers.

2a. Locally manufactured

Locally manufactured means that the kilts are sewn in the country where the vendor is situated.

United Kingdom

ScotlandUK

Highland Store

2-yard wool off-the-peg kilts.

Highland Store has a physical shop in London, Holborn 66 Great Russell St, London WC1B 3BN close to British Museum.
Kilts4less x-hire kilts


Eireland

Ireland / EU

Kilt, Stewart Navy tartan
Readymade kilt in pure worsted wool by OND - O'Neil of Dublin. The tartan, Stewart Navy, is no longer available. I have four of these kilts.


OND - O'Neil of Dublin

Lightweight kilts in pure worsted wool. Five different tartans. Length 59 cm/23 1/4"

Germany

Germany EU

In Germany there are a few places where you can buy off-the-peg kilts:

Irish Berlin Shop/retailer
Gr. Hamburger Str. 36A, 10115 Berlin Dienstag - Freitag 13.00 bis 19.30 Uhr Samstag 10.00 bis 16.00

Ein sehr kleiner Laden mit einer kleinen aber guten Auswahl von Kilts, die aus Schottland und Irland stammen. Die Inhaberin, die seit 25 Jahren das Geschäft treibt, ist sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit.


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2b. Made in Pakistan


Readymade kilts typically are 8-yard kilts, sometimes 5-yard, made of PV or an acryllic fabric and 24" long and sell at £50-60.
Most of them come from Pakistan, but they might also come from other Far-East low labour cost countries, as will practically all clothing today, even expensive brands, so per se it does not mean inferior quality.

That said, some might give you less value for money, if any. The problem is first of all the fabric, even if sometimes the sewing quality could also be better. Cheap PV/acrylic fabrics often peel, making in no time the kilt useless. High quality PV fabrics do not.

Tartanista Value kilt
Peeling fabric.


United Kingdom

ScotlandUK

Heritage of Scotland

Heritage of Scotland
8-yard ready-made kilt from Heritage of Scotland in Heritage of Scotland tartan. I have very good experience with kilts from Heritage of Scotland.

House of Scotland on ebay

Tartanista
Tartanista on ebay

The Scotland Kilt Company
The Scotland Kilt Company on ebay


Germany

Germany EU

Scottish Things
Ludwina Helfert Hauptstr. 5c 63457 Hanau - Großauheim
Di. & Do. 14:00 - 18:00 Uhr im Laden
Auch On-Line Verkauf, aber leider nicht mit Kreditkarte.


Sweden

Sweden EU

Scottish House Stockholm


Spain

Spain EU

Galician Shop


The Netherlands

Netherlands EU

Celtic Webmerchant


USA



Kiltmart

Stillwater kilts

UT-Kilts


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Custom kilt, Caledonia tartan
Custom kilt, Caledonia tartan


3. Custom kilts


Wanting a kilt in wool, which really fits you when it comes to waist and length and where you'll have a lot of tartans to choose from, go for a kilt made to measure. It doesn't have to be that expensive. Only kiltmakers, giving you the option to order your kilt online and according to your measures, are listed below.

3a. Locally manufactured

Locally manufactured means that the kilts are sewn in the country where the vendor is situated, be it in Scotland, USA, Canada, Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland etc.

Custom kilt, Gunn tartan, worn with an anorak
Custom kilt, Gunn Ancient tartan. The kilt is worn with an anorak.


United Kingdom

Scotland UK

CLAN by Scotweb

Clan, a major Scottish kilt vendor, earlier known as Scotweb, has a very well designed and functioning web site.
To empahsise is their Essential Casual Kilt, a 5 yard kilt sewn in Scotland to your measures in UK-made high quality poly viscose.
CLAN is also selling a five yard made-to-measure Casual kilt in pure new wool "with a contemporary lower-waisted cut" which isn't a bad thing for a kilt to be worn casually.
Further they have luxury 8-yard kilts, leather kilts, camouflage kilts and denim kilts in their assortment.
Clankilts

Donaldsons of Scotland

5-yard 10 oz. Men's Casual Kilts.

Geoffrey Tailor

Highland Store

House of Tartan

Most interesting for casual or active wear might be their machine washable, made-to-measure 4x4 Sportskilt with invisible side pockets. The fabric is 12-13 oz. polyester/viscose.
You can also have a Casual kilt made of 4 yards pure new wool.
Their prices are without British VAT.
Houston Traditional Kiltmakers

Kilts4all

Kilts4less

Kilts 4 U

Kinloch Anderson

Lochcarron of Scotland

McCalls Highlandwear

Nicolson Kiltmakers

Paul Henry Kilts

Paul Henry is in kilt forums renowned for his extremely well-made kilts. I have no experiences myself with Paul Henry kilts but should I one day be in the market for a kilt costing over 400 GBP, he should be the one, I should contact.
ScotsConnection

Slanj Kilts

St Kilda Kilts

St Kilda, a Glasgow based kilt making company, was new to me, until it in December 2023, pretty much by incident, popped up. And look, they are offering what might be the most affordable casual kilt, made in Scotland. Their reason for the low prices is, that the pleats (at the fell) are only top stitched, making the process of making considerably cheaper. Well, I haven’t seen the St. Kilda casual kilts, and I’m in no way an expert when it comes to sewing techniques, but my Pakistani made kilts are in fact top stitched, and so is my USA Kilt Casual, as far as I can now tell, whereas my more expensive kilts, made in Scotland, are more refined. But do you know what? For a kilt to replace shorts and blue jeans and to be worn whenever you want to feel comfortable, top stitching is OK.
Much more important, the St. Kilda casual kilts are sewn of PV from Marton Mills making the probably best PV quality available. That I can say from own experience with three of my kilts.
St. Kilda Kilts also have a 5-yard casual wool kilt offered at an attractive price.

The Kilt Store

The Scotland Kilt Company




Austria

Austria EU

Rettl 1868
Austrian tartan kilts and fashion.

Rett Magazine
Don't miss the

Rettl & Friends magazines

.The link gives you access to by now 20 beautiful magazines. They are in German only, but if you don't understand the language, just enjoy the pictures.


In fact, no kilt maker or vendor I know of does so much as Rettl when it comes to promoting the kilt and making high quality kilts become fashion.

France

France EU>

Lady Chrystel Kilts
Lady Chrystel is a specialist in making box pleated, double box pleated and kingussie pleated kilts.

St. Kilda France
Their kilts are made in Scotland. Interesting might be their 5-yard casual kilt.


Germany

Germany EU

Kilts & More Europe

Mühlhausen bei Heidelberg

Hauptstraße 74
D-69242 Mühlhausen
Mo-Fr: 10:00 bis 14:00 Uhr

Kilts are made in Scotland.

Most interesting are a 6-yard PV 'Sports Kilt´ made to measure and a 4-yard wool kilt which can be box-pleated or pleated-to-the-stripe at no additional cost. Very few kiltmakers offer box pleated and pleated-to-the-stripe kilts. Also, the fact that Kilts & More Europe is based in Germany means that EU-citizens shall avoid the customs clearance fee. Freight within EU is favourable.

Note: Kilts & More Europe is not to be confused with Pakistani Kilt & More/Schottenrock.de!

Kilts & More Europe also has a base in Scotland, but warehouse and physical store is in Mühlhausen, Germany.

The Netherlands

Netherlands EU

The World of Scotland
Kilts are sewn in Scotland.


Switzerland

Switzerland

Gian-Andreaa

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Canada

Canada

Burnett's & Struth

MacIsaac Kiltmakers

Tartantown


USA

USA

Alexis Malcolm Kilts

Barb Tewksbury
Barb Tewksbury is not only a professor of geoscienties, but also a well-known kiltmaker and author of the book The Art of Kiltmaking.

Got Kilt

J. Higgins

Kathy Lare

Kiltshop.com

MacPhail

Linda Clifford

Sport Kilt
Being really light weight the Sport Kilt is just perfect in a hot climate. For informal occasions where you might otherwise feel comfortable in shorts, it is great – provided you don’t expect it to be a traditional kilt. I don’t. And it is not. It’s an unpretentious kilted garment of its own and for the mentioned purposes I can highly recommend it.

Sport Kilt
Sport Kilt, Loch Ness tartan.

The Celtic Croft

The Scottish Lion

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USA Kilts Casual, American Heritage tartan
USA Kilts Casual, American Heritage tartan.



USA Kilts
USA Kilts.com makes a very nice 4 yard kilt according to your measures, called USA Kilts Casual. Being closed by means of Velcro it is more flexible regarding waist size, and when a kilt is worn together with a wide belt no one can see that the buckles and straps are missing. The lack of metal parts also means that it shall set no alarms at airports.

And then it is washable, dries up in no time and needs very little ironing afterwards. Last not least, the USA Kilts Casual is practically indestructible.

High shipping costs from USA to Europe, customs and no VAT to deduct are the only problems I have with this kilt. But these additional costs make it more expensive to Europeans than the Clan Scotweb Essential with buckles and straps. Nevertheless, despite the high end price I really feel tempted to once buy another Casual kilt from USA Kilts.



USA s Casual
USA KIlt Casual, American Heritage tartan. No kilt socks.


USA s Casual
USA KIlt Casual, American Heritage tartan. White kilt socks go with most tartans.

UT-Kilts


3b. Made-to-measure in Pakistan

Pakistani kilts used to be ready-made and many still are. Accordingly, they would not fit all men wanting to wear a kilt, those then having no other choice than having their kilt custom made – in Scotland or Canada or USA.
But now you can also have Pakistani sewn kilts customized to YOU, in the length you wish, and made to your waist and hip size, with the fell length you might prefer and in a lot of different tartans. And to about the same price as a ready-made kilt. The idea is brilliant. No need for neither manufacturer nor vendor to invest in inventory or worry about the best mix of kilts in ten different tartans and six sizes. Also, production to order is fine for environment. And you, the customer, shall get a kilt to really fit you.

Another good thing about these kilts is that they are basically 5-yard, which I think is much better for casual wear and on a hot summer day than 8-yard kilts, but should you want it 8-yard, it is possible too.

But are they good (enough)?

Yes, for most tasks, related to casual wear, the good Pakistani kilts are good enough or more than that.
However, and a bit confusing, several Pakistani kiltmakers have started to also offering kilts costing 100, 150, 200, 300 and even 400 dollars, pounds or euros and without even trying to justify these prices compared to their 50-70 $/£/€ kilts. Is the fabric better? is it wool? Does it come from British mills?. By all means, at such high prices, most men, no doubt, should prefer their kilt to be made in Scotland. Just as an, in all respects, excellent Skoda can never cost just near the same as a Mercedes-Benz.


Germany

Germany EU

Clan Kilt.de

Schottenrock (Kilt & More)

Kilt & More
A 5-yard Pakistani Kilt by Kilt & More, Moffat tartan, ordered in October 2021 from their German branch (EU). Price 38€, Shipping 17€, fast delivery by German UPS, and I payed no taxes and fees on top.
Today this kilt is 55€, but kilt prices in general have increased. However, it took me to find it again on their website. Want it this kilt or others in this price category? Go to page 45 or something like that.

Kilt & More
I very much like the tartan. Measures are as ordered. Sewing quality has proven to be very good. Pleating is fairly accurate, without being perfect. Important: Tartan quality seems to be far better than average for ‘affordable’ kilts. And it is not too heavy weight.

From a normal distance between people no one shall observe the few flaws in pleating, and should they, are all things in their own life, car, home etc. perfect?
Would I order another kilt from Kilt and More/Schottenrock.com.de? Yes, definitely. This is a kilt and a vendor I can and dare recommend.

France

France EU>

Clan Kilt.fr

Kilt Homme (Kilt & More)

Scottish Kilts



United Kingdom

Scotland UK

Clan Kilt.co.uk

Euro Kilt

Kilt Experts You decide waist and length.

Tartan Kilt Co UK

UK Kilts


USA

USA

Champion Kilts


Champion Kilts

Champion Kilts

Champion Kilts

Champion Kilts


8-yard kilt from Champion Kilts in Hebridean Heather tartan. Overall quality is extremely good. The fabric is fine, sewing excellent, high precision in pleating. Everything is better than on any other kilt from Pakistan, I know of. High value for money. Definitely a Best Buy and Champion Kilts thus deserves my highest recommendation.

Cheap Kilt

Custom Kilt

Fashion Kilt

Kiltailor

Kilt&Jacks

Kilt & More

Kilt Experts You decide waist and length.

Kilts Shop

Liberty Kilts

Royal Kilt

Scottish Kilts

The Kilts Company

Ut Kiltstore


Pakistan

Pakistan

Kilt and Sporrans

Kilt Master

Prime Kilts

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Sporran
Leather sporran in tan



4. Accessories


Most kilt vendors will also sell you all kinds of accessories to go with your kilt, like sporrans, belts, buckles, kilt pins, garter flashes, and kilt hose.
But you'll also find enterprises specializing in accessories.



Sporrans, belts & buckles


Sporran
Day wear leather sporran.


Belt and Buckle
Belt and buckle.


Artificer Custom Sporrans US

Centaur Design UK

Morrison Sporrans UK



Kilt hose/socks


Kilt hose
Kilt hose by W. Brewin & Co.Belt and buckle.


W. Brewin & Co. Ltd. - WB Socks UK Kilt hose
This cpmpany sell some very nice kilt hose at a very favourable price and in several colours. Highly to recommend.



Under your kilt

Should you feel tempted to go commando but are also concerned about hygienic aspects, the solution is kind of "under kilt" or half slip, which - when worn under a kilt - is called a kilt liner.

Kilt liners are to have from Activ Skin / G. Liebermann & Sons and come in two models:

Black nylon tricot

Sheer black nylon

The Black nylon tricot is opaque, the Sheer black nylon 'see through' and is therefore, I guess, coming clothest to going commando.

Webmaster's opinion
If it is ok with you that it is opaque, you might, instead of an authorized kilt liner, go with a skater skirt, sometimes called a circular skirt. It makes the perfect kilt liner or kilt protector. But you have to find it in women's stores. Or order it online. You could, of course, also just look for a short half slip.


Skater skirt
If it is OK with you to wear something from the women's section, a skater skirt under your kilt makes a perfect kilt protector.


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Kilt, Elliot tartan
Pleats only at the sides, none on tha back of the kilt. 4-yard, wool, Elliott tartan.


5. Neo-traditional kilts

Solid coloured, patterns instead of tartans, other fabrics, or by design deviating from the traditional kilt.

United Kingdom

ScotlandUK

21stCentury Kilts
Expensive top quality kilts where innovation is based upon tradition. According to Howie R. Nicholsby, founder and owner of 21st Century Kilts, the kilt should be an alternative to trousers and for every man to use, casual or formal:

“My aim is to give men throughout the world a realistic alternative to trousers. Pioneering the next step of its evolution, 21st Century Kilts is true to the original kilt which was everyday clothing. Casual or formal a kilt should be an option for any man from anywhere who can realize they are part of the history of an international garment."


Paul Henry Kilts
Paul Henry can not only make you a traditional tartan kilt sewn by hand but also kilts in tweed, linen, denim and cotton.

Clan by Scotweb
By Clan by Scotweb you can buy some nice made-to-measure Camouflage Casual Kilts in four different patterns. Or a Denim Casual Kilt as well as a tweed kilt.


France

France EU

Sous les jupes des hommes

Despite the brand name, indicating man skirts, the people behind Sous les Jupes des Hommes are positioning their products as kilts. Neo-traditional kilts they could be called, very well-designed and should definitely have future potential.

Lithunia

Lithunia EU

Linen Wedding Dress
A company making handcrafted wedding dresses in linen, but on top of that also men's made-to-measure kilts in the same fabric. They are not traditional kilts, but what you might call a new take on kilt design. Made by hand in Lithunia.


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Expo utlity kilt
Utility kilt made by UK Expo International. The company operates on the B2B market, making kilts and other high land equipment.


6. B2B

Business to business


Thinking of making kilts a business?


Pakistan

Pakistan

UK EXPO International
Having had the opportunity to try on a utility kilt from UK Expo International I must say that I'm most impressed by the sewing quality, the fabric and overall design. UK Expo International also makes tartan kilts and kilted skirts for the ladies.

Greenland Pipe Co,

Thistle Rose Enterprises


China

China

Alibaba.com
Many suppliers to chose from.
Order sizes from 1 to 1000+ kilts


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Buchanan tartan
Buchanan tartan

7. Tartan mills


D.C. Dalgleish

House of Edgar

Lochcarron

Marton Mills

Strathmore Woollen Co.


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Holyrood tartan
Holyrood tartan

8. Tartan finders


House of Tartan

The Scottish Register of Tartans




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