The kilt has been a part of Scottish identity for centuries, first as the feileadh-mór or great kilt and later as the fèileadh beag, which is the version we know today. The great kilt was not much more than a length of material wrapped around the waist with the excess material draped over the shoulder. However, as the kilt evolved into the fèileadh beag or little kilt, the construction of the kilt became more intricate. After the Dress Act of 1746 was repealed in 1782, demand for high-quality traditional highlandwear grew, not just in the rural highlands, but also in the modern lowlands. This took place over a number of years during the late 18th century and thanks to the demand for high-quality kiltmaking craftsmanship, the kilt shop was born.
The Traditional Kilt Shop Experience
The kilt shop we know today was born out of necessity. Once the kilt had evolved into the fèileadh beag and the signature pleats were sewn into the design, the kilt became a complex item of clothing. Making this new style of kilt demanded experience and skilled craftsmanship. The days of going to the local mill to buy a length of tartan to make a great kilt were gone. During the early days of kilt shops, the only people who could afford to shop there were the upper classes. These well-off members of society were actually the ones who unknowingly set the path for kilts as they moved into the modern age, not highlanders. Kilts during this period weren’t worn as an everyday article of clothing, they were reserved for special occasions like banquets, ceremonies, and hunts. If you look at where kilts are worn today, with the exception of hunts, not a lot has changed. The kilt shop experience also remained largely unchanged from the time of its conception back in the 18th century. People would visit a kilt shop to get their measurements taken and browse through the different tartans and highlandwear options the kilt maker had available. It wasn’t until the advent of the internet that things started to change and only within the last 10 years has the kilt shop experience really started to shift in a completely new direction.
The Modern Kilt Shop Experience
With centuries of Scottish tartan design, the first big breakthrough for the highlandwear industry, in general, was having these tartans databased online. In 2008, The Scottish Register of Tartans was established by an act of the Scottish Parliament. The aim of the register was to promote and preserve information about historic and contemporary tartans. This act signified the importance of Scottish heritage and helped modernise access to one of Scotland's oldest crafts. This made tartan more accessible to people, not just in Scotland but around the world. It showed the highlandwear industry that modern times require modern tools for traditional industries. As a result, many kiltmakers who had predominantly been brick-and-mortar stores, started to explore the online world. MacGregor and MacDuff is one of those kiltmakers. While there was a website before the act was established, the focus on creating an online version of the kilt shop experience grew. Starting as a tool to drive people in-store, the MacGregor and MacDuff website quickly grew into a fully-fledged place to buy highlandwear and accessories, leading up to today, where the kilt shop experience has evolved even more.
The Virtual Kilt Shop Experience
While you can go on our website today and buy a full kilt outfit right there and then, the newest addition to our online kilt shop is our Virtual Kilt Fitting Service. The service is designed to bridge the gap between the traditional in-store kilt shop experience and the online experience. It allows you to have the flexibility of being able to view our huge range of highlandwear products online while being assisted by one of our experienced highlandwear stylists throughout the process. Our Virtual Kilt Fittings take place on a Zoom call where our stylist starts the appointment by getting to know more about your highlandwear requirements and personal preferences. Using that information, they are able to give you personalised recommendations, showing you the different items both on our website and over video call. As we have over 4,000 different tartans to choose from, they are also able to help you explore our tartan selection and help you find one that is perfect for every occasion. One of the worries people have when buying kilt online is getting their sizes right. As a kilt sits higher on the body than a normal pair of trousers, it’s important to know where to take your measurements. This isn’t an issue when you attend a Virtual Kilt Fitting Service as our stylist is able to watch and direct you through self-measuring. This is hugely beneficial as it eliminates the risk of mistakes. Once the appointment is complete, we take all the information and get started creating everything you have selected.
The Kings of Kilts Experience
Our Virtual Kilt Fitting Service is arguably the biggest leap forward within the modern highlandwear industry. It manages to use the best of what modern technology has to offer and pair it with the best of what the traditional kilt shop experience delivers. In the short time that we have run the service, we have managed to help hundreds of customers from around the world gain access to not just premium highlandwear products but access to the same level of service and care that our in-store customers receive, without having to travel anywhere. If you or anyone you know wants to try our Kings of Kilts experience without having to leave the comfort of your own home, book a Virtual Kilt Fitting Appointment today.