Edinburgh: Discover the secrets of kilt and tartan with a kiltmaker

Edinburgh: Discover the secrets of kilt and tartan with a kiltmaker

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Tartans and kilts are emblematic symbols of Scottish heritage, rich in history and culture. Meet a French-speaking kiltmaker to learn all the secrets!

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Highlights

You can meet a kiltmaker and ask all your questions.
You can dress in the large kilt worn by Highlanders in the 18th century.
Learn how to pleat tartan to create beautiful folds
Learn how to tell a handmade kilt from a bad industrial one
Help preserve an endangered craft

Description

Our private lecture-workshop led by an expert kilt-maker will take you on a journey through the rich history of Highland dress and tartan in Scotland. From the Feileadh-mor (large kilt) featured in Outlander, to contemporary bespoke kilts, we'll discover the evolution of these iconic symbols of Scottish heritage. You'll also learn about the different types of tartans and fabrics woven in Scotland, from the great tartan spinning mills to the independent weavers of Harris Tweed. We'll delve into the history, culture and art behind these textiles, providing you with a deeper understanding of Scotland's heritage. Making a high-quality bespoke kilt takes an enormous amount of time, precision, careful planning and hand-sewing. Unfortunately, for these reasons, many stores and online businesses opt for cheaper and faster machine-made kilts, compromising the quality and durability of the final garment. Our expert will explain the challenges facing artisan kiltmakers, not forgetting to mention that kilt making has been considered an endangered craft since 2021. We'll share with you our commitment to preserving this precious craft, and what we're doing as independent craftsmen to achieve it. Finally, your kiltmaker will guide you through the complex process of making a high-quality kilt, sewn entirely by hand from start to finish. You'll learn the main steps involved in making a kilt, including the crucial and complex process of pleating the tartan. With the opportunity to try your hand at pleating a tartan, you'll discover the infinite possibilities and creativity offered by a single tartan! You'll also leave this workshop-conference with a little tartan gift to remember this wonderful experience! Join us as we explore the enchanting world of tartan textiles and kilts, where tradition, innovation and passion come together.

Includes

Exclusive meeting with a kiltmaker. Learn about the history of the kilt and tartan in Scotland and Great Britain. Dressing in the 'great kilt', a traditional 18th-century Highland garment. This is the costume worn by James Fraser in Outlander. Learn the difference between a top-quality artisan kilt and a machine-made industrial kilt. Learn the art of pleating tartan, the first step in making a kilt. A souvenir gift made by us from tartan scraps.

Important Information

The meeting takes place directly in the inhabitant's home, in a room dedicated to kilt making. The apartment is on the second floor of a block of flats, with no elevator.