Robert from John Morrison Kiltmakers: “Everyday is different and challenging”

“That is a million dollar question because there are over 14,000 registered tartans," says Robert, the store manager from John Morrisson Kiltmakers, who refers to the patterns of the characteristic Scottish kilts. This piece of clothing is part of the Scottish national costume and different generations still carry on the tradition of wearing them on special occasions. Most of the patterns relate to the clans, Scottish family groups with a long history, and each surname has its own pattern, such as Campbell, Fraser or MacLeod.

Kilts for Christmas from John Morrison Kiltmakers | Silvia Barcia

The kilt is usually complemented by the sporran, a leather or fur bag that occupies the front. “It's a wool product, so you just treat it like a good wool jumper and just let it breathe out the wardrobe maybe once every three months," recommends the store manager. Its maintenance is important, as it is worn for weddings, festivals or family gatherings. In some cases, and especially in ancient times, a small knife called sgian dubh was carried in the sock, as well as a jacket and a waistcoat were worn to complete the outfit.

Sporran complementing a kilt | Silvia Barcia

Robert considers working in a kilts shop to be “challenging” because every day is different and each person's experience is very different. “It's very unique to have one person one day and one person the next and so on and so forth," explains Robert. John Morrison Kitlmakers is a 50-year-old shop at 63 High Street, Edinburgh, which maintains the traditional values of the kilts and you can find different brands to choose from.

Kilt from John Morrison Kiltmakers with a more traditional pattern | Silvia Barcia