A kilt is for life, not just occasions

Profile: Kilt maker believes the Scottish favourite can last a lifetime

Q What does your business do?

A I make bespoke hand-stitched tailored kilts and Highland dancewear using traditional methods. I also use the tartan offcuts to produce purses, scarves, shawls and bags.

Q How and why did you start in business?

A I live on a busy farm and now that my children are older I wanted to run a business from home that would be flexible and fit in with farm life. When my health deteriorated and I had to give up horse riding, where most of my work skills lay, I decided to improve my sewing skills. While on a course the subject of kilt making arose. I’d grown up in the north of Scotland and my father wore kilts on many occasions – from weddings to walking on the hills, and I’d always been interested in how kilts were constructed so I signed up for a course not thinking it would lead to my own business.

Q How did you get to where you are today?

A The course I undertook was at Askival of Strathearn Kilt College. I learnt the traditional tailoring techniques which are being lost through mass manufacturing. For my first kilt my husband was my model. My father then sent me two kilts to alter, including the one he had worn during his national service more than 60 years ago. I’ve now altered four kilts for him, which he has worn throughout his life. Doing the alterations showed me a well-made kilt can last a lifetime. Other family and friends started to show interest in what I was doing and I thought why not expand into a business?

Q Who has helped you along the way?

A Marion Foster, my fabulous teacher at college who also helped me when starting the business. Business Gateway Fife who helped me secure a Create in Fife Grant that enabled me to purchase specialist pressing equipment and a blind hemming machine. My family and friends who have encouraged me, given me work and spread the word about. Q What was your biggest mistake? A Not learning how to do this sooner in life.

Q What is your greatest achievement to date?

A For the past 20 years I have watched my husband wear an ill-fitting kilt. I was constantly sewing up stitching which had come undone. Now I have completely remade his kilt, which was a huge learning curve in itself. As I progressed with the job I started to understand why it had never quite looked right. Now that it is finished my husband says it is more comfortable than ever and I am proud to be seen out in public with him wearing it.

Q What do you hope to achieve in the future?

A I want to continue to make beautiful handmade kilts that will be worn for many years to come and will hopefully be passed from one generation to the next. I want to ensure that traditional kilt making skills are not lost and that these skills remain in Scotland. My aim is to make kilts for special occasions which can be altered as required.

Alison Christie runs Scoonie Kilts.